Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-06-27
Popular Indiaa Legends.
EARLY FRONTIER SCENES

From f" Sketches Of Uesfern .i,irenture"
About the middle Of July, 1889, seven
Wyandotts crossed the Ohio. a few
miles above Wheeling, and committed
great depredations upon the southern
shore, killing an old man whom they
found alone in his cabin, and spreading
terror throughout the neighborhood. -
Within few hours after their retreat,
eight men assembled from different
parts Of the small settlement, and pur.
sued the enemy with great expedition.
Among the most active and efficient Of
the party were two brothers, Adam and
Andrew Poe. Adam was particularly
powerful. In strength, action and hsrdi
hood, he had no equal-being finely
formed, and Injured to ali the perils Of
the wild woods. They had not follow
ed the trail far before they became sa
tisiied that the depredators were con-
Quoted by Big Foot. q renowned chief
of the Wyandott tribe, who derived his
name from the immense size of his
feet. His height considerably exceed.
Ell six feet. and his strength was repre-
sented as Herculean. He had also five
brothers, but little Inferior 10 himself
in size and courage, and as they gene.
rally went in company they were the
terror Of the whole country. Adam
Poe was overjoyed at the idea Of mea.
suring his strength with that Of so cele-
brated a chief, and urged the pursuit
with keenness which soon brough,
him into the vicinity Of the enemy. -
For the last few miles the trail had led
them up the southern bank Of the
Ohio, where the footprints in the sand
were deep and obvious, but when with.
in few hundred yards Of the point al
which the whites a. we'll a. the Indian;
were in the habit Of crossing, it sud
denly diverged from the stream, and
! stretched along q rocky ridge, forming
an obtuse angle with its former direc.
ton. Here Adam halted for q moment
and directed his brother aud the oihei
young men to follow the trail with pro,
per caution, while he bimself still ed
hered to the river path, which led thro
clusters Of willows directly 10 thC
point where he supposed the enemy Il
lie. Having examined the printing oil
his gun, he cVept cautiously through
the bushes until he had a view Of the
point Of embarkatiOn. Here lay two
canOeS,emp,y and apparently de1erted
Being satisfied, however, that the In.
dians were close at hand, he relaxed no
thing Of his vigilance, and quickly
gained a jutting eiiff, which hung i'm.
mediately over the canoes. Hearing
low murmur below, he peoped eau
tiOusly over and bcheld the objects Of
his search.
The gigantic Big Foot lay below
him in the shade Of q willow, aud wat
talking in a low tone to another war
riOr, who seemed = mere p'gmy by III,
side. Adam cautiously drew back,
and cooked his gun. The mark wa'
fAir-the distance did not exceed TWEEN
~ feet, and his aim unerring. Raising
his rifle slowly and cautiously, he tool
a steady aim at Big FOot's breast ant
drew the trigger. Ills gun flashed
Both Indians sprung 10 their feet viii
deep interjeetion II surprise. add fOt
q single second all three stared upOI
each other. This inactivity, hsWeN er
was soon over. Adam was too moel
hampered By the bushes 10 retreat, anG
! setting bis life upon the cast 81 th'
I de, be sprang over the bush which has
sheltered HIN, sad summ0nIng al hu
powers, leapsd boldly down the preei
piee, and alighted On the breast Of Bi:
Foot vlih = shock which bore him Il