Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, January 31, 1856, Image 1
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SVSi |proprietors. ' An Independent Journal: For the Promotion of the Political, Social, Agricutural and Commercial Interests of the Sonth. {lewis m. gbist, publisher.
fc VOL S. : YORKVILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 81, 1856. * 3STO. 5.
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Original JMrg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
I'LL COME AGAIN.
TO MISS J OF YORKVILLE.
I'll come again when the bright birds come,
When the trees are green, the flowers in bloom;
And the balmy breath of gentle Spring
Sheds life around on every thing ;
When, from her icy chains set free,
Fair Nature cometk smilingly ;
And hills which now are clad in snow,
Are blooming fresh in Spring's full glow;
When the heart, with sweet emotions rife,
Abounds with joy, and hope, and life,
And friends that have been dear before,
Wo ri*nrt,r- doom find love them more?
Oh, then I'll come! but will I find
That thou fair friend, in heart and mind?
Injooks?in words?in acts?in name?
In all that's good?art still the same ?
Will I then meet thy smiling face,
Thy fervent kiss, and warm embrace,
Thy look of love, from eyes so blue,
That speak devotion, warm and true ?
Will I then hear thy own sweet voice
In gentle tones of love rejoice ?
And own that tender heart of thine
Still linked in friendship's bond with mine ?
January 1856. w K.
JfflMtal.
From the Atlanta Examiner.
LETTER OF HON. MB. ATCHINSON.
We embrace the earliest opportunity of presenting
to the people of Georgia and the South,
a letter from the Hon. D. R. Atchinson, on
the subject of the affairs of Kansas, addressed
to the senior editor of this paper. It is a let
strategy of the enemy of the South, the unprincipled
abolitionists, are placed before us,
so that no one can longer be deceived as to I
the extent of our danger; while the struggle
through which the pro-slavery men have passed,
and the gallant bearing of the Missourians,
contemptuously termed by fanatics from the
North, as border "ruffians," will excite the
sympathies of every true-hearted Georgian in
their behalf.
Accompanying the letter which we publish,
we received another from the same gentleman,
from which we make a few extracts. He says:
* * * * "We are in a constant state of
excitement here (Platte City.) The border
"ruffians" have access to my room day and
night. The very air is full of rumors. "We
wish to keep ourselves right before the world,
and we are provoked and aggravated beyond
sufference." Our persons and property are not
for a moment safe; and yet we are forbid by
the respect we owe our friends elsewhere, by
respect for the cause in which we are engaged,
to forbear. The state of things cannot last.?
You are authorized to publish the whole or a
part of what I have written; but if Georgia
intends to do any thing, or can do anything for
ns. let it be done sDeedilv! Let vour voune
' ~ i ~ y v */ u |
men come forth to Missouri and Kansas! Let
them come well armed, with money enough to
support them twelve months, and determined
to see this out! One hundred true men will
be an acquisition. The more, the better. I
do not see bow we are to avoid civil war. Come
it will. Twelve months will not elapse before
war, civil war of the fiercest kind, will be upon
us. "We are arming and preparing for it.
Indeed we of the border counties are prepared.
"We must have the support of the South. We
are fighting the battles of the South. Our institutions
are at stake. You far Southren men
are now out of the naive of the war, but if we
fail, it will reach your own doors, perhaps your
hearths. We want men. We want money;
not for ourselves, but to support our friends
who may come frvm a distance I have now
in this house two gallant young men, from
Charleston, South Carolina. They are citizens
of Kansas, and will remain so until her destiny
is fixed.
Let your young men come on in squads as
fast as they can be raised, well armed. "We
want none but true men. Yours truly,
D. R. Atchin-son.
P. S. I would not be astonished if this day
ter we feei satisfied will be read with intense
interest bj every citizen of our State. The
distinguished gentleman who has penned it,
and by whose permission it is published, has
occupied, for a quarter of a century at least,
an eminently high position among the statesmen
of the Union; and, in the Senate of the
United States, over which he presided with so
much satisfaction to that body, at a very recent
period, he fairly earned a reputation of
which few can boast, as an able and influential
Senator, and an ardent advocate of Southern
Rights. Upon the statement of such a man,
every Georgian can rely. To his appeal, eve
ry (ieorgian should respond, lie spends 01
Kansas to the South, for the sake not only of
those who are fighting its battles there, but for
Missouri our sister, whose doom is certain in
the event that Kansas is abolitionii i.
Distant as Georgia is from the scene of events
referred to in his letter, in despite of
railroads and telegraphs, and of official information
from Washington, our people up to
this time required information upon which
they could with confidence rely upon all that
referred to the disturbances in Kansas. Newspaper
reports were often vague, and what is
worse, contradictory. The' paid reporters of
Northern "Emigration Aid Societies," and the
paid slaves of the Abolitionists, through the
freesoil and abolition presses of the anti-slavery
States, have so perverted the truth, misrepresented
facts, and deceived the public
mind, North and South, that our indignation
here has been smothered when the wrongs perpetrated
upon our brethren in Kansas have
reached us, accompanied, as they always have
been, by a flat denial of the facts.
