Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-07-06

two others in direction between him and the |
fort. lie paused Cor a moment, and thought if
he could separate, and fight them singly, his
case was not so desperate
lie started, therefore, for little run Of water
hard by, but found one OF his limbs failing him
it having been struck by a ball in the first en-
counter, of which, till now, he was scarcely |
conscious.
The largest Indian pressed close upon him
and Higgins turned round two or three times
in order to fire. The Indian halted and danced
about to prevent his taking aim. Higgins saw
it was unsafe to fire at random; and perceivlng
two others approaching, knew he must be over
powered in moment, unless he could dispose
OF the forward Indian. lie resolved, therefore,
to halt and receive his fire. The Indian raised
his rife, and Higgins, watching his eye, turned
suddenly as his finger pressed the trigger, and
received the ball in his thigh, which otherwise
would have pierced his body.
Higgins fell, bu, rose Immediately, and run
The foremost Indian, certain of his prey, now
loaded again, and with the other two pressed on.
They overlook him--TIiggins fell again, and as
he rose The whole three fired, and he received
all their balls lie now fell and rose again
and the Indians throwing away their guns, ad
vanced upon him with spears and knives. AS
he presented his gun at one or the other, each
! fell back.
AT last, the largest Indian, supposing Hig-
gins gun to he empty from his fire having been
thus reserved advanced boldly TO the charge.
Higgins fired, and the savage fell.
"IIe had now four bullets in his body-an
empty gun in his hand--two Indians unhar,ned,
as yet, before hlm-and whole tribe few
yards distant. Any other man but Higgins
would have despared. Napoleon would have
acknowl lodged himself defeated; Wellington,
with all his obstinacy, would have considered
the case as doubttul-and Charles of Sweden
have regarded it as one ofperil. Not 50 with
Higgins. He had no notion of surrenderlng
yet. lie had slain the most dangerous of the
three; and having little TO fear from the others;
he began to load bis rifle. They raised saw
age whoop, and rushed 10 the encounter; they
had kept at a respectful distance when Hig-
gins rifle was loaded, but when they knew il
was empty they were better soldiers.
"A bloody conflict now ensued. The Indians
stabbed him in several places. Their spears,
however were but thin poles, hastily prepared
for the occasion, and bent whenever they struck
a rib or a muscle. The wounds they made
: were not therefore deep though numerous as
his scars sufficiently tested.
at last one of them threw his tomahawk
1t struck him upon the cheek, passed through
his ear, which it severed, laid bare the skull tc
; the back OF his head, and stretched him upon
the prairIe. The Indians again rushed on bu
Higgins, recovering his selfpossession kept
them off with his feet and hands graspng a
; length one of their spears, the Indian, in at
5 tempting to pull it from him, raised Higgin,
: up who taking his rifle, smote the neares
savage and dashed out his brains In doing so
however, his rifle broke, the barrel only re
manning in his hand.
The other Indian who had hitherto fought
with caution, came now maufully into the bat
, tie, his character as a warrior was in Jeopardy
70 have He'd from man thus wounded anC
t dIssrmed, or Ia have suffered his victim 10 cs
cape would have tarnshcd his fame forever.
> "utter:ng, therefore, a terrific yell, he rushed
on, and attempted to stab the exhausted rang
er but the latter warded off his blow with one
hand, and brandishcd his rifle barrel with tn,
Other.
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