Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-09

tance below Fort Pitt, and several
miles from the Ohio river. Here
finding an old man alone, |? n
cabin, they killed him, packed up
what plunder they could find, and
commenced their retreat. Amongst
their party was a celebrated Wyan-
dot chief, who, in addition to his
fame as a warrior and counsellor,
was, as to his size and strength, a
real giant.
The news of the visit Of the In
dians soon spread through the
neighborhOod, and party of eight
good rinemen was collected IN a
few hours for the purpose OF pur-
SUNG the Indians. In this party
were two brothers of the names of
Adam and Andrew Poe. They
were both famous for courage, size
and activity.
This little party commenced the
pursuit of the Indians,with a deter
mination, if possible, not to suffer
them to escape. as they usually did
on such occasions, by making a
speedy fight to the river, crossing
it, and then dividing into small
parties, to meet at distant
point in a gwen time.
The pursuit was continued the
greater part Of the night after the
Indians had done the mischief. In
the morning, the party found
themselves on the trail OF the In
dians, which led to the river. When
arrived within a little distance of
the river, Adam Poe, fearing an
ambuscade, left the party, who fol-
lowed directly on the trail, to creep
along the brink Of the river bank,
under cover Of the weeds and
bushes, to fall on the rear OF the
Indians, should he find them in
ambuscades. He had not gone far
before he saw the Indian RATS at
the waters edge. Not seeing any
Indians, he stepped softly down
the bank with his rife cooked.
When about half way down, he
discovered the large Wyandot
chief and a small Indian within "A
few steps of him. They were
standing with their guns cooked,
and looking in the direction of our
party, who 10y this time had gone
some distance lower down the
bottom. Poe took aim at the
large chief, but his rifle missed
fire. The Indians hearing the snap
Of the gun-lock, instantly turned
round and discovered Poe, who
being too near them to retreat,
dropped his gun and sprang from
the bank upon them, and seizing
the large Indian by the clothes on
his breast, and at the same time
embracing the neck Of the small
one, threw them both down on the
ground, himself being uppermost'
The small Indian soon eXtricated
himself, ran to the raft, got his
tomahawk, and attempted to dis
patch Poe, the large Indian hold
ing him fast in his arms with all
his might, the better to enable his
fellow so effect his purpose. Poe,
however, so well watched the mo-
tions of his assailant, that, when
in the act Of aiming his blow at
his head, by a vigorous and well
directed kick with one of his feet,
he staggered the savage, and
knocked the tomahawk out Of his
hand. This failure, on the part of
the small Indian, was reproved by
an exclamation OF contempt from
the large one.
In a moment the Indian caught
up his tomahawk again, approach
ed more cautiously, brandishing
his tomahawk, and making num-
Der OF feigned blows in defiance
and derision. Poe, however, still
on his guard, averted the real blow
from his head, by throwing up his
arms, and receiving it on his wrist
in which he was severely wounded;
but not so as to lose entirely the
use of his hand.
J In this perilous moment, Poe, by
q violent effort, broke loose from
the Indian, snatched up one Of the
Indians guns, and shot the small
Indian through the breast, as he
ran up the third time totoma'
hawk him.
The large Indian was now on his
feet and grasping Poe by should
er and leg, threw him down on the
bank. Poe instantly disengaged
himself and got on his feet. The
Indian then seized him again, aud
a new struggle ensued, which,
owing to the slippery state of the
bank. ended in the fall of both
combatants into the water.
In this situation, 1t was the OBJ
iect of each to drown the other
Their efforts to effect their purpose
were continued for some time with
alternate success, sometimes
one being under the water and
sometimes the other. Poe at
length seized the tuft Of hair on
the scalp of the Indian, with which
| he held his head under water, un-
til he supposed him drowned.
Relaxing his hold too soon, Poe