The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-30
A TERRIBLE CONFLICT.
A HAND TO HIND FIGHT BETWEEN
AND INDIAN and A WHITE MIN.

"
white girl, and sturdy pioneer Who rescued her,
was written fifteen years ago for tne Dalton Citizen
by personal acquaintance OF the pioneer The
romantic sequel gives the story 4 flavor worthy Of
the pen of James Fennemore "COPPER".
In or about the year 1913, the writer met
with Major John Seaborn. whose exploits and
adventures among the Cherokee Indians, in
the early settlement of the northern portion of
Georgia, may be remembered by the surviving
pioneers of that period. He related to me
many interesting incidents connected W h his
life and travels among the natives. One of
hese was hand to hand conflict with pow
erful Cherokee Indian, the details of which
well remember.
81 was" said he, sat the time of the occur
renee am about to relate, in my 25th year,
and in the prime of vigorous manhood, l
stood feet Il inches in my stockings, weighed
400 pounds, and in tho games and athletic
sports of the times 1 had never found my
match; nor was deficient in those traits of
courage and daring so common, and, / may
say, so necessary in those perilous times. Pos
sessing wild, rowing disposition, l had left
my home in North Carolina, having no friends
or companion in my rambles save a huge brin-
die dog, noble and faithful animal, ever
ready to do my bidding. By peculiar whistle
between my fingers, / could call him from a
full tricks and performances.
"Oh one occasion, when was in the employ
of o surveying party, we camped at point on
the banks of the Etowah river, in what is now
known as the 18th district of Barlow county,
and not more than mile and half from
large cave.
"Near our camp, at large spring, there was
q missionary station and with the missionaries
party of pioneers who were engaged in the
manufacture of saltpetre, which they produced
from d TT hauled from the cave to the spring
and used in the preparation of gun powder.
This station was between our camp and the
cave.
zone beautiful morning concluded to visit
the missionaries, and started out for this pur-
pose along dim trail through the forest.
had proceeded about the fourth of mile when
che sound of human voices attracted my at
eention. With the caution acquired by long
Residence among tricky and dangerous peo-
pie, quickly stepped behind large bush and
listened intently. The voices approached and
two figures emerged into view not moro than
thirty yards from me-the one an Indian of
gigantic size, the other the most beautiful fe-
hale my eyes had ever beheld. She was seat
ed on q jet black pony of fine metal and pro-
portions. Her position in the saddle was most
graceful. A blonde of faultless form, features
beautiful beyond description, and with long,
golden. waivy tresses profusely hanging down
upon the back of her steed. AS the savage
held the bride bit, with tomahawk in hand, O
glance sufficed to show me that she was not
voluntary companion in the journey Indeed,
had scarce had time to form this opinion of
the situation before all doubt was removed by
D sudden and Intellectual effort on the part of
the fair rider to extricate herself from his grasp
law iarIr of tha hrid viii
so rear almost erect upon his hind feet, where
upon the savage, still clnging to the bride,
raised his tomahawk. and exclaimed:
"'Hold, white fawn, or by the Great Spirit
my tomahawk shall drink your blood Me,
che son of q great chief. must have pretty
white squaw in his wigwam.'
'tHere the motion of his uplifted weapon
caused violent surge by the pony, throwing
the rider, who was instantly grasped by the
Gerce savage.
"With an almost overwhelming impulse of
rage and fury, my heart throbbing and my
very breath suppressed with the excitement of
the moment, sprang forward with the leap of
q panther, and with yell which SO startled
She savage that he loosed his hold upon the
lady and made several bounds from her to-
wards the woods
''Seeing me, she exclaimed:
ooh. sir, save me! Save mel'
1.-THE savage now turned and stood at bay,
not twenty steps distant.
''The pony stood still, trembling near the
lady.
Mount Mountl said I, quick, and hy!'
at the Same time lifting her into the saddle.
GAS she moved off, faced the Indian, who
had turned and stood at bay. and recognized
him as the famous and blood thirsty George
Took, known among the Indians as Unaka-
yah-wah, white man killer.) He was an In
dian of tremendous size and strength, and of
most desperate character He stood motion
less for a moment, staring al me with hideous
expression of hatred and revenge. AS looked
at his fiendish eye, and saw large tomahawk
in his brawny hand, there flashed through my
mind, for the first time, the immense disadvan-
tage of my position.
"I had. unfortunately, left the camp, on this
occasion, without my pistol. and had no weap-
on except short hunting knife, which hung
at my side. Quick in emergencies, and ac-
customed to perlous adventure, my plan was
instantly formed. 1t was to invite pursuit in
the direction to the camp where aid could be
procured. began to step backward. He at
once defined my object, and, with terrible
yell. sprang forward, trusting to reach and dis
patch me at once Beng of swift foot
turned, bounded forward, giving, as ] started,
a loud, keen whistle through my fingers. He
followed with velocity equal to my own and at
o distance of about ten PAGES behind me. For
about one hundred yards he put forth his ut
most energies, and then, as if despairing of
success, or fearing I might draw him into am
bush, be hurled his toinahawk at me with such
swift and fearful proximity to my head that
my cap was carried of, and the instrument,
passing me, buried itself in tree some forty
feet beyond
"This was contingency I had hoped for,
and / suddenly turned upon my foe.
GAS we came together aimed blow at his
head with my fist. He evaded me by side
motion. and stepping two or three PAGES back
ward, rushed upon me, attempting to throw
his head between my legs. This was favor
lite feat among the Indian athletes, by which
they often upset ar adversary, throwing him
over upon mis- head and Gripping, or placing
him at fearful disadvantage. understood
the move. and partially avoided this head
striking my knee, knocking my feet backward
and staggering me considerably.
Recovering, dealt him a severe kick on
Tho hoo and !, l., I,.,1-