But the communication which we this day
lay before the public, puts a quietus to all further
imposition upon the South. The political
history of Kansas, since its settlement by white
men, though briefy is clear. The design and
laid the ground-work for a guerilla war in Kansas.
I have heard rumors of strife and battle
at Leavenworth, seven miles from this place,
but the ice is running in the Mississippi river,
and I have nothing definite. I was a peace
maker in the difficulty lately settled by Gov.
Shannon. I councilled the "ruffiians" to forbearance,
but I will never again council peace.
D. R. A.
Who can resist such an appeal ? What
citizen or State in the South, can turn a deaf
ear to it, and withhold that material aid which
our brethren in Missouri and Kansas so much
need ? Where arc our young and adventurous
men ? Where are the old with th$ir slaves and
their wealth ? Surely, if in the past, we have
been indifferent and laggard, the time has arrived
when the South should awake to its peril,
and when Georgians should maintaiu the reputation
for patriotism and fidelity to Southern
institutions bequeathed to them by their fathers.
The "Empire State of the South," in
all that is enterprising, must also be foremost
in repelling the aggressions of the enemies of
the South ; and when she fails at the call of a
sister State in extending a helping hand in a
time of peril, such as now threatens Missouri,
we trust the proud appellation she bears will be
heard no more.
Our legislature will convene again on MonJ
1 nr. i ?cj :i ?:n
day next, w e nave every euuuueuue it >yhi
respond to the recommendation of Governor
Johnson. We trust it will do more. In the
mean time, we hope that there will be an uprising
of the people, in every county and
town in the State; and that while our young
men will in hundreds respond to the call of
Missouri and Kansas, the old and the wealthy
will give that aid, which if withheld, will keep
from the place of strife many a dauntless spirit,
brave heart, and strong arm.
Platte City, Dec. 15, 1855.
Dear Sir : I have read, with intense interest,
so much of Governor Johnson's Message
to the Georgia Legislature, as refers to our
"Federal .Relations." The question of slavery
is the only one of vital importance at this time.
Men who have the least interest in it are endeavoring
to regulate and control the whole
subject. Massachusetts, a State as far removed
from the institution of slavery and slaveholders
as any other in the Union, leads the
van in the crusade; a State that has advanced
as little money, and certainly shed less blood
for the acquisition of Territory, either slave or
free, than any other, " leads in this war" against
our Institutions. I have no disposition
now to go farther into this matter, but my object
is to interchange opinions with you, and
* .* i -* .i? t/
to give a very Drier msiory oi parties iu xyuusas
up to this time. I must, however, he permitted
to say, that in my opinion, the recommendations
of your Governor are wise, and if
acted on by the Legislature, will have a tendency,
at least for a time, to check aggression
on the part of the North. It will furnish some
evidence that our Southern State is resolved to
concede no farther.
The Governor recommends, first, that the
Legislature shall provide for the call of a Convention,
upon the happening of a certain contingency.
What is that contingency ? If the
Federal Government shall refuse Kansas or any
other Territory presenting itself for admission
into the Union as a State, because said Territory
presents a Constitution similar, if not identical,
with that of Georgia, that then Georgia,
in Convention, will take steps to protect herself
and her institutions; in a word, cut her
connection with the Union. If, however, Georgia
shows a determination, a fixed purpose, to
carry out the recommendations of the Governor,
the contingencies will not arise.
I expect to be a citizen of Kansas, and if
Kansas presents herself legitimately, having
all the qualifications for a State, and is rejected
because her Constitution recognizes and
protects slavery, then, as a citizen of Kansas,
I will contend that Kansas is a State, sovereign
and independent, out of the Union.
When Kansas was opened up for settlement,
by white men, people from all the States
rushed into and settled in it, each carrying
with him his wife and children, his goods and
chattels, and his peculiar opinions on all subjects.
I think I can safely say that a large
majority of the people above described were
from slave States, and particularly from Missouri.
There was another class of emigrants
to Kansas, and a very larsre class too, men sent
j at the expense and under the auspices of certain
"Emigrant Aid Societies," for the express
and avowed purpose of seizing upon the Territory,
and by their votes to exclude slavery
and slaveholders. Many of them were rash
enough to avow their purpose, in the event of
failure at the ballot box, to drive them by force
of arms from the Territory ! The first trial of
strength between the Abolitionistftind pro-slavery
men, came off in November 1854. It
resulted in "the election of Gen. Whitfield,
the Pro-Slavery candidate, by an overwhelming
majority. v
In March last, an election was held for members
of the Territorial Legislature, with the
same result. The Legislature met and adjourned
after enacting a code of laws for the government
of the Territory. The Kansas code
will compare well with the best codes of any
of the States. The Abolitionists repudiate the
Legislature, and declare it to be their intention
to resist the execution of the laws. On
the other hand, Governor Shannon declares it
to be his purpose to execute the laws. In this
he will be sustained by a very large portion of
the citizens of Kansas. In the month of October
last an election was again held for a delegate
to Congress?the time and manner of conducting
the election being fixed and regulated
by law. Whitfield was re-elected almost without
opposition.
