Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-11-26
BY C.. L. SHOLES.

lrlend whose ankle had been broken, WAS
about to lift him on his horse, when the lat
ter taking fright DARED off in an instant, and
left Higgins and his wounded friend behind
60 This is too bad,'' said Higgins; g but
don't fear; you hop off on three legs, and
III stay behind between you and the Indi-
ans, and keep them off. Out into the tall
est grass and crawl as nepr the ground as
possible. Burgess did so and escaped.
The smoke soon cleared away, and he re-
soleed fpossible to retreat. To follow the
track of Burgess was the most sxpedient.-
1t would however endanger his friend.
He determined, therefor, to venture bold
ly forward, and if discovered, to secure his
own salty by The rapidity of his flight. Ga
leaving small thcket, in which he had
sought refuge, he discovered tall, pc tly
savage near by, and two others in direction
between him and the fort. He paused for
moment, and thought if he could separate
and fight them singly, his case was not SO
desperate.
He started, therefore, for little run of
water hard by, bat found one of his limbs
failing hint having been struck by a
ball in the first encounter, of which, Ill
now, he was scarcely concious.
The largest Indian pressed close upon
him-and Higgins turned round two or
or three times in order 10 fire. The In
dian halted and danced about ia order to
prevent his taking aim Higgins saw it
was unsafe 10 fire at random and perceiv-
ing two others approaching, knew he must
be overpowered in a moment, unless he
could dispose Of the forward Indian. He
resolved, therefore to halt and receive his
fire. The Indian ra sod his rifle, and Hig-
gins, 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, 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
Higgins fell again, and as he rose the
whole three fired, and he received all their
balls. He now fell and rose again-and
the Indians, throwing away their guns, ad-
vanced upon him with spears and KIN yes
AS he presented his gun at one or tie
other, each fell back.
~ io9t, 'bS 10 81 lldlulI, SupDOSluS
Higgins gun to be empty from his Fl rst
fire. having thus been reserved, advanced
boldly TO the charge. Higgins fired, and
the Indian fell
He had now four bullets in his bod y
an empty gun in his han1-two Indians
unframed, as vet before HIM and a whole
tribe few yards distant. Any other man
but Higgins would have despaircd. Napo-
leon would have acknowledged himself de-
feaied; Wellington, with all his obstlnacy,
would have considered the case as doubtful
and Charles Of Sweden have considered
it Que 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 fear from the others, he
began 10 reload his rifle. They raised a
savage whoop, and ushed 10 tie encounter;
but kept at respectable distance when
Higgins rifle was loaded, but when they
knew it was empty they were better sol
diers.
A bloody conflict now ensucd. The In
dians stabbed him in several places Their
spears, however, were but ihn poles, has
lIly prepared for the occasion, and Dent
whenever they struck rib or a muscle
The wounds they made were not, therefore,
deep, though numerous, as his scars sutli-
GENTLY testified. At last one of them threw
his tomahawk. II struck him upon the
cheek, passed through the ear, which it Sc
vcred, laid bare his skull 10 the back Of the
head, and stretched him upon the prairie.
The Indians again rushed on; but Higgins,
recovering his selfpossession. kept them
off with his hands and feet. Grasping, a,
length, one OF their spears, the Indians, in
attempting to pull it from him, raised Hig
gins up, who, taking his rife, smo;e the
nearest savage, and dashed out his brains
In doing so. however, his rifle broke, the
: barrel only remaining in his hands.
The other Indian, who had hitherto
fought with caution, came now manrulIy
into the batile-his character as warrior
was in jeopardy. 70 have fled from a
man thus wounded and unarmed, OF to
have suffered his victim to escape, would
have furnished his fame forever.
Uuering, therefore, terrific yell, he
rushed on, and attempted TO stab the ex-
hausted ranger but the latter warded of
his blow with one hand. and braadished his
rifle with the other.
The Indian was yet unframed and un.
der existing circumstances by far the most
powerful. Higgins courage, however, was
unexhausted and inexhaustable. The saw
age at last begin TO retreat from the glare
of his unnamed eye TO the spot where he
had left his rifle. Higgins knew that il
the Indian recovered it his own case was
desperate throwing, therefore, his rifle
barrel aside, and drawing his knife, he
rushed upon his foe. A desperate strife
ensued: deep gashes were inflicted on both
sides. Higgins, fatigued and exhausted by
loss of blood, was no longer a match for
the savage. The latter succeeded in dis
engaging himself from his adversary, and
wen, Immediately In pursuit OF his rifle. -
! Higgins at the same time rose from the
/ kneeiing posture into which he had been
thrown, and sought for the gun of the other
/ Indian. Both, therefore, bleeding and out
of breath. were in search of arms to renew
the contest.
The smoke had now passed away, and
I 4 large number of Indians were in view