The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-08-06


Tom Higgins was one OF the ILL.,
nois Rangers, and the fight herein de-
scribed took place near Vandalia, Ill,
on August 81, 1914. Indian signs
had been discovered near the fort.
and Tom and five others went out to
see what they amounted to. They
had not gone far when they were
ambushed, three of the party falling.
Toms horse was mortally wounded
and he tried to escape on foot. Three
savages, stalwart and fleet footed
took after him. Suddenly one of his
legs failed him. and for the first time
he found that he was badly wounded.
one of the savages raised his rifle
and fired, wounding Higgins in the
thigh. lie fell to the ground. stag
gered to his feet again, receiving the
hro of the other two Indians, and
once more fell, this time severely
wounded. The Indians, now feeling
secure Of their victim, threw aside
their guns and rushed upon him,
spears and knives in hand.
Lying helpless on the ground Hig-
gins succeeded for a time in holding
them back by aiming first at one and
then another as they approached. As
he did not fire the larger Indian
thought his gun must be empty and
was advancing boldly when Higgins
fired and killed him.
The situation was now desperate.
the Ranger lying helpless on the
ground, his gun empty and four bull
lets in his body. The other two say
ages, closing upon him, inflicted sew
eral ugly wounds, and at last one OF
them threw his tomahawk, which
struck Higgins on the check. glanced
and several his ear, laying bare his
skull to the back of his head. Again
the two Indians rushed at the Ran
ger, but he kept them off with his
feet.
Getting hold of one OF their spears,
the Indian, in attempting to pull it
from him, raised Higgins up from the
ground, when with one blow of his
rifle he dashed out the savage's
brains, but broke his gun, the barrel
only remaining in his hands.
The remaining Indian now attempt
ed to stab Higgins, but his blows were
warded off, and the savage started for
his rifle, which lay some distance
away Higgins knew that If the IN
dian once got his gun it would be all
over with him, and in q last desper-
ate struggle he lifted himself to his
feet, drew his hunting knife and
closed with his foe. Faint from loss
Of blood, the Ranger was no longer
match for his adversary, who sue
ceeded in throwing him off and at
once started for his rifle.
To add to his despair, the main
body oil, Indians began advancing to-
ward him from a nearby ravine, and
Higgins gave himself up for lost.
At this moment Mrs. Pursley, wife
OF one of the Rangers, who had seen
the whole of the unequal contest from
the walls of the fort, tried to get the
mon to go to Higgins rescue, but
failed to get any response from them
Calling them towards, she snatched
her husbands rifle and started out
alone. Shamed by the woman's hero
Ism, they set out after her, reached
the spot where Higgins had fallen
and tainted, and, before the main
body of Indians had como up, sue
ceeded In bearing their wounded
companion in safety to the fort.
For days it looked as though Tom
Higgins had no chance for recovery,
but he was brave and tough, and he
fooled them by getting well and liv-
Ing to a green old age, respected and
beloved by all who knew him.
For many years the frontiersmen
of the Illinois country continued to
talk of Tom Higgins and his great
single-handed fight with the three
stalwart red men. The Rev. Thomas
D. Gregory, in the New York Amcri-
can.