The Abolitionists, with ex-Governor lleeder
nt lino/1 fir/rooil unnn n snVier>.-m?nt rliw
ub lum -r~ ?'V
for aa election, which was held, and lleeder
received all the votes given. The election was
held without law, and in defiance of all law.?
The whole proceeding was treated by the people
of Kansas with the contempt it deserved.
The Abolitionisis, without consulting the people
of Kansas, have also held a convention to
form a Constitution for a State Government,
and did form such a Constitution, and will
present to Congress at the next session, and
ask admission into the Union as a State. This
is a brief history of parties and politics in
Kansas. I have not leisure to go into details
now, but it would interest you tc know and understand
the tactics, manoeuvres, and strategy
of the respective parties in Kansas.
Kansas and Missouri have the same latitude,
climate and soil, and should have the same institutions.
The peace and* prosperity of both
depend on it. Kansas must have slave institutions,
or-Missouri must have free institution.5
^*1% 4-1*4% (LPnffioria" fnlrt
UCUUU UlU lutuil'ijllllt; uuiutl -1VUUW1JO n>->
in Kansas affairs. A large number of the
citizens of Kansas Lave gone there, or ratliei
have been sent there, for the purpose of abolitionizing
it, and ultimately Missouri. Thu
has not heretofore been the case with the Ter
ritories of the United States. Iowa has Abo
litionists within her borders ; so has Illinois
unprincipled Abolitionists and negro thieves:
yet they are few in number. The great mas;
of the people in those States are honest anc
law abiding men. Not so with the class o:
settlers above described in Kansas. Hundred;
of them have come, or rather were sent fron
the North and East, for no purpose but to vot<
at the elections, and return home. This wa;
understood by the border Missourians, and thej
resolved to counteract it, and it was done.
The border "Ruffians," I assert and believe
# '
have shown a more amiable, christain, and for
bearing spirit, than any other body of mer
would have shown under similar circumstances
Battallions of men came on from the North
with the open and avowed purpose of exclu
dingslaveholders from Kansas. Not only thut
but pamphlets were written, newspapers ar
gued, and preachers preached that to aboli
tionize Kansas was to drive slavery from Mis
souri. In this they were right. To do th<
one is to do the other. Under these circum
stances, what does it become us to do 1 Wha
we have done, has been done in self-defence
What we shall hereafter do, time alone wil
show. We are preparing for the worst.
If the settlement of Kansas had been lef
to the laws whieh govern emigration, it woult
have been a slave Territory as certain as Mis
souri is a slave State. But inasmuch as thosi
laws have been violated and perverted by th<
force of money, and a powerful organization ii
the North and East, it becomes the South " t<
be up and doing," and to send in a populatioi
to counteract the North. This can be don<
with a little exertion. Thus far a few coun
ties in Western Missouri have successfully en
countered and defeated this powerful organiza
tion. Let Georcia set the example! Wha
is to be done should be done quickly. Thi:
course on the part of the South will save Kan
sas to the South : save bloodshed, civil war
and perhaps a dissolution of the union itself.
Your obedient servant,
P. R. Atciiinson.
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
- Letter of Col. B. II. 1F<7so?i of G:orgctoicn
The propcrity .of the State of South Caroli
na having its Representatives in this Convcn
tion, apparently furnishes the ground for:
difference in opinion among those who fron
their public station, naturally feel themsclve
required to "define their position." We haw
not been insensible to the imp rtance of thi
question : nor have we been at all surprised a
the differences in opinion which have beei
expressed. Our own conclusions in the mat
ter are, we honestly believe, the same that ar
entertained or that will soon be entertained
by a large majority of the people of the State
And for this belief we have no other assur
ance than this: that what we are about to an
nounce as our conclusions, are the result o
sober common scnce. We believe in thi
chivalry of our people, and. we respect it.?
But on the account we are not disposed t
make its possession a cause for boasting; neith
er does it lead us to suppose, that a like scnti
ment is ever where wanting in our sister States
We believe that the citizens of Georgia, Ala
bama, or of any of our sister States have a
much intelligence with which to comprehcni
the position of the slave holding States : a
much anxiety to defend the welfare of hi
stute; and, if need be, as much courage to ex
hibit in the last resort, as is posessed by an;
of us rejoicing as we have the right to do
that our lot in life has been cast in this gallen
State. It does detract from onr gallantry to
admit, that in other State, there are gallen
men; nor does it shame our chivalry to con
cede that elsewhere there arc knights as bob
and true, as any who have won their spurs i)
our commonwealth.
