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

anu tnlS arrow udu llo btihc cHcCt
upon Williams Finding IL impossible
to move, no jerked il out, drawing off
the barb and also the point Of the main
shaft To which the barbed point was
attached. No pain was experienced
when the arrow entered. but the sud-
denncss with which the barbed point
was drawn of inside the body was. to
say the least, painful operation, and
it seemed for moment that no must
give way before IL; but. singularly. tho
excitement ovorcame the pain, and in a
moment he had as good command OF
himself as ever.
The fight now assumed an altogether
different character, and most of the In
dians fell back toward the river TO
plumber or mutilate the dead, or TO assist
in torturing any poor fellow whose life
had not quite passed away, and TO look
after the dead and wounded OF their
own. About fifteen or twenty, armed
with bows and arrows, scattered out on
each side OF Williams, only few feet
distant, and opened rapid volley OF
arrows from both sides at once.
From the positions thus assumed, IL
was impossible for Williams TO bring
himself near enough to his pursuers to
strike any of them, rs when move was
made in any direction the Indians In
front would rapidly glide away, keeping
just out OF reach, while others were dis
charging their arrows from both sides
and the rear. Exhausted, disheart-
ened, bleeding from u hundred bruises,
and feeling that he had already received
mortal wound, Williams turned his
back upon his pursuers and ran toward
the timber. The savages gave chase,
concentrating upon him Il perfect show
or OF arrows; but soon the majority
abandoned the pursuit and fell back to
the river, leaving to continue the chase
two of their number who were each
we'll armed with bows and full quivers
OF arrows, one of them carrying II rifle
also that had been taken from one of
the mon.
These two Indians at once placed
themselves on each side of Williams
and about ten feet distant, firing their
arrows with rapidity not easily real
lied by one having no personal knowl-
edge OF the manner in which these
weapons are handled by an expert.
Their constant cross-liro rendered it al
most impossible for Williams to dodge
many OF their arrows; and as If to rem
der his chances OF escape more hope
less, his brooches became unfastcnod
and dropped down upon his feet. 1t
was not time TO be particular about
toilet, and, dangerous as the circum-
stances were Williams was obliged TO
stop and kick the old brooches of.
Being now encumbercl by nothing but
bob-tailed shirt, he felt little more
sprightly. but the Indians wore in no
greater danger than before.
Why Williams was not completely
riddled during this long running fight
across the prairie is more than human
tongue can tell; ard his only weapon,
the gun barrel. was all that prevented
the Indians from closing upon him.
They could play all around him, but
were careful 30 Gsep out of reach OF
this death-dealing instrument. welded
by so desperate and powerful man.
His position now was more dangerous
than ever, and he would gladly have
exchanged it for that earlier in the COM
bat, whore he was struggling hand to
hand in the midst OF a hundred In
dams, all as we'll armed as these; for in
that instance each individual Indian,
anxious to preserve his own life, was
interested in keeping out OF the way of
that deadly gun barrel, while now tho
two who were chasing him could swiftly
glide out of striking distance, ans, in
safety to themselves, poster him with
arrows.
Upon reaching point about twenty
five yards from the timber Williams
turned his eyes from the Indians TO see
If II were possible to enter the tangled
mass of brush and briers along the m r
gin, in case he should be able to reach
the woods, when, stepping in a little
hollow, he stumbled. pitched forward
and fell headlong to the ground. The
Indians Immediately rushed upon him,
and the one who carried the gun
dropped his bows and arrows, cooked
the gun, pushed the muzzle against the
breast of Williams as he was in the act
of rising, pulled the trigger, and-the
gun snapped. Williams knew the gun
to be good one and loaded, and as he
felt the muzzle against his breast, a
sickening sensation pervaded his whole
system, a cold sweat stood out upon his
brow, his limbs seemed TO lose their
power and refused to obey his will; but
when he realized the fact that the gun
had failed to explode new life seemed
infused into his veins, and in an instant
he was upon his feet rife-barrel in hand.
The Indian instead of running, as
had invariably been the case before,
now met him face to face, brandishing
the breech of the rifle. The critical
moment of tho entire affair seemed to
have now arrived, and as Williams
knew it to be the final struggle he be-
came, II possible, more active than
ever He closed with the Indian, and
on the first blow missed him entirely,
but on the second he was more fortu-
nate, and with terrific force he brought
the heavy iron gun-barel down upon
tho head OF the Indian, killing him in
stantly. Meanwhile the other Indian
was not more than eight feet away, fir
ing his few remaining arrows with all
possible swiftness.
Williams first impulse was to seize
the bow and arrows of the doad Indian
and defend himself with those weapons;
but suddenly changing his mind he
snatched up his comrades rifle Then,
indeed, the long practice OF Williams
as hunter did him good service. To
cock and poise his rife were the acts OF
single second and II single motion;
4. IL. l.