The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-07-09

weight brought his foes to the ground
Big Foot lay on his back. Poe
held him, his left arm around Big
Foot's neck. With his other arm he
had caught the smaller Indian in vice
like grip.
To save his life, Poe knew that he
must kill one Of these savages before
disengagng either He tried to get
at his hunting knife. 1t was wcdged
closely between HE body and that Of
Big Foot. He struggled to pull out
the knife Big Foot hand was there
to hold the blade in the scabbard.
The smaller Indian was squirming
and twisting to free himself. Poe
gave a mighty tug at the knife
1t came out suddenly at the instant
the smaller man had released himself
from Poe's grip. But the knife slip
ped from Pope fingers and went fly
ing into the water.
AT that moment Big Foot. partially
released, wound his long arms about
Poc's body and hugged him with all
his strength. Poe made mighty cf-
fort to release himself The smaller
Indian, who had recovered his gun,
was afraid to shoot, fearing to hit his
chief.
lie ran to the canoe, which was
| :st
hawk, struck furiously at Poc's head.
Poe braccd himself, and though still
held by the big chief, landed a strong
kick with his right foot on the assault
ing Indians arm. The uplifted 20.
mahawk flew from his grasp to join he
hunting knife in the water
Big Foot was in fury, and roarcd
his commands to the unskillful one in
the Wyandot tongue The latter has.
tily procuring another tomahawk,
again renewed the attack, keeping
clear of Poe's foot. AS he struck Poe
received the descending blow on his
right wrist and hand. He was cut to
the bone, the cords Of three fingers
severed, and his hand was useless.
With sudden movement he seized
the tomahawk from the red mans
hand and flung it into the water. Big
Foot had relaxed his hold somewhat.
Poo tore himself from that grasp of
steel, snatched up gun with his left
hand and in twinkling shot the
smaller Indian through the body. Big
Foot, who by this time was on his
feet, seized Poe by the neck and leg
and threw him toward the water. AS
Poe started for the stream he caught
Big Foot by the brcech clout. The
two went into the Ohio together.
| Here terrific contest took place.
The water was deep. Each of the con-
testants was an expert swimmer.
Each was bent upon drowning the 9TH
er.
| Poe succeeded in getting an advan-
tage. Twining his fingers in the scalp
lock of the savage, he forced his head
under the water. Big Foot ceased to
struggle. Poe loosened his grasp,
thinking the red man was drowned.
Big Foot was playing possum. AS
Poe relinqushed his hold upon the
scalp lock the savage turned and put
the white man under the water. This
time there was to be no shamming.
But Poe was not at the end of his
resources. He pulled the Indian out
into the current, where the latter had
to swim for his life. Both were near.
ly exhausted. The chances, however,
were with the savage.
There was yet one loaded rifle on
the bank. Big Four beat Poe in the
swim for the shore Hc seized the
loaded gun. Poe had swum upstream
again, intending to dive when the saw
age should shoot.
| But in cooking the gun the hammer
broke. Big Foot threw down the weap-
on and ran to the canoe for ammuni-
tion to load the other gun, the gun
that killed his companion
At that moment Poe's brother.
Adam, who had heard the firing, came
running down the shore. Andrew
shouted to him. kill the big Injunr'
Adam Poe $ gun was not loaded 1t
was then race between Adam aud
Big Foot as to which should first have
his rifle loaded. The chances were
again in favor Of the Indian, but an
other .niShap hefell the savage. His
ramrod slipped from his hand and be-
fore he could recover it Adam had fired.
Big Foot, mortally wounded but de-