Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-03-10
THE cUMANCHE,s DEATH.
.AN INCIDENT or NE MAssAoRn oF ANToNIt

FL Pr. L TIC curly nlStuTl Oh the lone star hcpuD-
= lic'' is rife with fearful interest; and many
an Cover true tale" which its early pioneers
relate, are well calculated to freeze the
blood, and blanch the cheek even of man.
, hood. The incident shall attempt to re.
Fl hearse, was told to me by participator in
the fearful scene, and as it fell from his
lips, give my readers the plain 'uilyarnsh.
ed tale"
o.. In the year 1910 the Texan Council
sent Cumanche prisoner back to his ma
ton, charged with mission to the effect.
that If all the prisoners then in the Cuman-
81 che encnmpment, would be Immediately Civ
en- up, liberal ransoms should be paid in ex-
change. Soon after the messenger had de-
liyered this mission to the nation, party of
the Indians left the beautiful valley of the
PertInals, which place had been their win
ter quarters, and took the road which leads
TO the nam post ofthe Texan army.
The cavacade of the red men consisted
of some of the Oldest and most sage chiefs
many of the young warriors with their
squaws-some with their children at their
breasts and few Of the old women. whose
duty it seemed to be to take care of the bag
gage in the centre of the party rode a beau
prisoner in one of the predatory excursions
ofth Indians and had remained six mouths
or more in the power ofthe savages Her
father was one of the pioneers of the coun-
try, who had removed from the United
States with his wife and daughter, to find
a "new home" in that then uncultivated re-
glon. One day in his absence, the Indians
made descent upon his cabin, tomahawked
the mother in the presence of her child, and
bore the daughter into captivity.
The party arrived at spot within mile
of San Antonio de Bexar, formerly Mex
lean town, then the main post ofthe Texan
army. A halt was here made, and the old
women having been left in charge the bag
gage, horses, mules, &c, the old chiefs and
young warriors, with their squaws marched
INTO the town, accompanied by their captive
Each warrior was armed with his knife and
bow; but young chief who preceded them,
bearing white flag, denoted that their OBJ
ject was peaceful. In the little council cham
Der ofthe infant country the Texian officers
awaited their approach. Judge Howard. a
much esteemed citizen and public function
airy, presided at the meeting and soldiers
having been stationed around the buiIdinq.
and at every door within ii, the grim process
sion was marched into the hail. The young
warriors, with the squaws and children,
were conducted into an inner room, and
the door closed upon them, while the stern
chiefs were seated, side by side, on long
bench confronting the judge. The business
of the assembly then commenced. Judge
Howard arose and demanded of them the
number ofprisoners they had The head
chief then presented the girl, and through an
interpreter replied, "but one" demanding
large ransom as the price Of her. freedom.
The girl was then taken aside, and question
ed as to- how many captives she had left be-
hind in the Cumanche camp. She told
them that many of her countrymen and Mex
leans yet fingered in bondage expecting
momently horrible death. The assembly
being satisfied that more prisoners remain
ed behind, and that the Cumanches had en-
deavored TO deceive them, replied, through
Judge Howard, that all must be brought in
and that they should be detained hostag-
es, until every man was given up. The pre-
cept Cumanche teaches to his children
is, "to die rather than become a prisoner
to white man." and ere the decision of the
assembly had passed the Judges lips, Gu
manche knife was in his heart Without
a groan the Inflated Judge fell dead, and
then commenced the scene of blood and
slaughter
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 /
Cumanches were discovered in serted |
mass-each with an arrow fixed in his bow, |
others casped with his hand around the |
stock, and others held between his teeth |
with dreadful yells they rushed into the hall, /
and the well aimed messengers of death, each |
hit its living mark The women fought with |
the fury ofdevs. The officers who posses
SEQ swords or knives, were using them in
close melee with the sayages who were sim
ilarly armed the soldiers, whose muskets
were without bayonets, grasped their weap-
ons IN state Of fearful inactivity, not daring
to fire intosthe sanguinary crowd, lest they
should wound their own officers and not
until their commanding Colonel was stabbed
three several times, was the order given to
fire at any risk, blaze flame benched at
the word, from the muzzIes of a dozen mus
kets, and the grim savage who stood with
uplllted knife over the PROSTATE form of the
Colonel-fell across his body, ileless
corpse with their muskets dubbed, the sol
diers infatuated by the sight of their pros
trate commander and dying comrades, rush
ed upon the sayages, and although more
than one arm fell disabled as the soldier rais-
ed his musket to strike, the savages were
soon stretched upon the floor, either cold in
death, or writing in its last agonies. of
The warlike band who had entered that hall
but two now hreathed an old chief and his