It is now admitted that the question whicl
absorbs all others in these United States, i
the recognition and therein the protection o
the constitutional rights of the slave-holdin<
section.
It is now admitted that the Democratic Par
ty in the United States, is the only Nationa
organization, which has boldly recognized thi
right of this section as part of the Federa
compact; and their preservation a duty arising
under the Constitution, and binding all wh<
respect that instrument, and are willing t<
unite in its defence.
This Democratic Party for the purpose o:
taking such measures as may be effectual, ir
enabling it to administer the Federal Govern
mcnt according to its declared purposes, pro
poses to hold a Convention at Cincinnati ir
May, and at that time and place to seleci
from its ranks two trusted exponents of iti
principles for the offices of President and vic(
President of the United States.
To this Convention, Delegates will be scni
from the Democratic Party of the non-slave
holding States, whose principles in relation t(
the constitutional rights of slave-holding State;
arc such as we have above expressed.
To this Convention every slavc-liolding Stati
will send its Delegates : and in its cl either a
lions Georgia and Alabama in a very pur
ticular manner have earnestly request thai
each and every State shall be represented.
In South Carolina only; in that State which
again and again has repeated it earnest wish tc
unite with the other slave-holding States ic
such councils as they should deem best for the
common welfare j in South Carolina, there is
now uncertainty?hesitancy?in some cases
declared opposition to the Convention the
most important that has been assembled 6ince
i the adoption of the Convention. We ask why
is this so? from one quarter we ate told that
i it is in violation of a 'time honored policy/
long since adopted in this State. We will
' not pause now to inquire how far any one believes
that this policy as it is called, has con,
tributed to advance the welfare of our State,
. or cement that intercourse, which in its fuller
i development is the only safeguard for the
. slave-holding section. We do not propose to
i stop, in order that we may occupy a position
! which is thus only defensive. Wegofarthar,
i and in the plainest terms assert that so far from
there being in this State any policy which for.
bids as going into the Convention with our sis5
tcr States for the decision of such question as
. will be before this Convention that on the con
trary, all considerations of polity, and what
: is of far more consequence, all considerations
; ?f right and justice, oblige us to be at that
3 place wherever it may be; which has been scl
lectcd by our sister States, as the place, where
f they will define the relation which shall exist
i between (hem and non-slav eliold in g States.?
i Will we be told that wo are trampling in the
; dust, and forgetting the precepts of Calhouuc?
3 Let those who arc ready to supply the place of
j argument with a name, ponder well, before
they do violence to his memory, in bodily but
, not truly asserting, that aught which we may
- uttor is in opposition to the lessons he has
i taught. The great cardinal policy of Mr. Calhoun,
was to unite the slave-holding States.?
And how poor would be the measure of thankfulness
he would offer those, who misuse his
name were he alive, and would hear that name
cited an authority for the opinion that South
Carolina should be absent from the concils of
her sister States and decline to share with them
in their deliberation and responsibilities.
But suppose it were otherwise, and that Mr.
t Calhoun had declared that this State should
. never go into Convention with hersister States.
1 We ask the pardon of the dead, for even thus
in argument coupling his name with a proposit
tion so absurd. But suppose the thing were
I possmie, ana tnat i>ir. uainoun naa so aeciar.
ed his opinion; could there be found another
j man in our limits, prepared to declare, that in
3 no Convention for National purposes can
i South Carolina participate ? Yet what in facts
> is the denial of the proper ty of having this
i State represented in the Cincinnati Convention
3 but the affirmation of the propostion that this
State shall not he represented in any Conven
tion ? For if there is any Canvention which
- ever can or will be called, to a participation
t in which South Carolina by her oft repeated
s declaration is pledged, such will be the Con
vention to be assembled at Cincinnati.
, Will we be asked how this can be made to
appear? We ask all who doubt, to learn from
us these things if they are yet iguorunt of
them.
The Legislature of Georgia, at its present
session was distinguished by the presence of
almost every leading man in that State, whose
principles or feelings led him to unite with the
Democratic Party in its efforts to preserve the
Union of all the States by seeming its peculiar
rights to each. It was then determined that
s
the State of Georgia should be represented in
the Convention at Cincinnati; and for the purt
pose as it would seem, of leaving no excuse to
' any State for its absence at that Convention, the
Delegates from Georgia are instructed to be
g present, and before any nomination can be
made of any candidate to call for the adop'
tion by that Convention, of three great principles,
as distinct parts of the creed of the Na
tioncil Democracy : and these three great principles
involve in their decision, the (jreat question
of the rights of the slave-holding States
on the one side and the obligations of the non
slave holding Stales on the other. Among the
first, in all probability the very first question
presented to that Convention for its decision,
will be the consideration of these propositions
' submitted by the State of Georgia. Is that
_ the time, when South Carolina will find it conj
sistent with her honor?her welfare?or her
"time honored policy,' if such is the phrase
preferred?to be absent from the place where
her sister States are in council; taking no part
with them in the adjustment of these matters,
and seeming as if anxious to avoid all trouble,
^ danger and responsibility ? If such is the resuit
of the 'time honored policy' of our State,
the sooner it is stripped of all honor and consigned
to oblivion, the sooner will our honor
I be redeemed?our position responded?and
our rights secured.
