Seba Smith

Name: Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life — Old Myers, the Panther
Author: Seba Smith

Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

Summary

“Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life — Old Myers, the Panther”, published in 1854, is a work by Seba Smith. It explores elements such as Myers, Panther and wilderness.

Quotes from Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (Seba Smith)

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ At this the old Panther gave a long, and loud, shrill whoop, that rang through the welkin, and was echoed by forest and hills for miles around.
"There," said the old man, "now my blessing is on the land and on you. Your ground will always yield an abundance, and you will always prosper."
Then Old Myers, the Panther, turned his face to the westward, and took up his solitary march for the distant wilderness. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ Old Myers, the Panther
In a country like ours, of boundless forests, rapidly filling up with a growing and widely spreading population, the pioneers of the wilderness, those hardy and daring spirits who take their lives in their hands, and march, in advance of civilization, into the wild woods, to endure privations among the wild animals, and run the hazard of wild warfare among the savage tribes, form a very peculiar and interesting class. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ He was the great Napoleon among the pioneers of the wilderness. But there are many others of less note, whose lives were also filled with remarkable adventures, and curious and interesting incidents. Indeed, every State in the Union has had more or less of these characters, which go to make up the class. One of these was Old Myers, the Panther; a man of iron constitution, of great power of bone and muscle, and an indomitable courage that knew no mixture of fear. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ Having lived so much in the wilderness, and associated so much with the aborigines, he had acquired much of their habits and mode of life, and by his location on the Illinois river, he soon became rather a favorite among the Indian tribes around him. His skill with the rifle and the bow, and his personal feats of strength and agility, were well calculated to excite their admiration and applause. He often took the lead among them in their games of sport. It was on one of these occasions that he acquired the additional name of the Panther. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ He then deliberately severed the head from the trunk, and holding it up by the hair before the awe-struck multitude, he exclaimed, "You have murdered my brother-in-law, his wife and their little ones; and now I have murdered your chief. I am now even with you. But now mind, every one of you that is found here to-morrow morning at sunrise, is a dead Indian!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ The trembling Indians hardly dared to come in sight of him, and all the reconnoitering had to be done by Myers. The majority were in favor of retreating as fast as possible, and taking the long journey of ten miles round for home; but Myers resolutely resisted. He urged the chief, whose rifle was loaded, to march up to the panther, take good aim and shoot him down; promising that the rest of the party would back him up closely with their knives and tomahawks, in case of a miss-fire. But the chief refused; he knew too well the nature and power of the animal. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ Whether it is a natural hardihood and boldness, and love of adventure, or a desire for retirement, or a wish to be free from the restraints of civilized society, that thus leads this peculiar class of people into the wilderness, it matters not now to inquire. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Seba Smith, Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (1854)

“ Parties of Indians committed the most wanton and cruel depredations, often murdering old friends and companions, with whom they had held long conversation. The white settlers, for some distance round, flocked to the cabin of the Panther for protection. ”

Seba Smith

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Quotes from Way Down East, or, Portraitures of Yankee Life… (Seba Smith)

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