The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-04-01
" ,WooDsFIELD, OHIO, SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1s4si.

4
1.-The other Indian, who had hitherto
fought with caution, came now manful.
ly into battle; his character as a war.
rior was in jeopardy. To have fled
from a man thus wounded and disarm-
cd, or 10 have suffered his victim 10 es-
cape, would have tarnisheds his qfame
foreveraiiimmoJ 3 nj ,nadi ssvoH alt
q1Uuering, therefore,, a terrific yell,
he rushed on, andiattempted to Stabilize
exhausted ranger; but the latter ward,
ed off the blow with One hand, and
brandished hisrifle barfel in the other.
The Indian was, as yet unharmed,
and under existing circumstance by
far the most powerful man. Higgins
courages however, was unexhausted,
and inc xhaustible. The savage at last
began 10 retreat1from the glare Of his
untamed eye, to thelspot where heI eIhad
left his rife. Higgins knew, that il he
recovered that his case was desperate.
Throwing, therefore, his rifle barrel
aside, and dra wing his hunting knife,
he rushed upon his foe. "A desperate
strife ensued; deep gashss were inflict
ed on both sides. Higgins, afatigued
and exhausted BY the loss of blood,
was no longer match for The savage.
The latter succeeded in thro wing his
adversary from him, and went immedt
ately in pursuit of his rifle. higgins at
the same time rose and sought for the
gun Of the other lndian.e Both, there
fore, bleeding and .out of breath, we're
in search of arms to renew the combat.
s1 The smoke had now passed away,
and large number Of Indians were in
view. Nothing, ,itewould seem, could
now save the gallant ranger. There
was, however, an eye to pity, and an
arm To- save: and that was a woman's!
The little garrison had witnessed the
whole combat. Il 1t consis ted Of but six
men andson woman; that woman was
Of. herself a host Mrs. Pursley.--
Whensshe isa W Higgins contending sim
gle handed with whole tribe Of sava.
ges. she urged the rangers to attempt
his rescue. n The rangers objected, as
the Indians dwere1 ten 10 one. Mrs.
Pursley, thereupon, snatched d rifle
4 from her husbands hand, and declaring
that $50 fine a fellow as Tom Higgins
sh oud not be lost for want of heIp,''
mounted u horse, and sailed forth to
bis rescue.b The men, unwilling TO be
ou,done by q woman, followed at iull
gallop--reachedthe spot where Higgins
tainted and fell, before the Indian came
up; and when the savage with whom
he had been engaged was looking afor
his rife, his friends lifted the wounded
ranger up, and throwing him across a
horse ibelore one Of the party, reached
the fort in safety. OH gH.dir9sslg l1om
| Higgins was sinsensible for several
days; and,his life was only preserved
by continual care.s His friends extract
ed two Of the balls from his thigh; two,
however, yet remained--one of which
gave hirn a great deal ofspain. Hear
ing aterward that physician had set.
tied within days ride Of him, he de.
termined to- go and see him. d The
physician (whose name is spared) ask
ed him $50 for the operation. This
Higgins fatty refused, saying lit was
more than half years pension. On
reaching home, he found the exercise Of
riding had made the ball discernable; 4;
he requested his wife, therefore, TO hand
himihis razor. With her assistance he
deliberately laid open his thigh, until
the edge ofthe razor touched the bullet;
then inserting his two thumbs into the
gash, che flirted it OUT as he used 10
sag, "without costing him a cent?
The other ball yet remained; it gave
him, no wever, little pain, andhe carried
it with him to the grave.
Higgins died ID Fayette county, ILL
nois, a few yearssince. 9Hel was the
most perfect specimen Of q frontier man
| in, his day, and was once door-keeper
Of the House Of Representatives Of q llIir
nois. nit.eu I / ad,
The above accoun. is taken priprc,ii. r,i
pally from q newspaper, Its author is
unknown. The facts, however. therein
stated, are, familiarto many, and were
FIRST communicated 70 me BY one Of the
Justices Of the. Supreme Court Of this
State. They. have since been confirm.
60, by others, and there is no doubt Of
thslrcorrsciness' iilasl t2sl19q saa
.w ~
-r5l 4Equanimity Of Temper no
aaHe who strives aitera long and pleas