But of all the senseless cries which have
1 been reised, as if bearded men were but children,
who if they cannot be coaxed, may be
f frightened; is that, which we have heard freT
quently urged, and which appeals to the good
3 people of the State not to follow Col. Orr.?
"We have great respect for Col. Orr, and are
. lionr>Tr in Tiovinor nnr conclusions fortified bv
j ""jftv *" ?O ? ; -J
, the concurrence of that distinguished gentlej
man. No matter what may have been his
y opinions, the common sence of the good people
J of this State had directed their attention to
} the Convention at Cincinnati and men of tied
faith and known devotion to the State had
p weighed well the matter, and made up their
conclusions as to the course which it became
them to urge as proper to be adopted by the
State. Col. Orr expressed a sentiment which
t had been already firmly fixed in the minds of
j. a large proportion of the people of this StatCj
We have now defined our position. To it
, wo intend to stand. In suggesting as we now
do, that in all the Districts and Parishes mcet[.
ings shall be held and Delegates appointed to
in flnnvnnh'nn at Columbia: for the nur
mVWW *** VVM ? / x
j pose of selecting delegates to represent our
j State in the Convention at Cincinnati; we are
advising a course not more consistent with the
, 'policy' of our State, than what is due to her'
self and her sister Stctes from the highest consideration
of Right and Justice.
; BENJ. H. WILSON.
The Rulers of Europe.?The Court Cali
endar of Gotha, for 1856, contains some sta>
tistics which are interesting. The oldest of
i forty-eight sovereigns of Europe is the Grand
! Duke of Mecklenburg Strelitz, who is nearly
i 77years of age; the two youngest being the
i King of Portugal and the Duke of Parma, the
! former of whom is 18 and the latter 7 years.
The Prince of Schaumberg Lippc has reigned
the greatest number of years, having taken the
reins of government in the last century; while
at the bottom of the list stands the Emperor
of Russia who, as is well known to all, mounted
the throne in the present year. Six sovereigns
are as yet unmarried, three arc widowers
and one is divorced; of the remaining number
two have contracted morganatic marriages,
viz:
The King of Denmark and the Elector of
Ilessc. Of the heirs apparent and presumptive,
twenty-six are sons, two daughters, twelve
brothers, three uncles and one cousin. The
oldest of the heirs presumptive is the heir
of the Duke of Modena, who is 73 years of
age.
In litkmltitfl
~ c-3
Ttom hTgginsVtheranger;
OR, WILD LIFE IN THE WEST.
Daring hardihood, readiness of resources,
and patience in overcoming difficulties, are
nowhere so well and frequently exemplified as
among the hunters and backwoodsmen of America.
The following account of one of these
enterprising and sesolute men appeared upwards
of twenty years ago in a periodical in
Illinois, and its truth is vouched for by the
writer.'
Tom Higgins, as he was usually called, is a
native of Kentucky, and is one of the genuine
backwoodsmen. During the last war, at the
age of nineteen, he enlisted in the Rangers?
a corps of mounted men, raised expressly for
the protection of the western frontiers. On the
30th of August, 1814, he was one of the party
of twelve men, under the command of Lieut.
Journey, who were posted at the Hill's Station,
a small cockade, about three miles south
of the present village of Greenville, and something
more than twenty miles from Yandalia.
These towns were not then in existence, and
the surrounding country was one vast wilderness.
During the day last mentioned, 'Indian
signs, were seen about half a mile from the
station, and at night the savages were seen
prowling near the fort, but no alarm was given.
On the following morning, early, Mr. Journey
moved out with his party in pursuit of the Indians.
Passing round the fence of a cornfield
adjoining the fort, they struck across the prairie,
and had not proceeded more than a quarter
of a mile, when, in crossing a small ridge,
which was covered with a hazel thicket, in full
view of the station, they fell in an ambuscade
of Indians, who rose suddenly around them,
to the number of seventy or eighty, and fired.
Four of our party were killed, among whom
was Lieut. Journey. One other fell badly
wounded, and the rest fled, except Biggins.
