The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1891-04-04

oank lDtO the boat, by SMITH
and Austill. All the others were anx.
iOus to go, but it afforded room for nc
more" The oarsman, a negro named
Caesar, was ordered to paddle towards
the saucy indians, land when within
twenty yards of the Indian canoe, the
~resolnte Americans arose to give them
q broadside, but only the gun of Smith
fired, for the other two had unfortu-
nately wet their printing. Caesar wac
ordered to paddle up and to place his
boat side by side with that of the war
riors. Approaching ten feet the chief,
recognizing Dale. exclaimed: Now
for it, Big Sam,'* at the same time pre-
senting his gun at Austills breast.
That brave youth struck at him with
All oar, which he lodged, and in re-
turn he brought down his rifle upon
AustilFs head just as the anoe came
together. At that moment the power
fnl arms Of Smith and Dale raised
their long rifles, which came down with
deadly force and felled the chieft to the
bottom of the C noe-his blood and
brains bespattering its sides. Such
was the force of the blow inflicted by
Dale that his gun was broken
near the lock Selling the
heavy barrel, still left, he
did great execution with it to the end
of the combat. Austill in a moment
engaged with the second warrior and
then with a third, both of whom he
dispatched with his dubbed rifle.
Smith too was equally active, having
knocked down two indians. Caesar
had, by this time, got the canoes close
together and held them with a mighty
grasp, which enabled Dale, who was
IN the advance, and the others to main
tain a firm footing by keeping their
feet in both canoes. These brave men
now moved down the savages amid
the encouraging shouts of the men on
t sides of the river, who had a full
view of the deadly conflict. In the
midst of this unparalleled strife, a
lusty Indian struck Austill with a war
club, which felled him across the sides
OF the two boats, and while PROSTATE
another brave raised his club to dash
out his brains, when Dale, by a.timely
blow, buried his heavy rife barrel deep
the warriors skull. In the mean
time Austill recovered his feet. and, in
a desperate scuf1e with another a V
age, knocked him into the river with
the club which he had wrested from
The only word spoken during
the fight was the exclamation of the
chief upon recognizing Dale and the
request of Caesar for Dale to make use
OF his bayonet and musket, which he
handed to him. Having laid all the
low, those undaunted Ameri-
cans began to cast them into the bright !
of the Alabama, their native
stream, now to be their graves. Every
a savage was raised from the bot !
fom of the boat by the Lead and heels
md slung into the water, the Ameri-
upon the banks sent up a shout
.oud and long as some slight revenge
or the tragedy at Minis.
CATER the fight had ended, eight
athletic Indians were thrown out Of
he canoe. 1t will be recollected that
here were eleven in the boat when
irst seen, and that two of them had
'wam ashore, and the other one Austill
knocked ont before the conflict ended"
Thus, it will be seen. these three brave
pioneers OF Alabama fought and killed
line lusty warriors. |
At another time Captain Dale was
by 1.-TWO warriors. who shout
ID their war-whoOp, as he was kneeling
Town to drink, and rushed upon him
With their t~omahawks He knitted
hem both, ard, though bleeding from
wounds, he rstraced their trail
line miles, crept stealthily to the
amp, Drained three warriors and cut
he thongs of a female prisoner who
ay by their side" Captain Dale, or
S he was called General Dale at a
alter day, died at his residence at Dale
lille, Miss. 1t is said by John f. H.
Claiborne, who wrote his obituary.
hat the general died with the fortitude
f a Christian soldier.
The remains of so brave a man as
Sam Dale. who shed his blood
0 protect the citizens of Alabama,
hOuld be transferred TO the state he
o bravely defended.
Will Alabama honor the hero of the
fight, which took place on the
parking waters of the Alabama.
,ov. II, 1S13P-J. r. McLendon, Of
,atfel, Ala, in Montgomery Adver-
User.
dale had long been a trader among the
indians, and on account of his prowess and
irge frame was called by the Indians big
Il quote from Pickett.)