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Return to Milestones Vol. 4, No. 2
Seven Indians from Northwest Territory (Indian land) crossed the Ohio in canoes near Tomlinson Run to raid an isolated cabin in the woods.
An old man's son was "lured" into the woods looking for wild turkeys when he heard the loud call to their mate. It was an Indian imitation.
Upon his return he found his father dead, the cabin in ruins and everything of value gone. He spread the alarm and the younger neighbors formed a posse to pursue the raiding party before they could cross the Ohio River.
Adam Poe would not allow the posse to begin before they had prayer. Only one young lad protested saying they would lose time. As it turned out he was the only frontiersman to lose his life in the chase and he killed an Indian who fired at him simultaneously. A very popular lad and good looking he was given a big church funeral.
Adam Poe was following his own "hunches" when he came upon Chief Big Foot and his young buddy resting on the Ohio River bank under a cliff.
Poe's rifle "flashed in the pan" and alerted his enemy. He could do nothing but jump off the cliff and wrestle them with his mighty arms.
Big Foot yelled at the little Indian to get the tomahawk. As he tried to deliver a killing blow, Poe's arm went up and was severely slashed.
At the same time Poe used his foot in a violent kick to the little Indian where it hurt. Border Warfare book says "in the stomach" but I think it was a few tender inches below the belly button.
Big Foot was furious and released Poe to get his rifle. Both started to load at the same time. Poe had a reputation for "fast loading" even "on the run".
Friends said his powder horn was on a string around his neck and he dropped the ball in out of his mouth, banged the butt on the ground and fired at close range.
In his frenzy Big Foot was so nervous that his ramrod flew out of his hand. Poe shot the little Indian and again grabbed Chief Big Foot in hand to hand combat.
They struggled out into the river in an attempt to drown each other. Once the Indian "went limp" and Poe thought he was drowned but had to renew his efforts when he noticed Big Foot had "revived".
While in midstream Poe's buddies caught up with the trail but saw a dead Indian and shot out in the river thinking Adam was another. Poe had to holler who he was.
After taking him back home, the frontier "doctor" drew a silk handkerchief entirely through the bullet wound to "Clean" it of blood clots so it would drain and heal naturally.
The Indian tribe mourned their loss for many days. In addition to Chief Big Foot, the settlers had killed three of his brothers and two young friends.