It was an uncommon sultry morning. The
day was just dawning, a heavy dew had fallen
the preceding night, the air was still and humid,
and the smoke from the guns hung in a
cloud over the spot. Under the cover of this
cloud, Higgins' surviving companions had escaped,
supposing all who were left were dead,
or that, at all events, it would be madness tc
attempt to rescue them from so overwhelming
a force. Iliggin's horse, having been shot
through the neck, fell on his knees, and rose
again several times. Believing the animal
wounded, he dismounted, but finding the
wound had not greatly disabled him, he continued
to hold the bridle j for, as he now felt
confident of being able to make good his re
treat, he determined to fire off his gun before
he retired. He looked around for a tree.?
There was but one, a small elm, and he made
for this, intending to shoot from behind it; but
at this moment the cloud of sn^oke arose partially
from behind him, disclosing to his view
a number of Indians, none of whom discovered
him. One of them stood within a few paces,
loading his gun, and at him Higgins took
deliberate aim, fired, and the Indian fell. Higgins,
still concealed by the smoke, reloaded
his gun, mounted, and turned to fly, when a
low voice near hailed him with : 'Tom,, you
wont leave me!'
On looking round, he discovered the speaker
to be one of his comrades, named Burgess,
who was lying wounded on the ground, and
he replied instantly: 'No I'll not leave you.
Come along, and I'll take care of you."
'I can't come,' replied Burgess; 'my leg is
smashed all to piescs.,
Higgins sprang from his saddle and picked
up his comrade?whose ankle-bone was broken
?in his arms; he proceeded to lift him on
his horse, telling him to fly, and that he would
make bis own way on foot. Still, the cool
bravery of the former was sufficient for every
emergency, and, setting Burgess down gently,
he told him : 'Now, my good fellow, you must
/vff a? ttahv lnr?o 1 o T QfotT KnftPOOn
UUJJ UU V/U JKJKJLL tlliuu 1 nuuv X OUWJ wwuvvu
you and the Indians, to keep them off; instructing
him, at the same time, to get into the highest
grass, and crawl as close to the ground as
possible. Burgess followed his advice, and
scaped unmolested.
History does not record a more disinterested
act of heroism than this of Higgins, who, having
in his hands the certain means of escape
from such imminent peril, voluntarily gave
them up, by offering his horse to a waunded
comrade, and who, when that generous intention
was defeated, and his own retreat was
still practicable, remained, at the hazard of
his life, to protect his cripled friend.
The cloud of smoke, which had partially
opened before him as he faced the enemy, still
lay thick behind him; and, as he plunged
through this, he left it together with the ridge
and the hazel thicket, between him and the
main body of the Indians, and was retiring unobserved
by them.
Under these circumstances, it is probable it
lie had retreated in a direct line towards the
station, he might very readily have effected
his escape. But Burgess was slowly crawling
away in that direction, and the gallant Higgins
?who coolly surveyed the whole ground?
foresaw that if he pursued the same track, and
should be discovered, his ^riend would be endangered.
He therefore took the heroic resolution
of deviating from the true course, so far
as that any of the enemy who should follow
him wouW not fall in with Bnrgess. With
this intention he moved stealthily along through
the smoke and bushes, intending when he
emerged, to retreat at full speed. But as he
left the thicket, he beheld a large Indian near
him, and two others on the other side, in the
direction of the.fort. Tom cooly surveyed his
foes, and began to chalk out his track, for although,
in the confidence of his own activity
and courage, he felt undismayed at such odds,
yet he found it necessary to act the general.?
Having an enemy on?each flank, he determined
to separate them, and fight them singly.?
Making for a ravine which was not far off, he
1 1 1 ! . . ? i? t .? . ? i
Dounuca away; put soon lonnd ttiat one or ins
limbs failed him, having received a ball on the
first fire, which, until now, he had scarcely
noticed. The largest Indian was following
him closely Higgins turned several times to
fire, but the Indian would halt and dance
about, to prevent him from taking aim, and
Tom knew that he could not afford to fire at
random. The other two were now closing on
him; and he found that unless he could dispose
of the first one, he must be overpowered.
He therefore halted, resolved to receive afire;
and the Indian, at a few paces distant, raised
his rifle. Higgins watched his adversary's
eye, and just as he thought his finger pressed
the trigger, he suddenly threw his side to him.
It is probable this motion saved his life; for
the ball entered his thigh, which would have
pierced his body. Tom fell, but rose again and
ran; and the big Indian, certain of his prey,
loaded again, and then, with the two others
pursued. They soon came near Higgins, who
had again fallen; and, as he rose, they all fired,
and he received all their balls. He now fell
and rose several times, and the Indians, throwing
away their guns, advanced on him with
spears and knives. They frequently charged
upon him, but on his presenting his gun atone
or the other, they fell back. At last the largest
one?thinking, probably, from his reserving
his fire so long, that his gun was empty?
charged boldly up to him, and Higgins, with
a steady aim, shothim dead.
