The Story of How the Red River got its Name

We all have heard that Daniel Boone once came to the Red River Gorge but few of us know why. Well that answer is rather easy to come by due to the fact that at this very same time the Red River got its name. The Indian wars were brutal and relentless. Many brave and cunning warriors made their last war cries in the deep canyons and arch ways of the gorge. Daniel Boone, whom many of the warring tribes respected and some feared, was called to the gorge by his 'brother' Black Foot to broker a peace treaty and end this battle once and for all. But, Daniel Boone did not know that this particular Indian war was far more brutal and long going than any battle known to date. No one could know though because anyone that dare set foot in the gorge was instantly slaughtered. Daniel Boone, who was in the far reaches of what is now known as Tennessee, traveled day and night to reach the gorge. He finally broke out of the bush, close to Cloud Splitter, and viewed a ghastly sight, the river stained with blood for miles. Daniel's guts turned inside out and as he bent over to catch his breath he realized that he was sharing his spectacular view with hundreds of scalps, drying on the rocks. It did not take Daniel Boone long to realize that he was in grave danger and at that moment an arrow landed right beside his foot. Unfortunately, he did not have anywhere to run so he attempted to bargain with his apparent captors. Slowly they began to emerge from the bush, twenty of them, covered from head to toe in blood so dark that it appeared black. A few of them even recognized who Daniel was but there was no warmth in their eyes or soul on their breath. They had seen too much. They began to relax much to their misfortune because suddenly another tribe's party came bounding out of the bushes and attacked with vicious and bloody strokes of their axes. Daniel Boone could not run for cover and even if he did, it was too late. He had been pierced through and through by a spear. The air in his lungs disappeared and the war stricken world around him vanished as he fell from his vantage point. Mortally wounded and yet Daniel Boone, survived the 100 plus foot fall. He awoke from his trance like state in a pain so great that it would have made a rock weep. He could not have felt worse but suddenly his ears picked up the sound of soft foot falls. Daniel Boone, unsure of who was at the base of the cliff or even where he was, decided that it would be best if he found a hiding spot or more likely a place to die. He would be damned before he would allow his scalp to be bleached on some rock. So Daniel Boone, amazingly enough, spotted a medium sized cave very close by and he crawled or slithered his way inside. The cave was wonderfully dry, cool and smelled so beautiful that Daniel moved further inside. He could not resist and as he moved he noticed a strange golden light. But Daniel Boone had been close to death before and he did not find this too remarkable, he knew he was going to die and he might as well be comfortable. He dragged his body further into the cave and suddenly the golden light and the brilliant smell were overwhelming and Daniel, overcome with sight and smell of it all, fell into a deep sleep.