Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-07-11
9satsceuauentts Departme1rt.
WESTERN "REMINISCENCES.
s4dam Poc's contest ,cith heo million, :.

o4dnn Poe's contest tCiM tco Indians
ABOUT the year 1882, six seven Wvandot InIian
crossed over to the south side of the Ohio River fit,
miles below Pittsbourg, and in their hostile excur,on
among our early settlers killed an old man whom the,
round alone IN one OF the houses which they plundered
1 he news spread among the white people seven o,
e'ght OF whom seized their rifles and pursued tbe ma
rauders. In this party two brothers named Adam
ana Andrew Poe, strong and active men, and much res
peced IN the settlement The Indians had freouortI,
oeeh over before had sometimes penetrated twenty
ties INTO the country and had ALWAYS succeeded in re-
crossing the river without being oyertaIep bv M, moo
pie The Poes and their companions were therefore
particularly anxious not TO let them escape on this Or
caslon They pursued them all night and m the mora
ing found themselves, they expected upon the rioLt
track. The Indians could now be easily followed bv
the tracks left upon the dew The print of one vor
large foot was seen, and IT thus known that IA
NOUS indian OF uncommon size and strength must he nj
The party. The track leo tie river Our peo,lc fol-
lowed II directly, Adam Poe excepted WHO feared that
they might be taken by surprise and broke of from tbe
rest 10 so along on the edge of the bank, under the co
yer OF trees aud bushes and TO fall upon the savages
suddenly that he might get them between his own fire
and thaot his companions At the point where he sIs-
pected they we're he the RATS which they were ac
customed TO push before them when thew swan the ri
YER on which they placed their blankets, tomahawls
and guns The Indians themselves lie could not see
and was obliged 10 go partly down the bank In act \
shot at them as he descended, with his lille cooked
lie discovered two the celebrated large Indian and y
smaller separated from the Others holdino their r.
lies also cooked IN their hands. He took aim at the
large one but his rife snapped without giving the in
tended ire. The Indians turned instantly at the Sonnd
Poe near them TO retreat and had NOT t;,no a.
cock and take aim again. Suddenly he leaned dow n
upon Them ana caught the large Indian bv the clothes
on ms breast and the small one by throwing an arm
round lbs neck They all fell together but Poe was
uPpormost While he struggling to keen down the
large Indian, the small one. a word spoken by his
teow savage, slipped his neck out of Poe,s embrace
and ran 70 the raft for toInaIaYk The ar~e Indian
At taS moment threw his arms around him and held him
last that the other might come Up and kill him Poe
watched the approach and the descending arm of the
small lnd!an so well that at tie instant of the intended
stroke ne raised his foot, and by a vigorous and sknI
blow Knocked the tomahaIyk from the assaiant, ha,,d
AZ This the large Indian cried out with an exclamation Of
cohteI Tor the small! one The latter however caught
his iofnahawk again, and approached more cautiously,
waving his arm up and down with mock blows to de-
ccVe Zoe as 10 the stroke which was intended TO be
ana fata roe however viglant and aCtiye'th
ne aFCTtod the oinaEa%E from bis head and received
1t on his wrist, with considerable wound deep enou
TO cripple but not entirely destroy the use of his hand
IN this Crisis oi peril he made violent effort and broke
loose from Tue large Indian. He snacLed rifle and
sbol The small one through the breast he ran NJ rd
time with his lI!tcd t0mahawiS The large Indian was
his feet, and graspine Poe by the shoulder and
the eS huici hun IN the ag heels over head upon the
shore Poe instantly rose. and new and more dos
perate stfugg 'e ensued. The bark was slippery and
they Tell into the water, where each strye TO drown t
other Their efforts we're long and doubtful eacb al
te'nately under and half srangIe till Poe fortunately
graSPel win ms wounded baud the tut of hair upon
i''S 9O"'P % t'iG UOdli5 and forced his
water This appeared to be decisive OF his fate for
soon ne manifested all tho symptoms Of drowning mar,
bewHdered IN tie moment OF death. Poe relaxed IN,
hOid, ana discovered the stratagem The Indian was
instantly upon is feet again and engaged anew i'm the
Eercc contest ioT lie and victory. They were natural
" carried urcr INTO the stream, and the current be-
coming stronger, bore them beyond their depth. The,
we're now compelled to loosen their bold upon each other
ana SWIM Tor mutual safety Both sought the shore to
seize gun, but iho Indian The best swimmer and
gained 1t bfst Poe then turned immediately hacl, into
Tue water 10 AVOID greater danger meaning 10 dive if
possible ID escape the fire. Fortunately Tor him the
indian caught up the rife which had been DISCHARGED
ao the breast Of bis smaller companion. At this cri-
'cal Junc'ufe Audrey the brother returned i'm haste
having left fine party Who had been IN pursuit of the
olher Indians and who had killed al bu one Of them
At the expense Of three Of their own lives lie heard
tiat Aj"n was IN great peul, and alone in the Gobt
7itii two against him.
One Of our people, following not far in The rear of
Andrew, mstook ADAM ia tic water with his bloody
naDd for wounded Indian and GreI . bullet into lie
shoulder. Adam cried out To bis brother TO xii, fo bic
indian the shore. bat hudrew's Gun had boen die
charged and was not again loaded The coDfe.. was
Iog between Che savage aud Adam Each Iah.,reI r.
Jad bis rifle first The Indian. after rufipo fl, ~.
'Cwter and huwyng his motions 60 do,, Inc bail
igcw ont his ramrcd With such violence as 60 throw IL
'ome yards uc wafer While he ran 10 pick it ,,r
sndrew gained advantage and shot tie Indian JUS,
Is he raising bis gun 10 MS eye for q deadly aim
Andrew then jumped into te river TO assist his wound
20 brother to the shore brl Adam thinking more Of
@rrf'1g Zoe biz iuo'ar hume rs t-Cp'v Tau C. his