With four bullets in his body, and an empty
gun, two Indians before him, and a whole tribe
but a few rods off, almost any other man would
have despaired. But Tom Higgins had no
such notion; the Indian whom he had last
slain was the most dangerous of the three, and
he felt little fear of the others. He had been
near enough to see th iir eyes, and he knew
1 ? i 3* il-i V _
nuiiiuu uiuure sumcienuy 10 aiscover toac ne
wastheir superior in courage. He therefore
faced them, and began to load his rifle. They
raised a whoop, and rushed on him. "They
i kept their distance as long as my rifle was load,
ed," said he, <but now when they knew it was
empty, they were better soldiers.'
i A fierce and bloody conflict ensued. The
r Indians rushing upon Tom, stabbed him in
many places; but it happened fortunately,
i that the shafts of their spean were thin poles,
i rigged hastily for the occasion, which bent
whenever the point struck a rib, or encounteri
ed the opposition of one of Higgins' tough musi
cles. From this cause, and the continued ex
ertion of his hand and his rifle warding ofl
, their thrusts, wounds thus made were not deep;
i but his whole front was covered with gashes,
: of which the scars yet remain in honorable
; proof of his valor. At last one of them threw
i his tomahawk; the edge sunk deep into Higi
gin's cheek, passed through the ear, which it
i severed, laid bare his skull on the back of his
head, and stretched him on the plain. The
i Indians rushed on, but Tom instantly recover'
ed his self-possession, and kept them off with
i his feet and his hands until he succeeded in
grasping one of their spears, which, as the Indians
attempted to pull it from him, aided him
i to rise; and clubbing his rifle, he rushed upon
the nearest of his foes, and dashed his brains
out, in doing which he broke to pieces, only
retaining the barrel in his hand.
The other Indian, however warily he had
fought before, now came manfully into battle.
It is probable that he felt his character as a
?m_ T a . J r
?ui i iui ttu ouiivu. jl u iiuve ueu iruiii a mail
desperately wounded and almost disarmed, or
to suffer his victim to escape, would have tarnished
manhood. Uttering a terrific yell, he
rushed on, and attempted to stab the exhousted
ranger; while the latter, warding off the
spear with one hand, brandished his rifle barrel
in the other. The Indian, unwounded,
was now by far the most powerful man, but the
i moral courage of our hero prevailed ; and the
savage, unable to bear the fierce glance of his
untamed eye, began to retreat slowly towards
the place where he had dropped his rifle. Tom
knew that if the Indian recovered his gun, his
own case was hopeless; and throwing away his
rifle barrel, he drew his hunting-knife, and
rushed in upon him. A desperate strife ensued,
and several deep gashes were inflicted;
but the Indian succeeded in casting Higgins
from him, and ran to the spot where he had
thrown his gun, while Tom searched for the
gun of the other Indian. Thus the two, bleeding
and out of breath, were both searching for
arms to renew the conflict.
At this time the smoke that lay between the
combatants and the main body of the Indians
had passed away, and a number of the latter
having passed the hazel thicket, were in full
view. It seemed, therefore, nothing could
save our heroic ranger. But relief was at
hand.
mi. . 1!jil _ ! _i.il i._i.* _
xne iiiue garrison ai me station, six Or seven
in number, had witnessed the result of this
unparalleled combat. There was among them
a heroic woman, a Mrs. Pursley, who, when
she saw Higgins contending singly with the
foe, urged the men to go to his rescue. The
rangers at first considered the attempt hopeless,
as the Indians outnumbered them ten to one.
But Mrs. Pursley, declaring that so fine a fellow
as Tom should not be lost for the want of
helping on horse, sallied out. The men, not
to be outdone by a woman, followed at full gallop
towards the place o'f combat. A scene of
intense interest ensued: the Indians at the
thicket had just discovered Tom, and were
rushing down towards him with savage yells;
his friends were spurring their horses to reach
him first. Higgins exhausted with the loss of
blood, had fallen and fainted, while his adversary,
too intent on his pray, toTobeerve anything
else, was looking for a rifle. The ran
gcrs reached the battle ground -first. Mrs.
Parsley, who knew Tom's spirit, thought he
had thrown himself down in despair for the
loss of his gun, and tendered him the one she
carried, but Tom was past shooting. His
friends lifted him up, threwjbim across a horse
before one ofitbe party, and turned to-retreat
just as the Indians came up. They made good
their escape, and the Indians retired. . -.yWe
repeat this adventure just as it was re- *
latod to us, aDd have not the least doubt it i& v
literally correct, or as nearly so as Mr. Hig- . "
gins' opportunity for observation would admit '
?for, as he properly, observes, he was 'in a
desperate bad fixjust about that time, and it
/..> 1_J .7 ? - . . 1 ' *
woa u fjvwtrjui uua cnaiice ior a man to taice
notice of what was going on around him.
