The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-06-08

tiers. We have read Of similar Instances
of self-immolation among the American
Indians, rather than fall into the hands oi
rihcir enemies, but do not recoilect any other
case in Texas. Allour late accounts con-
Grm the fact that since the Rangers were
dlsbanded the Indians are renewing their
predatory incursions with alarming frequen'
cy:
FoET CRoaHAN, Texas.
..g,-. t... ..... April 7, 1858.
Mr. DEAR: l have just returned
from one of The most arduous and excl
ting scouts | have ever made. We had
been robbed here twice by the Indians with
in four months. The last time on the mig
of the 18Th March. They took down pam
mel ofmy stable lot and led cut nine Of my
finest horses. II was one of the darkest and
and most clustering nights of the season,
aud the robbery must have been committed
between nine and tenat night. The next
morning started with seventeen men in
pursuit.. Failing 70 discover a trail l pro
cerded at once ~ the post on the head ofthe
clear Fork Of She Brazos, thence to the In
dian agency. halt way between Phantom Hill
and Beiknap, Up to this point | could
hear nothing ofthe ROBBERY, except the opin-
ion entertained by the agent, MIR. Sem, and
all The friendly lndians-which concurred
with my own-that the robbery had been
committed by Wilchelas. WhIIe at the a.
gency u party Of that tribe, under the pre-
LenSe OF surrenlering some stolen horses
they had promised to Stem they would do.
lhc horses they brought in were SO indif-
terent and broken down that it was evident
.hey were actin5 in bad faith, and that this
only intended as a sub.erluse'
l. was not disposed to be triaed with in
this manner the agent had also los! all pa
llence with them. II was accordingly a.
greed to detain the chief and the principal
portion Of his party, consisting Of nine war
rerss and several women, as hostages unti
the whole Of the property recently stolen
woulI Be brought in. Mr.. Stem announced
TO them our determination, and told then
in pretty plain terms meant 10 carry then
into Belknap and hold them as prisoners
permitting two of their number TO return
20 their tribe and convey the '.talk'' we had
given them. Though fully expected "S
break On the announcement, which woull
result in the death Of Mr.. Sem or myself
OF bo.h--indeed would not have insureC
either Of our lives atl00 per cent.-we were
compelted face the danger with apparen
indifference. Auy manifestation of lear o.
suspicion would have increased the chances
OF their resortins to the desperate alternative
OF "a rush orAbertY, plungng their kpive:
into whomsoever Interrupted their passage
The sequel proves the desperation will
which they would have acted. As soon a.
-loha4 told the they were prisoners | rost
from the bear-skitn upon which had beer
sitting facing them and mounted my borst
at the same time drawing my pisio
and motiOning them to go to their clmp.--
Ihe chicfreqd qdested that / should dismoun
that he wished to speak. l lid SO and tool
ia seat onr stool near by. He nlotioned mt
to sit nmy former position on the ground
l did so, at the same time drawing my knife
under pretensc OF cutting Tobacco TO smoke
He rose, addressed few remarks TO me a
bout the difficulty of rcstraing his young
men from stealing, &e., AMI suggested tha
it would be better that lie should return tc
his tribe. This | refused. He shen seem.
lngly yielded 10 his fate, approach Ing me
ana seizing my hand, lifted me from the
gronnd, and embracing me, first pointing
no Heaven and to ourselves, to indicate thai
the Great Spirit witnessed the proceeding
told them l would not hold them as close
prisoners, but merely guard against theil
! o ky nj M, cnrtIpf.lS orrupI fI,oJ,
camp, Meantime Iencamped my command
near theirs, and took Fl ON them all arms
I could find. They retired quietly to their
tents at da.k, manitesting not the slightest
intention Of an attempt to escape.
The NOON shone as bright as day. l had
posted two distinct guards over them o.
six men each with orr sentinels. | had
besn up moving about the camp until abont
twenty minutes before 12. At l2 the SEN
tinels we're relieved. The sentinel posted
more immediately over their camp had
gone neay.one OF their tents. Suddenly
one Of the Indians rushed forth from hit
tent toward the sentinel, and, presenting
pistol, fired, shooting him through the
heart. This seemed to be the sequel fol
a general "break." AS the sentinel turn
ed TO retreat up the slope toward his com
panions, the Chief, Ko.we- ska, rushed from
his tent like lemon, threw himself on thu
back of re,reating sentinel, and with biz
eeking knifeiniicied several wounds be
ore he was shot down by the old sentinel
The rest succeeded in eltecting their escape
running in different directions and answer
| ing the shots fired at them with yells of de
6ance. The Chief, as was discovered OF
searching the tents, had purposely sacrih
ced himself, his wife and boy seven year
Old, to secure the escape of his companion;
The wife and child whom he had requeste
on the evening before to talk to and CIV
them assurance of their safety, were foun
Lying in their tent sided by side, as if j
deep sleep, but STABBED to the heart. I'll
wife, at least had consented to her fate, q
we were informed by two old women VII
had attempted TO escape.
Size seemed to have received the fat
blow withouta struggle--both were care
fully covered up to the breast, the child j
ing upon its mothers arm. The Chief
mgccasns were found near their heads,
sign, the indians told us, that he did n
mean 10 leave the spot alive. Nothing
, romance on history that | have ever rel
approximates to this act Of devotion al
self-sacrifice. Cooper never could ha
yentured to paint such scene. T
q bright moon Lighting up the beautiful cou
i tenance Of the mother---for she was bea
tiful and young with her innocent b
E by her side. and the. blood stitl oozing frc
o tl.ni. .eLnstl1r ,no,.rl- IL, Ll.cha...l al