Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-05-04
An Adventure in Texas.
a THRILLING NARRATIVE.

During the recent war between the United
States and the Indians of Texas, a great number
Of volunteers joined the expedition. One of these,
Captain Ferguson Of Kentucky, became celebra-
ted for his hardihood and success in the terrible
hunting of the Indians. The following incident
will convey some idea of the character of the
man, and also of the war still raging in the New
World between civilization and barbaris1n.
small band ofvoiunteers, among whom was
Captain Furguson, spent several days exploring
Texas, and had wandered far into the interior
without meeting solitary Indian track. Tired
Of this pacific journey, they resolved to separate
and seek adventures singly, before returning to
the camp.
Accordingly the following morning, Captain
Ferguson, mounted on an excellent horse, left
his companions and directed his course across
vast prairie, toward a cluster of hills hemmed in
by thick woods which bound the horizon. Arriv
ed at the foot Of one of the hills, the Captain per-
ceived troop of wild horses slowly advancing
toward him. Suddenly they broke into galiop;
. manmuvcr which appeared suspicious, and in
duced onr hero to watch them closely. 80
They soon gained the level ground, and the
dull sound Of their boots striking the sol,became
distinctly audible. The Captain looked, and saw
dangling to the tanks Of each horse an Indian
suspended horizontally by an arm and leg. This
is common stratagem among the Indians, but,
luckily for Ferguson, he was still at a consider
able distance from these unpleasant looking cav
nliers.
Pereeiving, by the sudden raRidity of his fight:
that they we're discovered, the Indians climbed
nimbIy On their horses, and pursued our hero at
full speed, shouting their terrible war cry.
Looking back, Ferguson observed that his en-
enies spread themselves across the prairie, with
the evident intention of cutting off his retreat to
the hills. He saw that his only chance of safety
consisted in gaining the woods whittier his pursu-
ora dare not follow him, lest they might encoun-
ter the out-p posts ofthe American troops
Heidi not again look behind, but with his eyes
eagerly fxed on the yet distant goal, he spurred
stumbled, and the cry of the Indians became more
distinet but the noble animal rose again, and with
q long neigh, as though conscious OF the danger
that menaced his master, he made a prodigious
forward bound and cleared the space which divid-.
ed him from the wood with the speed of an arrow.
As Ferguson had foreseen, the Indians, fearing
10 enter the woods, came to sudden halt. Al
though now comparatively out of danger, he did
not esteem the neighborhood perfectly safe, and
therefore pursued his course for five or six miles,
without drawing bridle. Evening was closing in
when he judged it proper to pause He turned in
vain to discover where he was; but he was not a
man to vex himself for tribes, SO he quickly re-
solved to pass the night in the open air, and de-
FER till the morrow the task of finding his way. A
clear stream, bordered with shrubs, ran near, and
Ferguson, having unbridled his horse, wrapped
himself in his cloak and lay down on the grass.
At day break he resumed his journey, follow
Ing the course of the stream. Whes he had gone
about four miles, he found the corpse of one of
his companions. The poor fellow had been scalp
ed, and Ferguson's FIRST thought was that all of
his friends had probably been surprised and masa-
cred singly. Indeed. the numerous footprints
of horses, some shod and some un-shod, indicated
plainly the recent passage of both white men and
Indians. Slowly and cautiously he followed
these traces, without making any discoveries, un-
I'll toward the middle Of the day having climbed up
aslight eminence, he saw on the plain, at about a
miles distance, large Indian encampment
At the same moment the Indians perceived the
Captain, and leaped on their horses. Cursing
his own mprudence Ferguson turned bride and
began as quickly as possible, to retrace his steps
Arriving at the outer border OF the wood, he saw
on the plain which he was about to cross, dense
cloud Of lurid smoke extending on either side al
far as the eye could reach. 1t was prairie on
8 Ere. What was he to do !! To return was death
togo forward, destruction no less inevitable.
IN this terrible emergency, Ferguson did no
lose his presence Of mind, bnt continued to ad
vancerapidly in the direction Of the fire. Whel
he met the black advanced guard Of smoke, be
hind which the flame wound and darted like som
hydra-headed serpent, Ferguson checked and dis
3 naouated. He tore his mantel into pieces, fasteu