Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-04-10

ing, at length one of their spears the Indians in at
tempting TO pull it from him, rised Higgins up, who,
taking his ride, smote the nearest savage, and dashed
cut 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, manfully into tie battle-his char
aoter a warrior was in jeopardy. To have fed
from man thus wounded and unarmed, or to have
suffered his victim to escape would have furnished
bis fame forever.
and attempted to stab the exhausted ranger but the
latter warded off his blow with one hand, anu BRAN
dished his rifle with the other.
The Indian yet unframed; and under existing
circumstances by far the most powerful. Higgins
courage however, was unexhausted and ineXhausti-
bic. The savage at last began 10 retreat from the
glare of his unnamed eye to the spot where lie left
his rife. Higgins knew if the Indian recovered that,
his own case was desperate throwing therefore lis
rifle barrel aside and drawing his uniting knife, he
rushed upon his fee desperate strife ensued deep
gashes inflicted on both sides. Higgins, fatigued
and exhausted b. the loss of blood, was longer a
match for TIE savage The latter succeeded in throw
ing his adversary from him, and went Immediately
in pursuit Of his rife. Higgins at the same time rose
and sought for the gun of the other Indian Both,
therefore, bleeding and out Of breath, in search
of arms to renew the contest.
The smoke had now passed away, and large num-
Der OF Indians were IN view. Nothing II would seem,
could now save the gallant ranger There was how
ever, eye to pity and to save; and that arm
was q wOm1n's
TIE little garrison Lal witnessed the whole COM
bat. L consisted Of but six men and woman !;
and that woman was of herself a hos.-a Mrs Purs-
ley. When she saw Higgins contending, single
handed with whole tribe Of savages she urged the
rangers TO attempt his rescue. The rangers objected
the Indians were ten to one. Mrs. Pursley, there
fore, snatched a rife from her husbands hand, and
declaring that so fine fellow as Tom Higgins should
not be lost for want Of help mounted horse and
sailed forth to his rescue. The men, unwilling to be
outdUne by woman, followed at full gaTop-reached
the spot where Higgins tainted and before the Indians
came up; and while the savage with whom he had
been engaged was looking for his rifle, his friends
lifted tic wounded ranger up and throwing him
across EoTse before of the party, reached the
fort in safety.
Higgins was nsensblc for several days: and his
life preserved by continual His friends
traeted TIVE Of the balls from lis thigh-two howey-
er, yet roma ned one of which gave him great deal
of pain. Hearing afterwards that physician had
settled within days ride of him, he determined to
60 and see Lin. The physician (whose name is
spared asked him $50 for the operation. This Hig
gins fatty refused, saying Ii more than half a
years pension. On reaching home, he found the ex-
ercse Of riding had made the ball dscernabe he
quested lis wife, therefore, to hand him his razor.
With her assistance, he deliberately laid open the
thigh, until the edge of the touched the bullet
then inserting his two thumbs into the cash, she irt
ed it out" as be used TO say ''without costing him
cent" The other ball yet remained; it gave him,
however but little pain, and he carried it with him
to his grave.
Higgins died in Fayette county, Illinois, few
years since lie was the most perfect specimen Of
frontier in his day, and was once door-keeper OF
the House Of Representatives Of Illinois.