The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-05-05
Legends Of the Ohio Valley.
Adventures OF the Poe brothers
md Of CnDi. SnIn. RrnLY.


Adventures OF the Poe brothers
md Of Capt. sam. Brady.
fr1m forthcoming work In print at the ISrEL-
IldEScER Job Printing Office, by j. II. Me-
AcchCn, Of Wheeling
Among those who settled ut an early
lay near the northern extremity Of what
/. now called the Panhandle OF West
Virginia, we're two brothers, Adam and
Andrew Poe. They were born in Mary
lsnd, and emigrated to the West in IVA.
Adam was the elder Of the two by FIVE
Years. lie lived to the age OF ninety.
three, and died in 1910.
In the summer Of 17SG, party Of
even Wyandottes made an incursion
into a settlement some distance below
For! Pitt, and several miles from the
Ohio river. Here finding an old man
alone in cabin, they killed him, packed
up what plumber they could find, and
commenced their retreat. Amongst their
party was a celebrated Wyandotte chief,
who, in addition to his fame as a warrior
and counsellor, was as to his size and
,trengIh, n real giant" This Indian was
Known by the name Of "Big Foot"
The news Of the visit OF the Indiana
soon spread through the neighborhood,
ind party Of eight good ritlemen was
objected in few hours for the purpose
Of pursuing them. In this party were
The two brothers, Adam and Andrew Poe.
They were both famous for courage, size
md activity. This little party com.
nenced the pursuit OF the Indians with
determination, il possible, not to suffer
them to escape. as they usually did on
lch occasions, by making speedy flight
TO the river, crossing it, and then divil.
ing into small parties, TO meet at a dis.
.int point in a given time. The pursuit
vas continued greater part Of the night
alter the Indians had done the mischief.
In the morning the party found them
-tIves on the trail Of the Indians, which
led to the river. When arrived at lit.
tie distance from the river, Adam Poe,
fearing an ambuscade, left the party, who
followed directly on the trail, to creep
along the brink OF the river bank, under
cover Of the weeds aud bushes, to fall on
the rear OF the Indians, should be find
lhem in amblscade. lie had not gone
itr before he saw the Indian rats at the
waters edge. Not seeing any Indians,
he stepped softly down the bank, with
liz rifle cooked. When about half
say down he discovered the large
Wyandotte chief and small
Indian, within a few steps OF him.
They were standing with their guns
1ckcd, and looking in the direction Of
01r party, who by this time had gone
.pme distance lower down the bottom,
Zoe took aim at the large chief, but his
;Jtle missed fire. The Indians hearing
the snap Of the gun.lock, instantly turned
round and discovered Poe, who, being too
tear them to retreat, dropped his gun and
'pTaug from the bank upon them, and
'yjliHg the large Indian by the clothes on
be breast, and ut the same time EN-.
b'lriDg the neck OF the small one, threw
lIem both down on the ground, himself
being uppermost. The small Indian
'o5n rNtricated himself, ran to the raft,
got hls tomahawk, and attempted to dis.
patch Poe, the large Indian holding him
iE.ln his arms with all his might, the
the better to enable his fellow to effect
hI' purpose. Poe, however, SO we'll
ylched the motions Of his assailant,
tia! when in the act OF aiming blow at
A,7 head, by vigorous and well.directed
lick with one Of his feet, he staggered the
,avage and knocked the tomahawk on OF
bi' hand. This failure on the part Of
he small Indian was reproved by an cx-
cIRmation OF contempt from the large
ore.
In a moment the Indian caught up his
.mahawS again, approached more eau
lton.ly, brandishing his tomahawk and
making u number Of feigned blows in
defiance and derision. Poe, however,
III! on his guard, averted the real blow
from his head by throwing up his arm
nag receiving It on his wrist, in which he
was .everally wounded; but not so as to
lose entirely the use Of his hand. In this
rcrilOu1 moment Poe, by violent effort,
broke loose from the Indian, snatched up
one Of the Indians guns, and shot the
'mal! Indian through the breast, az he
ran up 4 third time 10 tomahawk him.
The large Indian was now on his feel,
and a.ping Poe by u shoulder and lee,
threw him down on his back. Poe in.
.'anIly disCngaged himself, and got his on
let. The Indian then seized him again,
-od a new struggle cnsued, which, owing
70 the slippery state OF the bank, ended
IN the fall OF both Combatants into the
water. lu this situation it was the oh.
lect Of each 10 drown the other. Their
vAoru to effect their purpose were con.
"nned for Some time, with alternate suc.
cess, sometimes one being under water
and sometimes the other. Poe at length
,,eiLed the tut. OF hair on the scalp Of the
indian, with which he held his head un-
aeT water untilhe supposed him drowned.
Ne'aGlng his hold too soon, Poe instantly
IoHnd his gigantic antagonist on his feet
again and ready for another combat, I'M
ms they were carried into the water
"yoad their depth. In this situation
nyi were compelled TO loose their
nCtu on each other and swim for mutual
'AIe'y' Both sought the shore to seire a
Gun ana end the contest with bullets
The Indian, being the hes, sw;mnas
reached the land first. Poe seeing This
Immediately turned back into The water
70 escape being shot, il possibls b1
l'InS. Fortunately the Indian cansS;
W the rifle with which Poe hal kiiis5
The other warrior. At this iurcture An
drew Poe, missing his brother from - ,Ss
PARTY, and supposing from the renort ~
,Gegun which he shot that he was ei,bes
KILLED or engaged in conflict with the In.
a!an', FASTENED to the spot. On seeing
Eim Adam called out, to kill the big In,
Hlan on shore Bat Andrews gun, like
ma. OF the Indians was empty. The
e'ntest was now between the white and
,9s Indian who should load and fire ii,st
very fortunately for Poe, the Indian in
gaU'nS drew the ramrod from the thin
We OF the stock OF the gun with SO much
,."Ience that il slipped out Of his hands
"a lgI' little distance from him, He
lucky caught It up and rammed down
T %s epIelL This little delay pave Poe
%e advantage. He shot the Indian ma bs
'%'a''iDS his gun 10 take aim al him,
As soon as Andrew had shot ,be In.
S;Oh he jumped into the river 10 assist
~, JS Wounded brother to shore; but Adam
"A'ns more otthe honor Of carrying The