The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1844-12-05

The largest Indian pressed close upon him
and Higgins turned round two 0 rthree times
in order 10 fire. The Indian halted and dane
ed about to prevent his taking aim. Hig-
gins saw it was unsafe to ire at random; and
perceiving two others approaching, knew he
must be o%verpowered in a moment, unless
he could dispose of the forward indian
He resolved, therefore to halt and receive
his fire. The Indian raised his rifle, and
Higgins, watching his eye, turned suddenly
as his finger pressed the trigger, and receiV
ed the ball in his thigh which otherwise
would have pierced his body.
Higgins, fell, but rose Immediately and
run. The foremost Indian, certain OF his
prey, now loaded again, and with the other
Two pressed on. They overlook him-Hig-
gins fell again, and as he rose the whole three
fred, and he received all their balls. He
now fell and rose again; and the Indians,
throwing away their guns advanced upon him
with spears and knives. As he presented
his gun at one OF the other, each fell back.
At last, the largest Indian, supposing Hig-
gins gun 10 be empty from his fire having
been thus reserved, advanced Boldly to the
charge. Higgins fred, and the Indian fell.
He had now four bullets in his body-an
empty gun in his hand-two Indians unharm-
ed as yet, before him--and a whole tribe a
few yards distant. Any other man hnt Hig-
gins would have despaired Napoleon would
have acknowledged himself defeated. We'll
lngton, with all his obslinacy, would have
considered The case as doubtful-and Charles
Of Sweden, have considered it one of peril.
Not so with Higgins. He had no notion of
surrendering yet. He had slain the most
dangerous of the three; and having little to
fear from the others, he began to load his
rife. They raised their savage whoop and
rushed TO the encounter; but kept at a res
pectful distance when Higgins rife was
loaded, but when they knew it was empty,
they were better soldiers.
A bloody conflict now ensued. The H.
dams stabbed him in several places. Their
spears, however, were but thin poles, hastily
prepared for the occasion, and bent whenev-
er they struck a rib or muscle. The wounds
they made, were not, therefore, deep, though
numerous. as his sears sufficiently testified.
At last one of them threw his tomahawk.
1t struck him upon the cheek, passed through
the ear which il severed, laid bare his scull
to the top of his head, and stretched him up
on the prairie. The Indians again rushed
on; but Higgins recovering his ~selfpossess-
ion, kept them off with his feet and hands
Il grasping at length one of their spears, the In
dian, in attempting to pull it from him, rails
, ed Higgins up who taking his rifle smote the
nearest savage and dashed out his brains.-
In doing so, however, his rife broke, the bar
rel only remaining in his hands.
The other Indian who had hitherto fought
with caution, came now manfully TO the bat
tle-his character as a warrior was in leop-
ardy. To have fed from a man thus wound.
f ed and disarmed, or to have suffered his vic.
tim TO escape, would have furnished his fame
: forever.
Uttering therefore a terrific yell, he rushed
/ on, and attempted to stab the exhausted ran
e ger; but the latter warded oil his blow witt
one hand and brandished his rifle with the
/ other.
The Indian was yei unframed, and under
x existing circumstances by far the most pow
erful, Higgins courage, however, was un
e exhausted aIdinexaustible. The savage a
last began to retreat from the glare of hi:
a uutamed eye TO The spot where he left hi
+ rifle. Higgins knew if the indian recoveree
that his W case was desperate; THROWN.
a therefore, his riie-barrel aside and drawing
his hunting knife, he rushed upon his foe.-
0fl A desperate strife ensued; deep gashes wer,
Sc inflicted on both sides. Higgins fatiguet
is and exhausted by the loss of blood was n,
longer a match for the savage. The latte
S. su ;ceeded in throwing his adversary frou
r him, and vent Immediately in pursuit of hi
- LA T1f&,,, - H. tH-,~
to sought for the gun of the other Indian. Bot
re therefore, bleeding and out Of breath, wer
is in search of arms to renew the combat.
The smoke had now passed away, and
d large number Of Indians were inview. NotI
Il ing il wonld seem would now save the ga
Nv liant ranger. There was, however, an eye
nd pity, and an arm TO save: and that arm was
a wonan's!
nj The little garrison had Witnessed th
ne whole combat. 1t consisted of but six me
"a and one woman; that woman was of herse
" a hosi-a Mrs. Pursley. When she saw His
he gins contending, single-landed with a Who'll
&c, tribe of savages, she urged the rangers 10 a
iy tempt his rescne. The rangers objected, q
the indians were len to one. Mrs. Pursle
snatched a rifle from her husbands hand, an
nd declared that $50 fine a fellow as Tom Hie
IT. gins should not be lost fol want of help.
'p- mounted a horse and sailed forth to his T,
on soue. The men, unwilling TO be outdou
by a woman, followed at full galIop-reacI
is ed the spot where Higgins tainted and fe
before the Indi ans came up; and when ii
bis savage with whom he had been engaged wi
a looking for his rifle, the friends lifted IL
.er wounded ranger up, and throwing him aero
eft a horse before one of the party, reached Il