Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-01-03
HAND-T0-HAND.
A STORY OF A rERHBtr CONFLICT.

met with Major John Seaborn, whose
exploits and adventures among the
Cherokee Indians, in the early settle
ment OF the northern portion of
Georgia, may be remembered by the
surviving pioneers of that period. He
related to me many interesting acci-
dents connected with his life and trav-
els among the natives. One of these
was a hand-to-hand conflict with a
powerful Cherokee Indian, the details
of which | we'll remember.
i was,' said he, ''at the time of the
occurrence | am about to relate, in my
25th year, and in the prime OF vigor-
Gus manhood stood 6 feet Ii inches
in my stockings, weighed 100 pounds,
and in the games and athletic sports
of the times l had never found my
match; nor was | deficient in those
traits of courage and daring so COM
mon, and, may say, so necessary in
those perilous times. Possessing a
wild, rowing disposition, l had left
my home in North Carolina, hav-
ing no friends or companion in my
rambles save huge brindle dog,
noble and faithful animal, ever ready
to do my bidding BY peculiar whis-
tie between my fingers, I could call
him from a great distance, ami had
taught him many useful tricks and
performances.
"On one OCCASION when | was in
the employ of surveying party, we
camped at point on tina banks of the
Etowah river, in what is now known
as the 18th district of Barlow county,
and not more than a mile and half
from large cave.
"Near our camp, at large spring,
there was missionary station and
with the missionaries party of pion-
eers who were engaged in the manu-.
facture of saitpetre, which they pro-
duced from dirt hauled from the cave
to the spring and used in the prepara-
ton of gun powder. This station was
between our camp and the cave.
"One beautiful morning concluded
to visit the missionaries, and started
out for this purpose along dim trail
through the forest. l had proceeded
about the fourth of mile when the
sound of human voices attracted my
attention. With the caution acquired
by long residence among tricky and
dangerous people, l quickly stepped
behind a large bush and listened in
tently. The voices approached and
two figures emerged into view not
more than thirty yards from me-the
one an Indian of gigantic size, the 9TH
er the most beautiful female my eyes
had ever beheld. She was seated on
jet-black pony of fine mettle and
proportions. Her position in the sad
die was most graceful. A blonde of
faultless form, features beautiful be-
yound description, and with long,
golden waivy tresses profusely hang
ing down upon the back of her steed.
AS the savage held the bride bit,
with tomahawk in hand, a glance
suficed to show me that she was not
voluntary companion in the journey.
Indeed, l had scarce had time to
form this opinion of the situation be-
fore all doubt was removed by sud-
den and Intellectual effort on the part
of q fair rider to extricate herself
from his grasp by jerk of the bride,
which caused the pony to rear almost
erect upon his hind feet, whereupon
the savage, still clinging to the bride,
raised his tomahawk and exclaimed:
"'Hold, white fawn, or by the
Great Spirit my tomahawk shall drink
your blood! Me, the son OF great
chief, must have pretty white squaw
in his wigwam.'
"Here the motion of his uplifted
weapon caused a violent surge by the
pony, throwing the rider, who was
instantly grasped by the fierce savage. |
with an almost overwhelming i'm
pulse of rage and fury, my heart
throbbing and my very breath sup
pressed with the excitement of the
moment,I sprang forward with the leap
of panther, and with yell which
so startled the savage that he loosed his
hold upon the lady and made several
bounds from her toward the woods
''Seeing me, she exclaimed:
"'Oh! sir, save me! Save mel!
"The savage now turned and stood |
at bay, not twenty steps distant.
"The pony stood still, trembling
near the lady.
"'Mount! Mount said I, quick,
and tlyn at the same time lifting her
into the saddle.
''As she moved off, faced the In,
dian, who had turned and stood at bay,
and recognized him as the famous and
blood thirsty George Took, known
among the Indians as Unakayah- wah
(white man killer) He was an Indi-
an of tremendous size and strength,
and of most desperate character. He
stood motionless for moment, star
ing at me with hideous expression of
hatred and revenge AS l looked at
his fiendish eye, and saw large
tomahawk in his brawny hand, there
flashed through my mind, for the first