Beech Tree News Network

The year was 1778, the American Revolution was going on and Daniel Boone had led a group of men to help the Americans by fighting with the Indians who were aligned with the English in the war against America.  Boone's group was captured by the Indians.  Boone soon excaped when he heard the Indians were going to attack Boonesboro.  Boone knew the fort needed work before they could defend against any attack so Boone escaped and went back to Boonesboro to lead in repair.  Another man captured the same time as Boone, Cornelious Darnell, also escaped and he had to run fast as the Indians were in hot pursuit of him.  Darnell ran to a place today we call Clifton Gorge.

I am aware of Clifton Gorge because I went to college just four miles south of the Gorge.  I wen there often as it has become my favorite place on earth.  As Darnell reached the Gorge, he knew he had to jump it or the Indians would torture him before they killed him.  The Gorge is about 25 feet across at the point he jumped - and jump he did - and landed in a tree on the other side.  I always thought he waited for the Indians and he put his thumbs in his ears and wiggled his fingers at them and said "na, na, na, na," before he left them.  

The world record for a long jump when I first saw the spot he jumped was 26 feet by Jesse Owens in the 1936 Olympics.  How did Darnell make such a leap?  Well, it is a life or death leap and it is not as hard as one could think.  Darnell then ran or walked home to Boonesboro to help with the Indian attack on the fort.  The run home was 100 miles and what a story he ad to tell the people of Boonesboro.