Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-16

| yards. then fired shot that missed
| the fugitive.
This left the combatants upon some.
! gentleman was quite exhausted from
his severe running; but, nothing daunt'
ed, he clenched his rifle. and awaited
the onslaught Of the Indian, who drew
tomahawk and began dancing about
and brandishing the weapon.
The painted warrior looked dreadful
in prancing around, whooping and
aourishing the glittering tomahawk,
while at the same time, he continued
edging closer and closer to KS victim.
But Morgan manfully stood his ground,
with his rifle clubbed, until the dreaded
tomahawk was about to descend.
Then he threw himself slightly for
ward and brought down the butt of
his gun, the two blows being stimuli
taneous, and took effect.
The stock of the rifle was shattered
upon the bronzed skull, and the edge
of the tomahawk was broken against
the barrel of the piece, after cutting
two fingers from Morgan's left hand.
Without any delay. the red man
reached down to draw his knife, when
Morgan, with view of preventing it,
grappled and threw him to the ground.
Here terrific struggle took place, in
which none but natures weapons were
used. Morgan in his day was skill
full pugilist and wrestler, and for
brief while he was master of the sit
uation; but his waning strength soon
gave away the advantage, and the
Indian rolled him underneath.
The red man had been guilty Of
some thievery before reaching this
spot. for he wore a woman's apron tied
around his waist. He had tied it on
with great care, so that it was not torn
away, although it got slowed around
once or twice during the struggle.
The Indian planted one knee on the
breast of Morgan, and then let out
house, nearly mile distant. Having
given vent to his feelings in that fash
ion, he reached for the knife at his
girdle.
And in doing so, he received warn
ing against the sin of thievery. The
knife was so much confined by the
apron-string that he was perplexed.
While the Indian was tugging awk-
wardly at it, Morgan got one of his
dusky fingers between his teeth and bit
like wise.
The yells of eXultation were now
changed to rOars Of pain. and the Ind
ian tried desperately to jerk the finger
from it's torturing Imprisonment while
at the same time he continued vaguely
grasping for his knife. Convinced that
this weapon must finally decide the
contest, Morgan made equally desper-
ate efforts to obtain it, and it thus
happened that both clutched it at the
same time, the white man by the
handle and the red one by the blade.
Morgan, feeling the knife slowly slip
ping from his grasp under the pull OF
his adversary, shut down harder with
his teeth upon the finger. The Indian
gave a spasmodic gasp; the knife was
dexterously twitched from his hand,
which was severely cut, and both ad-
versaries sprang to their feet.
Morgan, however. had secured the
knife. That now being the only weap-
on between them, he made the best
use of it, The first blow struck bone
and accomplished nothing. but the
second was disastrous one. and the
Indian sagged heavily downward.
The pioneer fell with him. and fol-
l,,x tIn IA hn
was effectually finished. Morgan was
so exhausted that when he staggered
to his feet he could scarcely stand. AS
soon as he regained enough strength
he started for home, hurrying as fast
as possible. His family We're i'm
measurably relieved to see him alive,
even though wounded; for the pant
ing children had brought the terrible
tale with them, and the sound of the
rifle-reports apprised them of the
fight under way.
Although Morgan lived several
miles from the settlement, yet he had
a few neighbors dwelling nearer by.
When his fingers were dressed, he and
some members of the family started
out in different directions, until all
the neighbors were reused and gath
cred at his house. 1t was
then found that nearly dozen were
on hand, and they set out at once for
the scene of the struggle.
Reaching the saplings where the
Indians made their first stand, they
discovered the first lying dead, killed
by the shot of Morgan. fired from be-
hind the walnut tree: but the other.
much to their astonishment, had
vanished.
Making their way to the spot where
the final struggle took place the set
tiers saw evidences of its frightful
character. The ground was stamped
and torn, and blood was scattered all
around.
Here is the trail" said one, point
ing little to one side; 'and 1t doesn't
look as if there'll be any trouble in