The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1872-08-03
THRILLING.
Fight with ara Indian on the
Pncffic Railroad EraIn.


4 recent number of the Paris Figaro
tells thrilling story, which had not then
been published in this country, although
the event occurred within forty miles Of
New York. aud one Of the prominent ac-
tors in it. Mr. Henry Pierce, is said to
have been a we'll known Greeley man.
1t is very well understood says Figaro,
that the Indians along the line Of the
Paci6c raiiroaathiBR tie locomotive is
terrible monster sent by the Great Spir-
it for the extermination Of the red man.
They have tried TO destroy il by throw
ing trains from the track but failing in
this, one Of the fercest Of their chiefs.
Cherokee, named Naha, the mocking
Bird, determined to adopt another meth
cd. Figaro continues the story as fol-
lows:
Accordingly. on the second of Juue
last he concealed himself near the rails,
aud with extraordinary activity bounded
upon the iootboard OF train No. 81 from
San Francisco to New York He then
slipped along tho train until he reached
the locomotive, where he killed the fire.
man with his tomahawk, stabbed the eu-
gineer with his knife, aud alter scalping
them. jumped on the tender. brandish-
ing the scalps and howiing out savage
war song.
The settlers along the line became ter
riied as they saw the train, which new
dashed along at fearful speed, driven
By the ferocious engineer. The passen-
gers all cried out for help. Their situa-
ton was extremely perilOus. In fact,
they we're running into the jaws of death.
FINALLY au officer of the navy, Mr. Hen
ry Pierce, determined to sacrifice him
self to save his fellow passengers. Armed
with long dirk knife, be ran along the
footboard Of the train and jumped upon
the locomotive The chief uttered a war
cry and brandished his tomahawk. and
a hand to hand struggle was commenced
over the bodies Of the engineer and fire.
man.
The passengers put their heads out of
the windows, and with an anxiety which
may easily be imagined tried to see the
fight. 10 about minute Mr.. Pierce
fell mortally wounded under Mockiug
Bird, who 10 the twinklug Of an eye,
seal ped him. But while lie was triumph
antly waving the scalp Of bis victim in
the air, Mr. Pierce, who was still living,
had sufficient strength to jump up and
plunge his knife into the Indians breast,
killing him instantly He then crawled
to the valve handle, shut off the steam,
and the train was stopped. The passen-
gers ran to the assistance Of the brave
officer, but it was too late he died two
hours afterward.
The failure of the New York papers
to record this remarkable occurrence can
only be explained by the suggestions that
the Greeley organs were unwilling TO
acknowledge the loss Of SO valuable a
leader, fearing that their party would be
demoralized thereby, and the admins
tration papers could not bring themselves
to admit that Greeley man was capable
of such heroism. Aud so, through the
despicable cowardee Of one party and
the narrow jealousy Of the other, deed
of splendid gallantry is only saved from
oblivion by the admiration Of a foreign
er, who heard of it by chance. Such
instances Of heroic self-saerifce arc too
rare to be lost from history. Where
were the independent journals p