The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-03-17

'duu hISI roe seeing ms Immediately turn
ed back into the water to escape, if possible,
being shot, by diving. Fortunately the Indi-
an caught mp the rifle with which Poe had
killed the other Warrior.
AT this juncure, Andrew. Poe, missing his
brother from tho party, and suppos;ng from
the report of the gun which lie shot, that he
was either killed, or engaged IN corfl' with
the lGdians, hastened 10 the spot On seeing
him, Adam called out 10 him ITO kin the big
Indian on shore". But Andrews gun. like lha,
of the lndian's, was empiy.-EHhe contest was
now between The whiteman and he lndlan,
who should load and fire first. Very fortu-
natey for Poe, the Indian in loading, drew the
ramrOd from the thiWbles of the stock of the
gun, with so much violence that It slipped out
OF his hand and fell little distance from him,
he quickly caught it up and rammed down his
bullet Ths little deav gave Poe the advan-
tage' He shot the Indian as he was raising
his quo, 10 take aim al him.
As soon as Andrew had shot the Indian,
he jumped into the river to assist his wounded
brother to shore; but Adam thinking more of
the honor of carrying the big Indian home,
as trophy of victory; than Of his own safety,
urged Andrew TO go back, and prevent tho
struggling savage from rolling himself into
the river and escaping. Andrews solicitude
for the life of his brother, prevented him from
complying with this request.
In the mean time, the Indian, jealous of the
honor of his scalp, even in the agonies of
death, succeeded in reaching the river and
getting into the current 80 that his body was
never obtained.
An unfortunate occurrence took place du~
ring this conflict Just as Andrew arrived
at the top of the bank, for The relief of his
brother, one of the party, who had followed
and mistaking him for a wounded Indian, shot
at him and wounded him in the shoulder. He,
however, recovered from his wounds.
During the contest between Adam Poe and
the Indians, the party had overtaken the res
naming six of them. A desperate conflict
ensued, 10 which five Of the Indians were kill
led. Our loss was three men killed and Ad>
am Poe severely wouhded.
Thus ended this Sprtan conflict, with the
| loss of three valiant men On our part and with
that Of the whole of the Indian party with the
exception of one warrior. Never, on any oc-
casion was there a greater display Of desper-
ate bravery, and seldom did conflict take
| place, which, in the issue, proved fatal to SO
| great a proportion of those engaged in it.
The fatal issue of this little campaign, on
the side of the Indians. occasoned a univer~
sal mourning among the Wyandot nation.
The big lndian with his four brothers, all Of
whom were killed at the same place, were a,
mong the most distinguished chiefs and wars
| riors Of their nation
The big Indian was magnanimous, as we'll
as brave. He more than any other individual,
contributed, by his example and influence, 10
the good character of the Wyandois, for Lem
ity towards their prisoners. He would not
suffer them 10 be killed or i'll treated. This
mercy to capiives, was an honorable dislinc-
ton in the character of the Wyandots, and
was we'll understood by our first settlers, who
III case Of captivity, drought it a fortunate
circumstance to fail into their hands.
1t is consoing to the historian, 10 find in~
Stances Of those endowments of mind, which
constitute human greatness, even among saw
ages. The original stamina Of those endow-
ments, or, what is called genius. are but thin
| ly scattered over the earth, and there can be
| but little doubt, but that the lower grades of
society possess their equal proportion of the
1 Odsed VI NOTul STohlheeS' OT III OtneT "uIusj
| there is as much Of ndtive geaias, in propor-
| ton to numbers, amongst savages, as there
is among civiIiz people, The difference
| between these Two extremes Of society,
| is meiey the the difference OF education.
This view Of human nature, phlosophi-
| cally correct, is we'll calculated 10 in
crease the benevoence, even Of the good
Samaritan himself, and encourage his
endeavors for the instruction of The most ig-
uorant, and the reformation of the most barr
| bar0us'
Had the aborigines of our country, been pos.
sessed of the means 10 commit to the faithful
page Of history, the events Of their intercourse
| with US. since the discovery and settlement of
their native land, by the Europeans, what
would be the contents Of this history2-Not
such as il is from The hands of our historians,
who have presented nought but the worst fea-
lures of the Indian character, as exhibited 10
the course of their wars against the invaders
of their country. While the wrongs inflicted
on them by civilized men, have occupied but
q very small portion of the record. Their suE
ferings, their private virtues, their bravery and
msCnanmity IN war, all individual instances
of greatness Of mind, herosm and Clemen-
cy to captives, in the midst Of Of the cruelies
OF their barbarous warfare, must soon he bu-
ried with themselves in the tomb of their ia