The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-02


as the Indian attempted 10 pull from him, aided
him TO rise, and clubbing his rifle, he rushed
upon the nearest of his foes and dashed his
brains out, in doing which he broke the stock 10
pieces, retaining The barrel only in his hand.
The other Indian, however warily he had
fought before, now came manfully into battle.
II Is probable that he felt his character war
rior at stake. To have fled from desperately
wounded man almost d,sarmed or 10 have suf-
Tered his victim 10 escape, would have furnished
his manhood UtterIng a terrific yell, he rushed
on, attempting 10 stab the exhausted ranger,
while the latter warding oil the spear with one
hand, brandished his rifle barrel in the other
The Indian unwounded was now by far the
most powerful man but the moral courage of our
hero prevailed and the savage unable 10 bear the
fierce glance Of an untamed eye, begun 10 re-
treat slowly towards the place where he had
dropped his rifle. Tom knew that if The Indian
| recovered his gun, his own case was hopeless
and throwing away his rifle barrel, he drew his
hunting knife. and rushed in upon him A des-
perate strlfe ensued and several deep gashes
were inflicted but the Indian succeeded in cast
ing Higgins from him, and ran TO the spot where
he had thrown down his gun, while Tom search
ed Tor the gun Of the other Indian Thus, the
| Two, bleeding and out OF breath, were both
searching Tor arms 10 renew the conflict.
! by this time, the smoke which Law between
dams, had passed away, and a number of the
latter having. passed the hazel thicker, were in
iu view. II seemed, therefore, as if nothing
could save our heroic ranger. But relief was AT
hand. The little garrison al the station, six or
seven In number, had witnessed the whole Of
this remarkable combat There was among
them a heroic woman, Mrs. Pursley who
when she saw Higgins contending sngy with
the foe, urged the men to 90 to his rescue The
. ra NJ fret ~
a the Indians outnumbered them ten 10 one
But hrs. Pursey declared that so fine fellow
as Tom should not be lost for want Of help,
snatched rifle out of her husbands hand, and
jumping On a horse sailed out. The men, who
would not be outdone by woman, gaoped TO
wards the place of combat. A scene of intense
interest ensued. The Indians at the thickeI
had Just discovered Tom, and were rushing
down towards hun with savage wells his friends
were spurrlng their horses to reach him first
Higgins, exhausted with the loss of blood, had
fallen and iainted-while his adversary, too in
tent on his prey 10 observe any thing else, was
looking for his rifle. The rangers reached the
battle ground first. Mrs. Pursev who knew
Toms spirit. thought he had thrown himself
down in despair for the loss of his gun, and
rendered him the one she carried but Tom was
past shooting. His friends lifted him up, threw
HIM across horse before one of the party, and
turned TO retreat just as the Indians came up
They made good their retreat, and the Indians
retired.
We repeat this adventure just as it was re-
lated to US, and have not the smallest doubt tha
II Is literally correct; or as nearly so as Mr.. Hig
gins opportunities for observation would admit
| for, as he very properly observes he was g in a
desperate bad fix just about that time, and was
a powerful bad chance for man to take notice
Of what was gong on around him."
| After being carried into the fort, he remained
insensible for some days, and his life was pre-
served with some difficulty by his friends, who
extracted all the bullets but two which remained
| in his thigh; one of which gave him a great
deal of pain for several years, although the flesh
was healed. At length he heard that physi-
| clan had settled within days ride of him,
whom he went TO see. The physician was
willing to extract the ball, but asked the mode
rate sum of fifty dollars for the operation This
Iom fiatly refused to give, as il was more than
half years pension. As he rode home he
turned the matter in his mind. and determined
upon a cheaper plan. When he reached home,
he requested his wife to hand him razor
The exercise of riding had so chafed the part,
that the ball, which usually was not discover
able 10 the touch, could be felt With the as
sistance OF his hepmate, he very deliberately
laid open his thigh, until the edge of the razor
touched the bullet, and inserting his two thumbs
into the cash, 'hirtcd it out" as he assured us,
without costing a cent" The other ball re-
mains in his limb yet but gives him no trouble,
except when he uses violent exercise He is
now one of the most successful hunters in the
country, and it still takes the best of men to han
die him.