A LEAP FOR LIFE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 48, 25 January 1884, Page 2

A LEAP FOR LIFE.

The following story" of the'^te of John Overton; whtf sold the land .on which the city of Portland, Or., now stands, haa been handed down by the Indians : After Overton left Oregon, he next appeared as a trader between the |Mexicanß and Indians on the frontier bf Mexico. BaT having outrageously Ireatedw^both parties^., the Tndi^o. f shook"|him and Goveln* talent^ . f o^j someHCvi^'M^' recorded- lefc a price upon nishead". fie clisappeared for a long- time, bulflme day a party of pomanches came a^oss^im m Texas and immediately gaive'ehase/: Overton was mounted on a powerful .-jmiatdng,; t and for a time distanced «hii ■piifttoew; buY coming to 4 deep chasm, which was about twenty five feet wide, was suddenly oKecked m Hs escape.' : 'Hir horde was how too ; exhausle f d ! to maka the leap, and the Indians being out of sigbf behind a 'hill, He "reSolved- io £ re- } sort to strategy.- 'Dismounting, he pricked his horse with his knife, causing the animal to lean qver the pveoi-^ pice, A large hollow log lay a short distance^ Trohi the edge of the eha.sni, into which hecrept unperceived (as he thought) by tifs enimies. The Indians, however, ( hacl ;^lie , top .. of the f hill and saw his last movements'. They? rode up to the log^and commenced^ &rt his benefit, a narration of the torture* which they intendfidjip inflict when they should oatch, him, ; and t)f the party pr.oposed/havingdinner oa the spot. Overton.'s-feelings may be imagined whenrthiey proceed^ (io: light a fire within afewi inches*; of him, beside the log. His position, of course, became untenable/- and he-rsHd out, preferring to.: bo Shot, rather than ; toasted to death. His persecutors opened fire on hini,:_aSid,; desparate as i.the chance 1 was he made a dash *t^the chasm. To the amazement otJJie Indians he cleai-e4,^t by ; a,foot. Unfortunately (or him,- however, one foot alighted on a loose stone; he lost his balance, staggered backward and rolled i& the botjfcom of the chasm, mangled body was found besidetisat of bis horse. The.ch^sm.bears the name to this day, of ', '; ; J