The Arkansas advocate., 1830-12-29
MISCELLANY.
From the Illinois Monthly Magazine. ADVENTURE oF A RANGER.

A3N EN URE UT A RANGEIl-
 Ne do not know that we can til a Jew pages more proitably, than by re- 4ating aaadventure ofourneighbor and friend, Mir. Thomas Higgins, as we have heard it from his own mouth. He resides within few miles of Yandalia, and receives a pension from the United States, for his services. The following statement may be relied upon, as Mir. Higgins is man of strict Yeracity; his companions have eorroborated his par ratiYe. and his wounds afford ample pf0of of his courage aud satfefings.
 Tom Higgins, as he IS usually called, $ q sisstise oi IIxelttleNy and is oae oi the best examples extant of the genuine backwoodsman. During the last war, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted i'll the Rangers, corps Of mounted men, raised expressly for the protection ol the western frontiers. On the 30th of Att gust, ESi4, he was one of Q party ol twelve men, under the command Of lieutenant Journey, who were posted at Hills Station, a small stockade, about eight miles south of the present village of Greenville, and something more than twenty miles from Vandalla. These towns were not then in existence; and fhe surrounding country was one vast wilderness. During the day last men toned, < Indian signs" were seen about half d mile from the station. and at night the savages were discovered prow- ling nearer the fort, but no alarm was given. On the following morning ear Y, Mir. Journey moved out with his party in pursuit of the Indians. fsss sing round the fence of a eorn-held, ad- joining the fort, they struck across the prairie, and had not proceeded more than quarter of mile, when in cross ing q small ridge, which was covered with a hazel thickct, and in full view of the station. they fell into al amous- cade of the Indians, who rose suddenly around them, to the number of seventy or eighty. and fired. Four of the par y were killed, among whom was Lieu tenant Journey, one other fell, badly wounded, and the rest fled, except hig- gins.
 It was an uncommonly sultry morn ing; the day was just dawning; hea- " dew had fallen the preceding night: tho air was still and humid, and the smoke from the guns hung in a heavy cloud over the spot. Under the cover of this cloud, Higgins surviving compa- nions had escaped, supposing that all that were left were dead, or that at all events, it would be rashness to attempt 10 rescue them from so overwhelming a force. Higgins horse had been shot through the neck, and fell to his knees and rose again several times. Beiiev- ing the animal to be mortally wounded ae dlsmounted, but finding that the wound had not greatly disabled him, he continued to hold the bridle; for as he iow felt confident of being able tomake good his retreat, he determined to fire oIi his gun before he retired. He look cd round for a tree. There was bu one, a ss..all elm, and he x1ade for this Intending to shoot from behind 1t; bu at shls;is moment the cloud of smoke rose partially from before hin, disclosing t his view number of Indians, none o whom discovered him. One of then stood within a few paces, loading hi gun, and at him, Higgins took delibe rate aim and fired. and the Indian fell Mir. Higgins, still concealed by tlat smoke, reloaded his gun, mounted, ant turned toiy when low voice near hin