Bent County register., 1888-02-25

But scarcely had he done so, when Big
Foot arose, and placing one hand upon his
collar and the other upon his hip, pitched
him ten feet into the air, as he himself,
would have pitched child. Andrew fell
upon his back at the edge of the water,
but before his antagonist could spring upon
him, he was again upon his feet; and stung
with rage at the idea of being handled SO
easily, he attacked his gigantic antagonist
with o fury which for time compensated
for inferiority of strength. It was now a
fair fist fight between them, for in the hurry
of the struggle neither had leisure to dra1
their knives. Andrews superior activi.--
and experience as a pugilist, gave him great
advantage. The Indian struck awkwardly,
and finding himself rapidly dropping to
leeward, he closed with his Antagonist and
again hurled him to the ground.
They quickly rolled into the river, and
the struggle continued with unabated fury,
each attempting to drown the other. Tho
Anuian being unused to such violent exer-
lion, and having been much injured by the
inst shock in his stomach. was unable to
exert the same powers which had given
aim s,ich a decided superiority at first; and,
Andrew seizing him by the scalp-lock, put
nis head under water, and held it thcrc,
until the faint struggles of the Indian in
duced him to believe that he was drowned,
when he relaxed his hold and attempted to
draw his krife. The Indian, however, to
ase Andrews own expression, had only
been possumins
Ee instantly regained his feet, and in
his turn put his adversary under. In the
struggle both were carried out into the
current, beyond their depth, and each was
compe|led to relax his hold and swim for
his life. There was still one loaded rifle
npon tic shore, and each swan hard IN or
der to reac., it, but the Indian proved the
most expert swimmer, and Andrew seeing
chat he should be too late, turned and
swan out into the stream, intending to
dive and thus frustrate his enemy inten-
tion. AT this instant, Adam, having
heard that his brother was alone in strug-
gle with two Indians, and in great danger,
ran up hastily to the edge of the bank
above, in order to assist him. Another
white man followed him closely, and see
ing Andrew in tho river, covered with
blood, and swimming rapidly from shore,
mistook him for an Indian and fred upon
him wounding him dangerously in the
shoulder.
Andrew turned, and seeing his brother,
called loudly upon him TO "shoot the big
Indian upon the shore" Adams gun,
however, was empty, having just been
discharged. Fortunately Big Foot mad
also seized the gun with which Andrew
had shot the lesser Indian, SO that both
were upon an equality. The contest now
YVES who should load first. Big Foot pour
ed in his powder first, and drawing his
ramrod out of its sheath i'll too great a
hurry, threw it into the river, and while
lie ran to recover it, Adam gained an ad-
vantage Still, the Indian was but Sec
ond too late, for Ills gun was at bis should-
cr, when Adams hall entered his breast.
The gun dropped from his hands, and he
fell forward upon his face upon the very
margin of the river.
Adam, now alarmed for his brother, who
was scarcely able to swim, threw down his
run and rushed into tho river in order to
bring him ashore; but andrew, more in
tent upon securing the scalp of Big Foot
IS trophy than upon his safety, called
loudly upon his brother to leave him alone
and scalp the big Indian, who was now
sndeavoring to roll himself into the water,
from romantic desire, peculiar to the In
dian warrior, of securing his scalp from
he enemy. Adam, however, refused TO
,bey, and insisted upon saving the living
before attending to the dead. Big Foot, IN
the meantime, had succeeded in reaching
the deep water before he expired. and his
body was borne off by the waves, without
being stripped OF the ornament and pride
of an Indian warrior.
Not a man of the Indiana bad escaped.
Five of Big Foot's brothers the flower of
the Wyandott nation, bad AZ ompaniesd
him in the expedition. and all perished.
It is said that the news Of this calamity
threw the whole tribe into mourning. I,helr
remarkable size. their courage, and their
superior intelligence, gave them immense
influence, which, greatly to their crea..
was generally exerted on the eide of hs',,
manity. Their powerful lnterposition hpd
saved many prisoners from the stalse. and
had gwen q milder character tn the w8l
fare Of the Indians in that part o. the
country A chiet OF the same name was
alive in that part of the country so late rs
1892 but whether brother of Big Foot lie
not known. Andrew Poe recovered OF nls
wounds, and lived many years after is'f
memorable conflict; but never forgot tale
tremendous "hug" which he sustainap =