Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1845-05-01
Tale OF Western Chiyalry

The following account OF the desperate
struggle Of Adam Poe. is from NJ Clung's In
teresting sketches
About the middle OF July. 1882, seven
Wyandolts crossed the Ohio few miles a
bove Wheeling, and committed great depra
dauons upon the southern shore, killing an
old man whom they found alone In his cabin
and spreading terror through the neghbor-
hood Within few hours of their retreat,
eight men ass emNled from diff, rent parts Of
the small settlement and pursued the enc
my with great expedition. Among the
nos, active and efficient Of the party were
two brothers, Adam and Andrew Poe Adj
am was perfectly popular. In sreg,h, action
and hardhood, he had no co tl--being fac
ly formed and injured to all ihe perls of the
woods.
They had not followed the trail far, be-
fore they became satisfied that the depreda
tors were conducted 10y Big Foot, renpulc.
ed ohiel OF the Wyandott tribe, who derived
his name from the immens axe OF his feet
His height considerably exceeded SIX feet,
and his strength was represented as Hercu-
lean. lie had also Ave brothers, bat lnlIe
Inferior TO himself N size and courage, aud
as they generally went in company they
were the terror of the couniry. Adam Poe
was ovetJoyed al tho idea OF measuring his
strength with that Of so celebfsted a Chief
and urged The porsuil with a krenhess which
| quickly brough him into the vicinity Of The
enomy. For the last few miies, the trail had
led them up the southern bank Of the o.
| hio, where the footprints in the sand were
| deep and oby ious, hut when within a few
| hundred yards Of the point at which the
whites as well as the Indians were in the
| habit OF crossingit suddenly diverged from
| the stream, and stretched along a rocky
ndgc, forming an obtuse angle with its form
ct direction. Here Adam hailed lot mo.
mcnt and directed his brother and the oiher
Young men TO follow the trail with propel
precsution, while he himself still adhered to
the rlver path, which led through clusters OF
willows directly to the point where he sup
posed the enemy 10 lie Having examine
the printing Of his gun, he crept cautlousl,
through the bushes, until he had a view o
embsfkation Here'iay two canoes, empty
AMI apparently deserted. Being Statistic,
however, that the Indians were close at hsnC
he relaxed nothing OF his vigilance, anC
quickly gained juuing cliff which hunl
Immediately over the canoes Hearing
low murmur below,he peered cautiously owe
and beheld the object Of his search. The G.
OF willow, and " as talking in a deep low
tone TO another trTtor, who seemed a mer'
pigmy by his s,de. Adam cautiously drew
back, and cooked hts gun. The mark va
fair. tie distance did not exceed twenty feet
and his aim was unerrlng. Raising has nh
slowly and cautiously, he took a steady ala
al Big Foots breast and drew the tuggct.
HIS gun flashed. Both indians sptang q
their feet with a deep lnteUec,ion OF surprise
and fof a single second all three stared uPo
each other. This inactivity however wa
soon over Adam was too much hsmpere
! by the bushes TO retreat, and settling his li
, upon a cas-, OF the die, he sprung over III
bushes which had sheltered hin, and sum
moning all his powers. leaped boldly dow
the pteciplce and altC hied upon the bfeas
Of Big Foot with a shock which bore him
; the earth Al the moment OF contact Adar
had also thrown he arm round the meek
, the smaller lndlaa, % that all three cams
! the earth together.
At that moment a sharp firing wac hear
among The bushes, above announcing ia
the other parties were engaged bot the IN
below were too busy n Aiienq TO anyihln
bot themselves. Big Foo, w7s for an instar
7 stunned by the violence OF the shock.snd I'd
T an " as enabled IA keep them both down
But the ereriion necessary for that purpns
, wa. 81 ctes' Ia, he had M leisuret' =
! bis knife. b. Foo, quickly recovered
? wl,hoot attempting 10 ire wrapped D.
| long arm, around Ad,Ts bolg, AM pre-