Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-04-24

jelly. while the only clothing he had
was shirt Tho only course now oper
to the two men was TO proceed north
ward along the coast to the Umpqua
settlements, distance OF about forty
miles. They were without food. fire or
blankets; thoir route lay through
country full OF hostile Indians, and
their only weapons consisted OF the gun
(without ammunition) that Williams
had brought out Of the fight. and
knife belonging to. Hedden.
They Travelled all that night as fast
as Williams was able TO go, and about
noon the noxt day lay down TO sleep
Heddon, being unhurt, was soon asleep,
with the rifle (of no practical use) by
his side; but Williams, who was in too
much agony to sleep, was suddenly
startled by a heavy shadow being cast
in front OF him, caused by an Indian
rising from the ground on the opposite
side OF Hedden, and having in his
hands the gun. Hedden was on his
feet in an instant and rushed at the
savage with his butcher knife. The
Indian fed, Hedden in close pursuit
and but few feet behind, striking at
him with the knife; when coming TO q
BLUM the Indian jumped down perpen-
dicular precipice about twenty feet,
carrying the gun with him. Believing
themselves pursued the two men struck
deeper into the timber and continued
travelling as long as Williams could
walk.
Day after day they struggled on,
Williams continually getting worse,
and able TO crawl but few miles
day. The only food that could be OBJ
tanned was bugs and snails, and upon
this unsavory diet they were compelled
to subsist in order to sustain life. All
OF Williams wounds except the one
where the arrow had penetrated the
abdomen were now running sores, and
his body was swollen to an enormous
size, till he was unable to rise from the
ground without assistance. The self.
sacrificing devotion OF Hedden TO his
unfortunate companion was most
touching, and Williams repeatedly
urged him to so on to the fort alone
and leave him TO die in the wilderness
But Hedden firmly refused, saying he
would stay with him while life lasted
and SEQ him decently buried when he
died.
After almost two weeks OF wandering
they at length reached the mouth OF
Coos Bay. where they found friendly
Indian, who put them across on the
ocean beach. BY following this about
twenty miles they would reach the
Umpqua. Williams now gave out so
completely that he could not move, and
suffered untold agony, crying, begging,
and praying for death to release him
from his suffering. He again urged
Holden to go on and leave him TO die in
the sandhills; but with the resolution OF
a martyr Hedden refused, saying he
must move on while life lasted, and not
give up now when help was so near
So tearing up his shirt, Hedden made
sort Of sling, which he placed around
Williams. and thus carried him along
until they reached the Umpqua, where
Williams was placed in friendly hands
and his wounds dressed for the first
time.
Shortly after their arrival at the
Umpqua a vessel came in from San
Francisco having on board as passen-
ger DIR. +. X. Fiske, graduate OF
Harvard College, and II kind and be-
nevolent man. Under his charge Will
liams was soon able TO move around,
but the arrow still remained in his
body and caused him much trouble.
Finally, on February 81 1859, the end
Of the wooden joint of the arrow made
its appearance near whore it had en-
tered, and with tho aid Of pair OF
bullet-molds Williams succeeded in
drawing it out. 1t was hard vine-
maple stick about three inches long,
both ends OF which had been hardened
by the fire, and was as solid as ever.
He now began rapidly to get we'll, and
in ten days threw aside the rags and
bandages for the first time since Sep
TENDER n, 1851, and stepped forth a
we'll man. Overland Monthly.