Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-04-01
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY. APRIL l. ls4o.

", aud finding himself rapidly dropping TO the
leeward, he closed with his antagonist, and
again hurled him to the ground. They quick
~ rolled into the river, and the struggle con-
tinued with undated fury, each attempting to
drown the other.
The Indian being unused to such violent ex-
ertion, and having been much injured 5y the
first shock in his stomach, was unable 10 ex-
ert the same powers which had given him such
decided superiority at first; and Adam, seiz-
ING him by the scalp lock, put his head under
water and held i. there until the faint struggles
of the Indian induced him 10 believe that he
was drowned, when he relaxed his hold and
attempted to draw his knife. The lndian,,
however, to use Adams own expression, !" had
only been possuMlNs!" He Instantly regain
ed his feet, and in his turn put his adversary
UNDER In the struggle, both were carried out
into the current hey ond their depth, and each
was compelled TO relax his hold and swim for
his life. There was still one loaded rifle up
on the shore, and each swan hard IN order 10
reach it, but the Indian proved the most ex.
pert swimmer, and Adam seeing that he should
be too late, Turned and swan out into the
stream, intending to dive, and thus Illustrate
his enemy's intention. AT this instant An
drew, having heard that his brother was alone
in a struggle with two Indians, and IN great
danger, ran up hastily to the edge OF the
bank above, in order to assist him. Another
white man followed him closely and seeing
Adam in the river, covered with blood. and
swimming rapidly from shore, mistook him
for an Indian and fred upon him, wounding
him dangerously in the shoulder. Adam turn
sd-and seeing his brother, called loudly upon
Andrews gun, however, was empty, having
just been discharged. Fortunately, Big Foot
had also seized the gun with which Adam had
shot the Indian, so that both were upon equal
lily. The contest now was who should load
first. Big Foot poured in his powder first,
and drawing his ramrod out of its sheath in
too great hurry threw it into the river, and
while he ran 10 recover it, Andrew gained an
advantage. Still The Indian was but a second
too late, for his gun was al his shoulder, when
Andrew gained an avantage, for his gun was
at his shoulder, when Andrews ball entered
his breast. The gun dropped from his hands
and he fell forward upon his face upon the We
~ margin of the river; Andrew now alarmed
for his brother, who was scarcely able to swim
threw down his gam and rushed into the river
in order to bring him ashofe-but Adam, more
intent upon securing the scalp of Big Foot as
a trophy, than upon his own safety, called
loudly upon his brother to leave him alone and
scalp the big Indian, who was now endeav-
orug to roll himself into the water, from ro-
mantle desire, peculiar TO the Indian warrior
Of securing his scalp from the enemy. An
drew, however. refused to obey, and insisted
on saving the living, before attending to the
dead. Big Foot, in the mean time, had sue
ceeded in reaching the deep water before he
expired, and his body was borne off by the
waves, without being stripped of the pride and
ornament of an Indian warrior.
Not man Of the Indians had escaped
Five of Big Foot's brothers, the flower of the
Wyando,t nation, had accompanied him in the
expedition, and all persisted. 1t is said that
the news threw the whole tribe into mourning.
Their remarkable size, their courage, and their
superior intelligence gave them immense in
huence, which, greatly to their credit, was
generally exerted on the side Of humanity
Their powerful interposi,ion, had saved many
prisoners from the stake, and given milder
character to the warfare of the Indians in that
part of the country. Adam Poe recovered Of
his wounds, and lived many years after his
memorable conflict, but never forget the tre-
mendous "hug" which he sustained in the
arms Of Big Foot.