Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-09-12
Here q terrific struggle took place. in


Here q terrific struggle took place, tn
which none but natures weapons were
used. Morgan in his day was d skill
full pugilist and wrestler, and for d
brief while he was master Of the sit.
uatioh; but his waning strength soon
gave away the advantage, and the
Indian rolled him underneath.
The red man had been guilty Of
some thieverS before reaching this
spot, for he wore 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 q
series of yells, which were heard at-the
house, nearly mile distant Having
given vent to his feelings in that fash.
ion, he renched for the knife at his
girdle.
And in doing so, he received warn.
ing against the sin of thlevery. 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 q wise.
The yells of exultation were now
changed to roars of pain, and the Ind
ian tried desperately to jerk the finger
from its 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 iboth clutched 1t ut 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 spasmodic gasp; the knife was
.de1terously twitched from his hand,
which was severely cut, and both ad-
tersaries 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 a disastrous one, and the
Indian sagged heavily downward.
The pioneer fell with him, and fol;
lowed up the blow, until the Indian
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 ut his house. 1t was
then found that nearly dozen were
on hand, and they set out at once for
the scene Of the struggle.
4 Reaching the sapllngs 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 establishment, 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 it doesn't
look as If there'll be any trouble in
following it."
There could be no difficulty indeed,
for the green sward was marked too
plainly with crimson, and the men
walked along over the trail until it
led them to a fallen tree-top, where
the miserable Indian had dragged
himself. He was endeavoring to
dress the would with the stolen apron
about his waist.
AS the men came up, he extended his
hand, and said in broken English:
"How do. broder-how do, broder"
But the settlers were in no senti-
mental mood, and, conceiving the In
dian to be mortally wounded, they did
that which they would have done had
he been uninjured-put him beyond
all possibility of further suffering or
horn, Saturday Night