Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-04-19
The Chiefs Death.
OR, THE MASSACRE AT SAN ANTONIO.
By CHARLES II. SAUNDERS

Ihe early history Of the lone star republic"
Is rife with fearful interest and many an .'owe
true tale" which lis early pioneers relate, are
well calculated 10 freeze the blood and blanch
the cheek even of manhood The incident shall
attempt 10 rehearse, as told 10 me by participa-
tor in the fearful scene, and as il fell from his
lips, give.my readers the plain, unvarnished
tale"
! In the year lS40 the Texian Council sent
Cumanche prisoner back to his nation, charged
with mission TO the effect, that if all the pris.
oners then IN The Cumanche encampment would
be Immediately givenup, liberal ransoms should
be paid in exchange. Soon after The messen-
ger had delivered this mission 10 the nation, a
party of the Indians left The beautiful valley of
the Pertinalls, which place had been their win
ter quarters, and took the road which leads TO
the main post Of the Texian army.
The cavalcade of the red men consisted of
some of the oldest and most sage chefs-many
oil the young warriors with their sqnaws-some
with their children at their breasts, and few
old women, whose duty it seemed 10 be TO take
care of the baggage; in the centre of the party
rode beautiful American girl, who had been
taken prisoner in one of the predatory excur-
sions of the Indians, and had remained six
months or more in the power of the savages.
Her father was one of the pioneers of the
country, who had removed from the United
States with his wife and daughter, 10 find
new home" in lha, then uncultivaied region.
One day in his absence, the Indians made de-
scent upon his cabin, tomahawked the mother
in the presence of her child, and bore the
daughter into captivity.
The party arrived at a spot within a mile Of
San Antonio de Bexar, formerly a Mexican
town, then the main post of the Texian army.
halt was here made, and the old women haT-
ing been left In charge of the baggage horses,
mules, dc. the old chiefs and young warriors,
with their squaws, marched into the town, ac-
companled by their captive. Each warrior
was armed with his knife and bow but young
chief who preceded them bearing white flag,
denoted that their object was peaceful In tie
liIlle council chamber of the infant country, the
Texian officers awaited their approach. Judge
Howard, much esteemed citizen and public
funcionary, presided at the meeting and SOL
diers having been stationed around the building
and al every door within it, The grim procession
was marched into The hall. The young warri-
ors with their squaws and children, were con-
Quoted into an inner room, and the door closed
upon them, while the stern chiefs were seated
side by side on a long bench confronting the
Judge The business Of the assembly then
commenced. Judge Howard arose and demand
ed OF them the number of prisoners they had
The head chief then presented the girl, and
through an interpreter replied, " but one," de-
manding large ransom as The price of her
freedom The girl was then taken aside, and
questioned as TO how many capiives she had
ef. behind in the Cumanche camp She told
them that many Of her conn!rymen and Mexi-
cans yet fingered in bondage, expecting mo-
menlly horrible death. The assembly being
satisfied that more prisoners remained behind
and that the Cumanches had endeavored 10 de
ceire them, replied, through Judge Howard
that all must be brought in, and that they
should be detained as hostages until every man
was given up. The precept Cumanche
teaches to his children, is "to die rather than
become prisoner 10 white man" and ere the
decision Of the assembly had passed the Judge.
lips, Cumanche knife was a, his heart. With.
out groan the ill-fa,ed Judge fell dead, and
then commenced the scene Of blood and saugh.
ter.
The wild whoop OF the savages echoed
through The building and was chorussed back
from the young warriors IN the inner room the
door was thrown open, and the Cumanche:
were discovered in a sered mass-each with
an arrow fixed in his bow, others clasped with
his hand around the stock, and others held be
Tween his teeth. With dreadful yells they
RUSH ed into the hall, and the well aimed mes
senosrs of death each hit its living mark. The
officers w,sn possessed swords or knives were
using them III close melee with the sayage'
who were similarly armeds the soldiers, whose
lmuskeis were without bayonets, grasped the
weapons in sla.e Of fearful inactivity, no
daring TO fire into the sangulnary crowd, les
They should wound their own officers and no
until their commanding Colonel was stabbet
three several lines. was the order gwen to ttr
al any risk A blaze Of fame blenched al th'
word, from The muzzIes of dozen muskels, ant
the grim savage who s,ppd with nplfled knii'
over the PROSTATE form Of Ihe Colonel-lel
across his body lifeless corpse with ihel
muskels clubbed, the soldiers infuriaed by TN
sigh. of their PROSTATE commander and dy'nl
lcomrades. rushed upon The sav5ges, and al