The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-04-04
Adam Poe's Great Fight.
by RALPH RIN6woon.

.1AeA<A AAA \ w . NAA.SeS~f = = - ~
1ans by RALPH RIN6NooD. ,.sau
The celebrated fight between Atlam
Poe and the Shawnee chief, Black
Feather, has been spoken of in the
histories of early Kentucky, but be-
iieve the particulars. of that combat
have never been given correctly to he
public 3AtF u2 u tli %
The fight was remarkable, not only
on account of the we'll known prowess
of the parties engaged, but for the
exceeding stubbornncss with which it
was conducted, and the many different
phrases il assumed before brought to
an end. .te..f ses .s.-,
They literally fought on the earth,
in the air and under the water.
Adam Poe. one of the first settlers
of kentucky, had often expressed
desire 10 meet the chiet of the Shaw
nees in hand-to hand combat, and
these boastings having reached the
ears of Black Feather, he declared his
intention of seeking out the daring
white man. stf.t
= This, for two reasons, he actually
did, but circumstances combined to
keep them apart for that time. Final
ly. however, the opportunity came.
3 Adam Poe ard his bro thershad been
z0Nt lluhtiags apd were returning
towards spndoWp, bearing a buck
UPON pole Between them.
When passing a small thieket shot
was fired at them, the ball lodging in
the head of the deer, which was next
to Adam Poe. ~,.-s,.e.--f.
To drop their burden and rush for
the ambush, was bat the work of a
second, Adam taking the right and
his brother the left hand side.
The thicket proving much larger
than either thought. they became
more widely separated than was in
tended, and Adam was upon the
point of returning to where the deer
had been left, when at a distance, 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 be-
fore the shot was made. and then be-
gan series of tactics, such as were
rarely witnessed in these wilds, for
two of the most noted warriors of the
day were each striving to gain an ad-
vantage over the other. G4.}
8 Foot by foot they drew. nearer to
each other, leaping from tree to tree,
from stump to stump. or rock to rock,
as the case might be. e
Imperceptibly to each other. per-
haps, they gradually worked" round,
until both stood upon the verge of
high bluff bank overlooking the river
facing each other, but some twenty
PAGES apart.
Here, frem behind separate trees,
the willy foemen strove to obtain a
shot and at last, Adam, thinking he
saw his chance, fired at the exposed
hip of the chief
He missed his aim, and like an un-
Gagged lion, the gigantic Indian rushed
from his cover and bore down upon
the in no wise undaunted white man.
Half way they met, the Indian
welding his tomahawk. having cast
aside his rife, while Adam laid his
hopes aid prospects upon the keen
blade of his hunting knife.
With q shock they met midway,
and then began struggle such as is
rarely witnessed between two Of the
human kind. -ts..qs=
Poe was not quite so tall as the
Shawnee but he was fully as strong,
and much more active; and so the
fight was about upon an equal footing.
For many minutes they struggled
back and forth upon the grassy level,
now closing in the attempt to throw
each other, and falling in this, again
resorting to blows, dealt with toma
hawk or knife. ts~a &
By this time both were wounded in
several places, the chief probably the
m Ora SEVERELY of fhe fwO
& 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,
and a struggle, fercer than any that
had yet taken place, epsued-each put
ting forth every effort. until, approach.
ing too near the precipice, they missed
footing, and went tumbling into the
stream locked in a deadly embrace.
AT the point where they fell the
stream was very deep, and the current
swift and strong. s.s..,...-.,,
The advantage nov lay with Adam
He was practiced swimmer, while
he quickly discovered that his oppo-
nent scould not swim at all. 4fia
The Indian, aware of this, in turn
stroYe to. regain the shore, but was
thwarted at every point by Poe, who
would jerk him back into deep water,
and then both would go under togeth-
en- < bHs eHe al9s I'D vti-.4fs-l.-.g, -
Finally, falling further out than
the ccmbatants were
caught by the current, and quickly
borne some distance from land.
The fight was now all in, the white
or1'o favor and vrnnlH haua hoan
quickly ended, but for au unlocked
for and unfortunate circumstance.
brother suddenly appeared
upon the scene, and taking in his
brothers peril, as he thought, at a |
glance, ventured upon the hazardous
experiment of finishing the chief by
shot, - Gia5Ts g iEaHc
The ball sped, but not truly, for it
struck Adam in the shoulder, almost
the left arm.
His situation now became desper-
ate indeed. s1i jst' 9eogqi!- d
He could force the Indian beneath
the current, but he could not hold |
him there, and, seeing that his own
was rapidly departing, he |
to outwind the enemy.
With this object he suddenly threw |
his arm about the savage's neck, and |
together they disappeared beneath the
surface.
Adams brother, standing upon the
bank, unconscious of the harm he had |
done, Witnessed this sudden disap. |
pearance in dismay.
Long he waited for the reappear-
ance OF one or the other, until, at
length, becoming thoroughly alarmed |
he leaped into the stream and SWAN |
for the spot.
He reached it not q moment too
soon. Adam had out-winded" the |
Indian, and. in doing SO, had nearly |
drowned himself.
He came feebly to the surface, and |
would have sunk again, but for his
brothers aid.
I They both reached the shore in safe
ty, but Adam Poe never fully recev-
cred from the terrible excrtion of that
fight. sa
faf II