After being carried into the fort, he remained
insensible for some days, and his life was
preserved with difficulty by his friends, who
extracted all the bullets but two, which remained
in the thigh; one of which gave him ;
a great deal of pain for several years, although
the flesh was healed. At length he heard that y%
a physician had settled within a day's ride of ; ?
him, whom he went to see. -The physicia^*/
was willing to extract the ball, but asked the/ "
sum of fifty dollars for the operation. '^This**'
Tom refused to give, as it was more thin a
half year's pension. As he. rode home/he ]
turned the matter in his mind, and determined
upon a cheaper plan.
When be reached home,, he requested his
wife to hand him a razor. The exercise of
riding had so chafed the part, that the ball
which usually was not discoverable to the touch,
could be felt. With the assistance of his helpmate,
he very deliberately laid open his thigh,
until the edge of the razor touched the bullet}'
and inserting his finger into the gash, 'flirted
it out/ as he termed it, 'without coating a
I cent.' The other remains in his limb -vet. brfi'
gives him no "trouble, except when he
violent exercise. Tom, notwithstanding -Ms. ~ c
injuries, is still one of the most successfoLhunters
in the. country. , . . .
Tl? ''
A correspondent of the Louisville Democrat
vouches for the truth of the following - i
statement:
"Having during the last ten years heard,
the history of Mr. David Wilson (whpibnnerly
resided at Carrollton, Kentucky) repeated t3jj
frequently, and which seemed to me fabulous,
or which taxed 'my credulity muoh, and hap- ;
pening a few days ago to meet with Mr. Alexander
Wilson, of North Madison, with whom
I've been acquainted for several yeafB, I spoke
to his father, and he said what 1 had heard was
correct. He told me that he_(Alexander)
was the 45th child of David, and David was
the father of 47 lawful ohildren. He lived to \
the age of 107 years, and during his lifetime
had five wives. By his first wife he had 18
children. A few years before he died he expressed
a desire to remove to Indiana^ butwaa
opposed by his fifth and last'wife. He how-f
ever took a trip to find a new location to suit
him, and when he returned home he found *
that his wife had packed up some of the goods
and chattels and returned to her frinds in
Kentucky. He went after her and endeavored
to persuade her to return to his house, but
she would not go. In a short time, however,
she relented, and then wished to return to his
house; but he would have nothing to do with
her?and so they remained separated till his '
death. Very few of his children died in their
infancy or youth \ and there are now 86 of.
them living who are all men and women fall Hgrown.
David Wilson was a man of .put A
good health and robust physical constitution.*
At the age of 105 years he could mow an acre a
day for a week at a time, without evincing^
much fatigue. He appeared to have not a rib.
The whole region of his breast was shielded by
a plate of solid bone, and he conld receive the
most severe and powerful blows upon it without
being hurt. He frequently, for the gratification
of others, suffered them to strike him most
vinlpnt.lv in t.lip hrnnnt. wftTinrit hain? moilfl in
feel in the least uncomfortable. During our
border wars he was taken prisoner by the In- H
dians, and they attempted to stab him in the H
breast, but found the solid bone impenetrable.
His minute history would be interesting if oel- I
lected and published. He was one of the most -.fl
remarkable men that ever lived in America.?- H
His progeny was very numerous, and he at- B
tained a green old age. At the age of 107 B
years, when he died, none of his faculties of fl|
mind or body were materially impaired." ''B
WHO GEN.WALKEB IS. B
William Walker, the filibuster of Nicara- H
gua, was born in Nashville, Tenn., and is now H
about thirty-three years old. His father is H
James Walker, Esq., a citizen of Nashville,
of Scottish birth, and very much respected.? H
His mother was a Miss Norvell, an estimably, mm
from Kentucky. Walker, after quitting school
in his native State, which he did with muoh
credit and honor, commenced the study of
medicine in the University of Pennsylania,
where he graduated. He then went to Europe,
entered the medical schools of Paris as a
student, recieved a diploma there, and after
some time spent in travel, returned to thiscountry,
went to Nashville, and commenced the
study and the practice of the law. Walker Hj
is thus both lawyer and physioian. From
Nashville he went to New Orleans, and was
Jor some time editor of The Crescent. In
June, 1850, he went to San Francisco, and
became one of the editors of The Herald.
While in this positio#an article appeared in
The Herald animadverting upon the Judiciary
to which exception was taken by Judge Parsons,
of the District Court, who forthwith
summoned him before his Court, and inflict
ed od the editor a fine of 9500. This Walker
refused to pay and was accordingly imprisoned,
but was subsequently discharged on &
wit of habeas corpus, issued from the Snperi>^H
or Court, which action was sustained by the
Legislature at the next session. The next enterprise
in which Walker was engaged was the
famous, expedition to Sonora, with the disas- BH
trous result of which our readers are as familiar
as they are with his more recent history, flfl
tSy General Cass is reported to be worth HH
four millions of dollars.