The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-03-19
Adam Poe's Great Fight
BY RALPH RINGwOup.

the parties engaged, but for the exceed
Ing stubbornneSs with which it was con-
Quoted, and the many different phases it
. assumed before brought to an end.
They literally fought on the earth, in
the air, and under the water.
Adam Poe, Que of the first settlers of
Kentucky, had often expressed desire
to meet the chief of the Shawnees in
handto hand combat, and these boast
ings having reached the ears Of Black
Feather, he declared his intention of
seeking out the daring white man.
This, for two seasons, he actually did,
but circumstances combined to keep
them apart for that time, Finally, how.
ever, the opportunity came.
= Allan Poe and his brother had been
ont hunting, and were returning, toward
sundown, bearing buck on pole be-
tween them.
=, When passing small thicket shot
was fired at them,th bail lodging in the
head Of the deer, which hung next to
Adam Poe.
s = To drop their burden and rush for the
ambush, was but the work of second,
Adam taking the right and his brother
the left hand side
= The thicket proving much larger than
either thought, t,they became more widely
separated than was intended, and. Adam
was upon the point of returning to
where the deer had been left, when, at 5
distance of q, hundred yards or 80 he
discovered the gigantic form of the
Shawnee Chief, who was just in the ACT
of firing upon him.
Adam had time TO reach cover before
the shot was made, and then began a Sc
Z ries OF tactics, such as were rarely wit
messed in these wilds, for two Of the
most noted warriors of the day were
each striving to gain an advantage over
the other.
Foot by foot they drew nearer each
other, leaping from tree to tree, from
stump to stump, or rock 10 rock, as the
case might be.
Imperceptibly to each other, perhaps.
they gradually worked round, until
both stood upon the verge of a high,
bluff bank, overlooking the river, facing
each other, but some twenty PAGES apart,
Here, from behind separate trees, the
willy foemen strove to obtain shot
i and, at last, Adam, thinking he saw his
chance, fired at the exposed hip Of the
chief
He missed his aim, and like an uncag-
ed lion, the gigantic Indian rushed from
his cover, and bore down upon the ia no
wise daunted white man.
Half way they met, the Indian WELD
ing his tomahawk, having cast aside bis
rife, while Adam laid his hopes and
prospects upon the keen blade of his
hunting knife.
With shock they met midway, and
then began struggle such as is rarely
witnessed between two of the human
Kind.
Poe was not quite so tall as the Shaw
nee, but lie was fully as strong, and
much more active; and so the fight was
about upon all equal footing.
For many minutes they struggled back
and forth upon the grassy level, now
closing, in the attempt to throw esch
other, and, failing in this. again resort
ing to blows, dealt with tomahawk OF
knife.
By this time both we're wounded in
several places, the chief probably the
more severely Of the two.
At length, in making savage stroke
with his weapon, the grasp of the red
skin slipped, and the light ak went
whirling far out into the river.
In an instant the Indian grappled, land
struggle fiercer than any that had ye
taken place, ensued-each putting forth
every effort, until approaching too neal
the precipice, they missed footing. and
went tumbling into the stream locked il
deadly embrace!
At the point where they fell, the
stream was very deep, and the current
swift and strong.
The advantage now lay with Adam
lie was practiced swimmer, while he
quickly discovered that his opponent
could not swim at all.
The Indian, aware Of this, in turf
strove to regain the shore, but wa:
thwarted at every point by Poe, who
would jerk him back into deep water,
and then both would go under togeth
er
Finally, falling further out than here
tofore, the combatants were caught b)
the current, and quickly borne some dis
tance from land.
The fight was now all in the white
mans favor, and would have been quick
ly ended, but for an unlocked for ant
unfortunate circumstance. Adams bro
ther suddenly appeared upon the scene
and taking in his brothers peril, as b'
thought, at glance, ventured upon tn
hazardous experiment of finishing th'
chief by shot.
The ball sped, but not truly, fol
1t struck Adam in the shoulder, almos
paralyzing the left arm.
His situation now became desperate
Indeed.
He could force the Indian beneath thu
current, but could not hold him there
and, seeing that his own strength was
rapidly departing, he determined to out
wind the enemy.
With this object, he suddenly threw
his arm about the savages neck, and to
gether they disappeared beneath th'
surface.
Adams brother, standing upon th'
bank, unconscious Of the harm he hat
a done, witnessed this sudden disappear
ance in dismay.
Long he waited for the reappearanc'
of one or the other, until, at length, be
coming thoroughly alarmed, he leapet
into the stream aud swan for tie spot
He reached it not moment too soon
Adam had "ont winded" the Indian
aud, in doing so, had nearly drowned
himself.
He came feeble to the surface, ant
would have sunk again, but for hi
brothers aid.
They both reached the shore in safe