Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-10-01
From the Flag of Our Union.
THE TEXAN RANGERS BEST SHOT

/ ing over Inc lake ana cLapparal.
IAN hour like this casts spell upon my
spirit" said Camera. :" love to see the glare
OF the day fade and give place to the dim placi,
twilight
| g have similar feelings replied Wilson
g but like the night best when more advanced
! towards the small hours, and the moon and star.
are mildly beaming"
Cameron made no reply, and the parties re-
manned silent. Wilson was the first TO speak
That's heavy rifle of yours" he said ganc.
ing at the weapon upon which Cameron was
| leaning. :" dare say it has been of service to
you in its time"
No money would induce me to part with it,
because have tried its metal on many occasions.
Did ever tell you of an adventure that | had
near Red River?'
"You never did should like to hear it,
said Wilson.
Several years ago." resumed Cameron,
was hunting near Cross Timbers, not far from
Red River. The Indians were then troub lesome,
and frequently committed their depreciation upon
the fontier settlements; bit was fond of hunt
ing and cared little for them, willing TO trust to
my courage and ingenuity in any emergency
that might occur. | carried this same rifle,
and was called one of the best shots in the coun-
try.
Many people said the piece was too heavy
for common use but | was accustomed to it
and it didn't feel burdensome to mo and when
fired, it was sure to do the right thing, for what
animal could carry off an ounce and half of lead
skilIully sped on its errand
Having discovered Indian signs one dav,
thought it best to change my hunting ground ::
and so put considerable distance between my
self and the spot, and encamped on a wide prai-
rie, bounded on the east by the Cross Timbers ;
Not long after this event, was sitting on the
bank of a small stream, resting my weary limbs
after a long fadguing hunt, when | was fired
upon and Slightly wounded.
i" | was fortunate enough to discover the marks
man, who proved to be an Indian, of what tribe
do not remember. [ instantly shot him dead
and then perceived that he was not alone for
one of his brethren was with him, who made
good his escape. Time passed on, and | was
undisturbed i'll my amuscments for a long time.
"One day not feeling very well, returned to
my camp sooner than usual. laid down and
tried to sleep, but couldn't felt uneasy and ner-
vous, and so arose and went out on the prairie.
The grass was now very tall, and the hot suns of
the season had dried it until it was crispy, and
rautlcd as walked through it. descended gem
tie swell and looked around me. The scene was
a grand one. On one hand was the Cross Tim
bers, dmly seen in the distance, resembling a
dense wall of wood built by human hands while
in every other direction the prairie stretched
away until lost in the distance. The sun was
getting low, and looked like sun set on the
sea. As my eyes wandered from point to point
they We're suddenly fixed upon a solitary fig
of the long sWshT8f gTqFdaf dstaMt. at the foot of
ing.
"He stood in an open space, and at first won
dered how that could be, as the grass was so
high in every other place but the affair soon OK
planned itself.
More careful observation showed me that
the solitary object was an Indian, and his object in
plucking up the grass was evident; he was go
ing to fire the prairie! 1t was doubtless the
same fellow that had escaped at the time when
had been fired on. lie had discovered my re-
treat and was about 70 revenge his comrade in
singular manner.
''The wind was blowing fresh towards me, and
if the grass was once set on fire, no power on
earth could save me, for the fieetest horse could
not run fast enough to escape its devouring
flames. A terrible dread of that kind of death
came over me- | stood like one fascinated, and
gazed on the preparations of the savage. He
stood in the middle of the open space he had
made, with blazing torch in his Land. Innu-
merable thoughts rushed through my mind in an
instant of time | was never so completely par
alyzed and stupefied before in my lie. The
power of thought seemed the only power left me,
and that was stimulated to an unnatural degree.
The past, present and future were reviewed and
speculatcd upon in that brief and broken trag
ment of time in which the savage stood waiting
for the brand to burn up more brightly before he
thrust it into the grass.
"Ycs my destiny was to be burned Some
hunter or traveller would find my body charrcd
and blackened and others, after time, would
pass my bones bleaching in the sun. l shud-
dered my eyes felt hot; my tongue was dry,
and imagined that felt the flames creeping
over me. Ii it had been a danger that could
have battled with, or if could have seen any
chance for escape depending upon my own ex-
ertions, it would have been different; but now
all could do was to stand and stare the most
dreadful of all deaths in the face You must re-
member that all these ideas and reflections rush.
ed through my mind in the shortest apprecable
space oftime for you must know that the sud-
den prospect of great danger from which there
is no apparent mode of escape, lmparts to the
brain horrible facility of thought, of which
the mind at case can form no possible concep
ton.
Il closed my eyes in prayer, and commended
my soul to God but it was impossible for me to
close my eyes against the one great and absorb
ing idea in my miud-that of being burnt up like
a reptile that craws in the weeds.
MY lips Enclosed, and as they did so, my eyes
rested an my trusty rfe it was the first time
that had thought of it, for the distance was
great between me and my enemy but now it
looked like an old friend, and the only one that
had the power to save me.
81 embraced the thoughttha the sight of my
rife called up-a species of JOY which is near
ly overpowered by agonizing feeling.
Z" One chance still rcmaincd-a small chance
it was true, but still chance, and despair can
not completely paralyze aud subdue the heart,
while even one faint hope remained. lifted
the instrument upon which hung my destiny
As my glance ran over the intervening distance,
felt how desperate indeed was my prospect of
life, for a hundred good marksmen might try
their skill in vain, in aiming at an object so far
off. Then | remembered that my weapon was
of uncommon caHbre and weight, and would
throw ball farther than any had ever seen,
and ! recoilected also that bad loaded it that
very day with uncommon care, and for a long
shot.
The Indian moved his torch and was about
to apply it TO the combusia5le material there
was no time to lose. The rifle came to nv
shoulder quick and firm and | braced up my
nerves for a ready aim with strong effect OF the
will | looked through the double sight and