The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-03-04


Severely wounded as he No. ha caught
up par OF horsemen's pistoIs ond rushed
forward to repel the attero,,+ ~ boarding.
On his approach the Indians fell back
and he discharged a pistol with effect at
the foremost man. After firing the sec
ond pistol he found himself u,-;tb0,It arms,
ana was compelled to retreat. but step
ping back upon pile of small wood
wNhlch had been prepared for burning IN
the kettle the thoughtstrucIz him that 1t
might De made use of in repelling the
Zoe ana he continued for some time TO
strike them with 1t so forciblv and ac-
uVely that they were unable to enter the
boat, and at length he wounded one of
them so severely that with veil they
suddenly gave way. All the canoes in
stantly discontinued the contest and
directed their course to CAPTAIN Great
houses boat which was then in sight.
Here a striking contest was exhibited to
the tirmness and intrepiditv which had
been displayed. Instead of resisting the
attack the people on board of this boat
retired 10 the cabin IN dismav The In
dams entered it without opDosition and
rowed 1t to the shore. where they in
stantly killed the Captain and lad OF
about fourteen years of age. The We
men they placed in the centre of their
canoes and manning them with fresh
hands again pursued Captain HubbeH
and party. \ melancholy alternative
now presented itself to these brave but
almost responding men, either 70 fall
prey to the savages themselves or to run
the risk of shooting the women who had
been placed IN the canoes in the hope Ct
deriving protection from their presence.
But " self preservation is the first law OF
nature, and the Captai,l-. sorry justly
remarked there would noe te much hJ,-
mainly IN preserving their ilVes Mt such
a sacrifice merely that they might be
come victims of savage cruelty at some
subs quent period
There we're now but four men left on
board of Captain Hubbells boat capable
of defending it, and the Captain himself
was severely wounded In two places.
The second attack. however, was resisted
with almost incredible tirmness and
yigor Whenever the Indians would rise
10 fire their opponents would commonly
eive them the first shot, which in almost
every instance would prove fatal. Not
withstandiug the disparity OF numbers,
and the exhausted condition of the de
tenders of the boat, the Indians at length
appeared to despair of success, and the
canoes succssive'y retired To the shore
Just as the last one was departing CAP
tain Hubbell called to the Indian who
was standing IN the stern, and on his
turning round discharged his piece at
him. When the smoke which for "a mo-
meut obStructed the vision was dissi-
pated, he was seen lying on his back
and appeared to be severely, and per
haps MORALLY, wounded.
Unfortunately the boat now drifted 10
the shore where the Indians We're col
lected, and a large concourse, probably
between four and five hundred were seen
rushing down the bank. Ray and Plas-
cut, the only men remaining unhmt.
were placed at the oars, and as the boat
was not more than twenty yards from
the shore il was deemed prudent for ali
TO lie down in as safe n position as posi-
bic and attempt to push forward with the
utmost practicable rapidity. While they
continued in this situation nine balls
were shot into one oar and ten into the
other, without wounding the rowers.
who were hidden from view and pro-
tected by the side of the boat and the
blankets IN its stern During this dread
full exposure to the fire OF the sovages,
which continued about twenty minutes,
Mr.. Fitzpatrick observed particular In
dian whom he thought favorable mark
for his rifle, and notwithstanding the
solemn warning Of Captain Hubbell, rose
TO shoot him. He Immediately received
ball in his mouth, which passed out at
the back of his head, and was almost at
the same moment shot through the
heart. He fell among Inc horses. that
about the same time we've killed, and
presented 10 his afflicted daughters and
fellow-traveler who were witnesses of
the awful occurrence. a spectacle of
horror which we need not further at
tempt to describe.
The boat was now providendallv and
suddenly carried out into the middle Of
the stream and taken by the current he
yond the reach of the enemy's balls.
Our little band, reduced as they were in
numbers, wounded, afflicted, and almost
exhausted by fatigue, were still uusuh-
dued in spirit and being assembled in all
their strength, men, women. aud chill
dren. with an appearance of triumph.
gave three hearty cheers, calling to the
Indians to come on again if they were
fond of the sport.
Thus ended this awful conflict. In
which out of nine men two only escaped
unhurt Tucker and Fitzpatrick were
killed on the spot. Stoner was mortallv
wounded and died on his arrival at Lime
stone, and all the rest, excepting Raw
aud Plascut, were severely wounded
The women and children were all mn
injured, excepting a little son of Mr..
Plascut, who, after the battle was over
came to the Captain, and with great
GOODNESS requested him to take a hall
out of his head. On examination If am
peared that n bullet which had passed
through the side of the boat and meme
trated the forehead of this little hero
and remained under the skin The Can
tain took 1t out, and the youth observ-
ing "thdt is not all, raised his arm
and exhibited a piece of bone at the
point of his elbow which had been shot
off and hung only by the skin. His
mother exclaimed, why did Won not
tell me of this ?" Because" he cody
replied, ''the Captain directed us to be
silent during the action, and thought
you would be likely to make noise if I
told you
The boat made the best of It's wav
down the river, and the object was to
reach Limestone that night The Cap
tain's arm had bled profusely and he was
compelled to close the sleeve of his coat
in order TO retain the blood and stop its
effusion. In this situation, tormented by
excruciating pain and faint through loss
of blood, he was under the necessity of
steering the boat with his left arm, till
about ten o'clock, when he was relieved
by Mr.. William Brooks, who resided on
the bank of the river, and who was in
duced by the calls of the suffering party
to come to their assistance BY his aid
and that of some other persons who
were in the same manner brought to
their relief, they were enabled to reach
Limestone about twelve o'clock that
night
Immediately on arrival of Mr.. Brooks,
Captain Hubbell, relieved from labor and
responsibility, sunk under the weight
of pain and fatigue, and became for