The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-06-09
From The Austin Isras) Sentinel
EVENTS OF THE COMANCHE TREATY

The fight growing out OF the late attempt at Il
talk with the Comaches at San Antonioi was
very unexpected on both sides: the Indians de.
pending upon that species of duplicity which
hud always been successful in their transac
lions W ih the Mcxicans, and our people did not
think heywould attempt SO hold an adventure
the Indians were hemmed IN and thought they
were to he sacrificed, and fought desperately
the Americans were, many of them unarmed,
and found themselves i'm the center ola severely
contested fight in a very awkward condition.
Among the number was Capt. Mathew Cald-
well, LIST regiment infantry, (nn old frontiers
man, He stepped into house near by to see
it he could get any weapon. Finding none there
he passed through the house into n back yald
where he was confronted by u gigantic mdinn
warrior, armed with his rife, iotnHhawk, and
scalping knife. The yard was surrounded by "A
high stone wall, aud there was no chance for
either retreat The Indian raised his rifle To
shoot Capt Caldwell, hut he in the mean time
was not idle--the ground was covered with
stones-the only defence within reach OF the
Captain. He seized one and let fly at the Indian
and struck him cenery in the forehead that
the Indian came very near being knocked down:
the Captain again armed himself with
the same weapon, and as often the Indian at
tempted to shoot let fly such n shower OF stones
about his head he had no time for taking sight.
At this jnncture Jno ID. Morris, Esq. was pas
sing the door, and discovered the critical cond'-
lion of Capt. C.. and Immediately came to his as
sistunce. The only weapon he had was a small
three inch barrel pistol. S he stepped Into the
yard, Capt G, remarked, .'tha, fellow; Morris, II
you don't shoot him believe he'll Kill ne. =
"ny arms are light" said Mr.. Morris, give him
The iorncs while advance to within shooting
distance, and think we can manage hln
Cald well kept constant stream OF stones a
bout him while Morris advanced 10 within four
feet of the Indian and placing his little pistol al
most against his breast, shot him through the
heart. They then both armed themselves with
the fallen Indians weapons and sailed forth TO
the general melee. Nr'
/ Mr.. Morgan, Of San Antonio lone OF the Ole
deaf Smiths nen) was attnuled in "a yard, SUR
roun ded by high stone wall. lie was not nrfi'
ed, and three Indians charged upon him WIN
their bows and spears. He seized n stone ana
dealt the foremost one such blow on the heafi
that it fractured his skull. After this he reinfhe"
INFO a small room fronting upon the encIos"f''
where he found an axe--One ct the -lndIans at-
tempted to rush in after him, ana receiVen
blow which deprived bim-of lite--the o'her one
| folio we'd and was served in The same Why' an"
! Mr. Morgan had The enclosure to hunseli.
A phrenologist who was present "ltef me "it'
| lie discovered such extraordinary bumps upon
one of the heads OF those Indians that he cur
| off and boiled it for II scientific exatnnatoh; ID"
on removing the flesh, he found the skull bone
| in almost twenty pieces, and ne proho"nce"
the organ Of club 81 an ace 'dctveness.
Capt Geo. T. Howard, of the lst regiment o
infantry, stationed M The door OF me co.''','
room when the fire broke out. one OF 'n'