The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-07-09
AN l7sl STORY.
Fierce Fight With Two iniians.

men, best like stories OF daring and
danger told BY those who are them
selves the heroes Of such stories.
They overlook the Outlines too prom.
incnt cgotism Of the narrators and are
carried away in admiration by the
movement Of the story the sparkling
eye, the eloquent gestures Of him who
tells it,
The old Indian fighters, unlcttcred
though they were, had no Jack Of lis
teners to the tales they told Of the
wild warfare Of the border. 1t was
said of Andrew Poe that the one story
he took special delight in telling was,
as far as its effect upon his hearers
was concerned (and upon the teller as
welD, a more moving history than
anything ever written By that ecen-
trio genius and man Of letters, Edgar
Allen Poe.
These names are brought together
not because there was any kinship be-
tween these two pocs, but merely for
their hardness for use by way Of com
parison.
The story that Andrew Poe told in
his old age to many listening group
was one that was aftcrward told by
father to son until finally it found Il
place in print during the thrilling ad-
ventures Of Indian warfare.
The scene Of the story is laid in
what is Washington County, Penn.
Andrew Poe and his brother, Adam,
lived twelve miles back from the Ohio
river, at Harmon Creek, small set
tlemcnt of white people.
This was in 17Sl. Andrew was
then 80 years old; Adam 33 years old.
It was the boast Of Andrew many
years afterward, when he had become
bent, wrinkled and gray, "tbat no man
ever took more satisfaction in hunting
deer, bear, wolves and buffalo for
buffalo had not then entirely disap-
peared from the Ohio alley-"than I
have; but the greatest enjoyment I
ever took was in hunting Injuns.' -
In 1871 Andrew was the perfection
Of physical strength and endurance.
His undoubted courage was recognized
throughout the border settlements of
Pennsylvania and Virginia.
In the spring Of the year named
Harmon Creek settlement had suffered
from Indian attacks. While the Poe
brothers and their nearest neighbor,
Kennedy, were away on a scout, a
party of Indians had visited Kennedy 8
cabin and murdered his wife and child.
In June of that year band Of seven
Wyandots stole into the settlement at
night and carried away from his cabin
as prisoner man named William
jackson, 60 years old, who lived alone.
The men Of the settlement were
quickly called together to pursue the
savages. The trail was t,ken up and
twelve Of the settlers on horseback K
rode toward the Ohio river. On the
banks of the river they hitched their
horses. The trail led down the stream
and they pursued on foot.
They came upon little creek that
entered the Ohio. It's water was
muddied, having evidently been re-
Gently disturbed.
The keen judgment Of Andrew Poe
told him the marauders were not far
off. One Of the footprints in the soil
convinced him that the Indians were
led by savage named Big Foot, eel
ebrated chief Of the Wyandots, man
of great stature, the largest nan of
his tribe.
While most of the pursucrs followed
the trail to the left, leading away
from the stream, Andrew Poe turned
to the right, keeping near to the
stream. Looking through thick
cluster of willows he discovered about
twelve feet below him, crouchcd under
the river bank, two Indians.
Their guns we're cooked and they
were lnoking .intently toward spot
from which they heard noise One
of the savagcs was of u gigantic size.
This was the famous big Foot. -
The other red man, though, W rs
smaller, fully the size Of the white
man who was looking at them throug h
the willows.
Poe levclcd his rifle at Big Foot and
pulled the trigger. The powder flashed
in the pan. The Indians then saw
him and gave a yell rf delight. Poe
rctrcatcd Farther into the bushes.
At that moment Il number OF shots
were heard one hundred yards or more