Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-17


so celebrated in Alabama tradition.
When withing twenty PAGES Of the In
dams. our heroes arose in their canoe, to
give them an opening broadSide: but IN
fortunately, the printing of their guns
was wet, and they failed to fire. Had
not the same accident befallen the enemy.
the result Of the canoe fight might have
been very different. Dale now ordered
Caesar to bring his boat alongside the
other, and hold them together. The
warriors, confident of their strength. and
eager to grapple with three men whose
guns would not fire, allowed their boat
to move leisurely along with the current.
As the two neared each other, the Chief
arose, and with an ejaculation of def
ance to g Big Sam" levelled his edn at
Smiths breast; but before he could draw
trigger, the latter dir, cted blow at him
which would have proved fatal, had it
not been adroitly avoided. The canoes
came together with jar, which threw
Austill slightly off bis balance, and ere
he could regain it, a well directed blow
from a war-club, proStidted him across
the boat. A half dozen powerful arms
were raised to complete the work, when
the heavy rifle of Dale came down upon
the head Of the Chief, with force which
sunk IL deep into his skull. Smith had
been not less active, and his trnsty bar
rel had fallen with like effect upon the
skull of another warrior, and the two
now felt their death throes, in the bottom
of the canoe. Austill had, in the mean.
time, recovered, and added his strength
to the work of destruction. The bold
Caesar held the boats together with an
iron grasp, and with one foot in each,
our heroes fought. Two successive blows
from Austlll's rifle, despatched two of
the enemy, one of whom fell overheard.
Thinking to make sure of his foe by a
second stroke, Austill leaned forward to
strike, when he was again prostnted by
an Indian club. The exulting savage,
never forgetful Of scalp, raised the war
whoop-seized his victim by the hair
the scalp knife glittered in the air, when
another timely blow from Dale's dubbed
rifle divided bis skull. Tradition SAYS,
that from the force of the blow the skull
was split even to the vertebral column.
In the meantime Smith, at the other
end of the canoe, grappled with two lusty
warriors. lie was powerful man but
the chances now were against him. The
of one his assailants are
upon his throat-the tomahawk of the
other above his head He sees his dan
ger (; one foot is in one canoe, one in the
other; with a desperate effort he gets
both feet in one canoe, and draws one
Indian after him, while the sudden move
ment separates the end Of the boats and
leaves the other behind, to meet the fate
Of those who had already come within
the range of Dale's and Austill's rifles.
Smith now had the enemy in his power,
and soon dispatched him. The conflict
now became equal-three to three. The
savages, reduced in number from nine
to three, now fought with the energy of
despair. Light and active, they avoided
many Of the blows of the whites; and
dealt, in return, such well directed ones,
that they were beginning to tell in their
favor, when Dale, calling to Caesar to
hold the boats firmly together, sprang
upon one of the seats and dealt blow
which shivered club which had been
been directed to meet it, and leveled an
other warrior. The remeining two were
left to have destruction meeted to them
at the hands of the victorious Dale who,
while Smith and Austin leaned upon
their bloody and brain-bespattered rifles,
despatched them at two successive blows.
During the whole of this sanguinary con-
tiict, the heroes were encouraged by the
continued cheers of their comrades on
either bank. Of the nine warriors Smith
killed two, Austill two, and Dale five.
Having laid them low" says Mr.. Pick
EFT, % these undauRted Americans began
to cast them into the bright waters of
the Alabama-their native stream, Tow
to be their grave. Every time a savage
was raised up from the bottom of the
canoe, and slung into the water, the
Americans upon the banks set up shouts
long and loud, as some Slight revenge for
the tragedy of Fort Minis. The Indian
canoe presented sight unusually revolt
ing-several inches deep in savage blood
-thickened with clods of brains ana
lunches of hair, etc."
~ N" w lllC
Gen. Dale was engaged in another hand
in-hand rencontre, hardly less exciting.
There is so much of the spirit of wild
adventure and romance connected with
the incident, we are surprised that it mas
not, ere this, been made the basis of one
of our thrilling border tales. When the
Indian hostilities first began to assume
threatening attitude, in consequence of
the Galphinton treaty, white woman
was seized by a party of indians and
carried into captivity. All attempts to-
wards recapturing her seemed fruitless
indeed, SO many similar cases occurred,
that they filled to excite that interest
which We would naturally expect. Dale,
however, having gained some information
as to her whereabouts, determiaed-and
with him determ nation YES but another
word for accomplishment-to rescue her.
Setting out do..e, his experience in trail
ing soon brought him upon the heels Of
the savages. Finding himself near them,
with his characteristic coolness he stopped
at spring to drink and refresh himself
previous to beginning his work. While
stopping to drink, two of the party, who
were nearer than he thought, sprang upon
him. Without attempting to rise. he
drew his hunting knife, and with an
v1d dnvC Cytr l..