The Arkansas advocate., 1830-07-14

employed Tn small field, in kindling l fire, for the purpose of cooking the provisions which had been abandoned
 by the Indians. The whole party, with
 the exception Of Dale, Austiil, Smitl,, and the others engaged in preparing the
 provisions soon reached the opposite
 bank of tine river, ilasiil,, one oi tho cil-
 noes on their side, and leaving the oth-
 CT with the party who had yet to cross.
 This was the critical moment. X ca-
 noe containing eleven Indians, HOW shot out from behind bend of the river. It
 descended rapidly, with the apparent purpose of intcrcepting the passage of the remaining party, and at the same instant tine attention oi the iiiittie bard
 was attracted by the whoops aiad cries
 of numerous Indians, running down the
 high banks i'll the rear, gathering and
 surrounding three sides of the field.
 The party seized their weapons, and
 having no alternative, now rushed dows.
 the second bank of the river. They
 opened rapid fire at the Indians, who
 approaching the shore inthe canoe; two of whom leaped out and swan with their guns above water, for the shore, above a smaii creek that run 1T at the
 upper corner Of the field. Austill and
 Smith dashed across the creek to attack
 these two as they landed; but Austill
 becoming entangled in the cane, fell and rolled into the river within few
 feet of them. Smith at this moment killed one and the oiherned up the bunk, and Austill, immediately recovering himself, pursued the flying Indian thro' the cane. Col. W. Creagh another of the party, had, at the same time with Austill and Smith, ran up the creek to
 where it was less deep, and hearing q
 rsistiing among the brush, shot at susttiIEii supposing him to be one of the two lndi. ans
 ] While this bye scene was enacting,
 Dale and the other eight of the gallant band, were sustaining and fetur,iifga
 lot fire with with tsc s iss tse canoe.
 who sheltered themselves in its bottom,
 resting their guns on the sides; and ] they were receiving desultory shots
 from those that had encompassed the field. The party were screened ina great measure from the fire of the Indie ans on land, by a bank they had de- seended, and these Indians were deter ed from a nearer approach, by igno- rance of their numbers. To this cir cumstance, their wonderful escape of slaughter is attributed. Austill, Smith, and Creagh, presently returned to the company and joined in the firing ontllc canoe. Meanwhile their companions, on the opposite bank of the river, had been anxious, excited, but silent spec- tators Of the scene; and Dale perceiv- ing now, that escape would be hope less, the moment the feebleness of his little party was discovered, called out to them for assistance. Eight pushed 2 out in the canoe to recross and join him. They came on until they could count the number of Indians in the ca- noe, when the man in the bow of the boat cried out 10 the oarsrnan to back water, that the Indians were too many for them, and they returned.
 Dale then, indignant at fine conduct of these associates, proposed 10 his par U, for themselves to make the attack upon the Indian canoe; and dashed down the bank into the river, followed by Austill and Smith. These three, with eoionyed man, who acted as pad- Ter, entered the canoe and pushed into the stream. As the canoe party ap- preached, one of the Indians fired, without effect, Smith returlea the fire, when within thirty feet of the Indians. Dale and Austill attempted to fire, but their pruning had been wet, and their guns could not be discharged. The white party then pressed on in silence, atld closed in with their enemies. The canoes came H contact at the bows, aid Austill bore for moment the brunt of the battle, their steri,s, howey- CT presently swayed up, and Daiie sprang into the end of the Indians ca- noe, leaving room for free action and an equal share of the combat, to his two associates. Their only weapons were their rifles, with which they fought with as with clubs. The first or second blow dealt by Dale, broke the barren Of his gull, and by some means unknown 10 themselves, Dale exchanged his broken barrell for Smiths gun, with which they fought to the end of the scene. Near the close of the conflict, Austill was prostrated by a blow from 5, war