The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-03-20
From the New Orleans Picayune.
An A ffecting Tale.

= 1AA "A AiO IL Is oA Os
McCulloch's Rangers, after a hard
days ride, had bivouacked one night
last summer in a beautiful mesquit grove
between Reynosa Viejo and Camargo,
a barranca protecting one side of the
encampment from surprise, while the
steep banks Of the Rio Grande served
the same purpose on the other. The
horses had all been watered, fed and
currled, the first reliefof the guard pos
led, and the Rangers, after drinking
their coffee, were reclining about on
their blankets, spinning long yarns OF
their adventures, when Bill Dean told
a story that wound up the entertain
ments of the evening, in theatrical par
lance, and caused an outbreak at the
termination that came nigh stampeding
the entire cavalIada. Bill had Joined
McCulloch's men for the trip, and the
recollection of his humorous tale about
chasing the prairie fire a mile and half,
trying to cook his horse meat, secured
him most patient hearing.
Those who know anything about the
emigration of Germans into Texas, are
well aware that thousands of them have
made Indian Point, near Port Lavaca.
a grand rendezvous before leaving for
the interior settlement Of New Braun
fels, or the frontier stations on the Pi-
erdenales, the Llano, or the San Saba.
Bill said that he visited the Point last
spring, when some five thousand Ger
mans were encamped there, and was
present at one of the most thrilling and
heart-rending scenes it had ever been
his lot to witness. So far as his indi-
vidual knowledge went, neither ancient
nor modern history made mention of
any case which might be considered
as any where near parallel.
Among the emigrants. remarked Dean
was young, pretty, red checked girl,
the pride of the party, who stolled out
alone one day, to gather wild flowers
in the chapparel. Her rambling car
ried her farther than she intended, and
when she turned to retrace her steps
she found that she was lost, poor thing.
bewildeled and perplexed in tangled
maze. la vain she strove 10 recollect
the position and bearings Of the camp
she had left, all SO Joyous, short hour
before--reason had fed its throne
In an agony of doubt she ran to and fro
in the chapparel, every step taking
her farther from her friends, and dark
ness at length found her completely ex-
hausted, and crazed with thoughts Of
Indian peril and Of starvation. Her
sufferings during that dreadful night,
continued Bill, you must fancy foryour-
,selves-I shall not attempt to depict
them. c
With the early morning light she
was again on her feet. She gazed in
every direction, she ran in every direc-
lion; but no sight of her friends glad,
dencd her longing vision. While thus
engaged she was discovered by a Mex.
lean girl, whose iather had small ran.
cho some five miles from the Point; and
now when succor was at hand the lost
one fed at its approach. The Mexican
girl called upon her in soothing terms;
but she needed her not. The former
then went to her father hard by, and
told him that some poor straggler from
the camp Of the strangers was in the
bushes, and to all appearances lost and
.bereft of reason. The old man mount
ed his horse, went out in search, and
soon came up with her; but she fled a.
his approach as from one of the wild
denizens of the prairie. The old man,
inthe kindness Of his heart, with soft
accents attempted to arrest her flight;
she understood, she needed him not
He knew that she must belong to the
German, camp. that she was lost, that
she was crazed, and he determined 10
rescue her. Coiing his lariai or leath-
ersrope which hung to his saddle in his
hand, he set off full speed after the be-
wildered and frightened fugitive, threw W
a. l. 4.