New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-08-27

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most Indian. who, with last yell, bounded from
the ground. only to fall back a stfening corpse
Come on, you snealing, red cut-throats, and
IN thrash any dozen Of you . yelled Bingham, at
the top OF his stenforan lungs as he stood on the
defensive, with his rifle clnbbed; for he was well
aware that the savages would instantly rush on
after drawing his FIRE.
With fearful and blood-curdling Whoop, N an
swer to his defiance, the challenged warriors now
bounded into the cabin. Still from such odds the
brave pioneer did not shrink an inch; bnt as
thoughts Of his family again came across his mlnd
double strength seemed to nerve ms arm; anu,
springing forward to meet the advancing saVages,
he whired his heavy rifle round his head, and
bringing it down with giants strength upon the
skull of the nearest Indian, sent him to his last ae
csunt.
Again the ponderous weapon rose in the air and
descended but this time with less success than be-
fore; for the Indians, defending themselves with
their ewn pieces, warded off the terrible blow,
which served thus only to shatter the stock of
Bnghams own rifle.
Having now ascertained in the gloom the posi-
ton Of their intended victim the would-be murder
ers, bending low, with their pieces held above
them for defense, pressed upon him with their
tomahawks and scalping, knives. And more than
one OF the terrible weapons reached the apparently
devoted Binghams body, while his own blows
were nestly all parried and broken.
But now, in the hottest of the battle, and as he
felt hatchet and knife whiz close to his limbs in
cut aud hinge, train of thoughts flashed like
lightning athwart his BRAIN His foes had not yet
succeeded in surrounding him; they all knew that
he was striking at them with his broken rife
barrel, and that all his blows were directed down
wards therefore they were comparatively safe
in holding above them their guns Under cover of
this defense, they were advancing upon him, ex-
peeting presently to bring him to the ground by
hewing, stabbing and hacking at his lower limbs
This conclusion was forced upon Bingham: and it
had scarcely come to him before he formed his
resolution accordingly.
Taking full quick stride backward, he again
wi oft fhn min Of bic r;H
barrel, bent slightly forward, and delivered tre-
mendous longitudinal blow at the arms, instead of
the heads of the Indians. The result instantly
proved the correctness of his Judgment. With
deadened sound, two or three knives and toma-
hawks, swept before the gun.barrel, were hurled
out of their owners gfasps and against the wall Of
the cabin.
aTake that, you cussed red foolsl" Numbered
Bingham, as, elated at the success of his manasuv
er, he dealt second similar blow upon his ene-
mics.
The latter, taken altogether aback by this bold
and skillfully executed device, retreated while
the heroic Bingham instantly followed up his ad.
vintage. Not knowing where their intended VIC
tim would strike next, the saVages became rrese-
lutte, several Of them suddenly lowering their pro-
teeting rifles. One of these Immediately after was
felled by Bingham's vengeful weapon.
The Indians now lost all control of themselves
and believing that they were contending, not with
human being, but demon, commenced fighting
at random, with the intention of making their es-
cape.
Blow after blow did the dauntess man shower
down upon his dusky foes, till, in the most dire
dismay, three, who yet remained uninured,
bounded for the doorway by which they had SO
shortly before made their hostile entry. As they
reached this, the last one fell to rise no more
while, with wild yels of terror, the other two
crambled through the opening and started away
or the forest.
that was shed around, Bingham deserted, lying
upon the floor of the cabin, several muskets be-
longing to his foes. In an instant, and before the
two fugitives had gained safe distance, one of
the weapons was raised cooked at Bingham's
shoulder. A single instant he held his breath, the
better to steady himself, cast vengeful glance
along the long tube, and pulled One of the flying
savages staggered moment and then fell dead
while his companion flew onward, terrified beyond
measure. Nor did he abate his headIong speed
until he reached the camp Of his compaaions, who
npon hearing the tale, leaped to their feet, and
with one voice announced their determination to /
return and take signal revenge.
But with the most fervid eloquence the fugitive /
them to relinqush their intentions, and |
painted to them in fearful cOors the certain death
that must meet them if they persisted. The cabin |
which he and his companions had attacked was in
habited he told them, not by white man, as they
had supposed, but by fearful demon, from whom |
he had been the only one of his party who had
escaped. Their superstition being thus appealed |
to- the sayages concluded not to return TO avenge
the death OF their comrades and thus the gallant
but wearied Bingham and his family were saved
from second attack, which must have proved
fatal to all of them
Upon finding that he had really beaten off, or
rather destroyed, the party of savages by whom
he had been assaed, the pioneer, utterly exhaust
ed by his tremendous exertions, sunk painting on
the bodies of his dead foes. 1t soon being broad
daylight, and the conflict having ceased his
family came .from their places of concealment,
and Mrs. Bingham, although severely wounded in
the shoulder, Immediately proceeded to revive her
devoted and gallant husband.
This was soon accomplished, and then Bingham
proceeded to learn the result of his desperate en-
counter.
-Four dusky corpses lay wetering on the floor of |
The cabin, and two others were stfening without |
making six out of seven that the dauntless pioneer
he had slain single handed.
Bingham long continued to reside in his rough |
cabin, and was never afterwards troubled by the |
Indians, who firmly believed him to be neither |
more nor less than the Evil One himself