Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-10-12
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of volunteers Joined the expedition. One of these,
CAPTAIN Ferguson of Kentucky, became noted Tor
his hardihood and success in the terrible hunting
of The Indians. The following incident will con-
vey some idea of the character of the man, and
also of the war still waging in the New World,
between civilization and barbarism.
A small band of volunteers, among whom was
Captain Ferguson, 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 Capt. Fer
puson mounted on an excellent horse, -eft his
companions and directed his course across vast
prairie, towards a cluster of hills, hemmed in by
thick woods which bounded the horizon. Arriving
at the foot of one of the hills, the CAPT perceived
a troop of wild horses slowly advancing towards
him. Suddenly they broke into elllop, man
nuver which appeared suspicious and induced
our hero to watch them closely.
They soon gained the level gpund, and the
dull sound of their hoofs striking tie soil, became
distinctly audible. The Captain boxed and saw
cinging to the hanks of each hose an Indian
suspended horizontally by an arm and leg. This
is a common stratagem among tip Indians but
luckily for Ferguson, he was stilIat consldera-
bic distance from these unpleasant looking cava-
Tiers.
Perceiving, by the sudden rapidly of his fight.
that they were discovered the Indians climbed
nimbly on their horses, and pursued our hero at
full speed, shouting their terrible var cry.
Looking back, Ferguson obser,ed that his en-
emies spread themselves across tie prairie with
the evident intention of cutting Of his retreat to
the hills. lie saw that his only clNnce of safety
consisted in gaining the woods; WHITTIER his pur-
suers burst not follow him, lest they encounter the
outposts of the American troops
He did not again look behind, but with his eye
eagerly fixed on the yet distant goal, he spurred
on his horse to its utmost speed. Inc -anImal
stumbled, and the cry of the Indians became more
distinct; but the noble animal rose again, apd with
a loud neigh, as though conscious of the peril that
menaced his master, he made prodigious forward
bounds, and cleared the space which divided him
from the wood with the speed of an arrow.
AS Ferguson had foreseen, the Indians, fearing
to enter the woods, came to a 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 Bride Evening was closing in
when he Judged it proper to pause. He tried in
vain to discover where he was; but he was not a
man to vex himself for triiles so he quietly re-
solved TO pass the night in the open air, and defer
/ till the morrow the task of finding his way. A
clear stream bordered with shrubs ran near, and
Ferguson, having unbrded his horse, wrapped
himself in his cloak and lay down on the grass.
AT daybreak he resumed his journey, following
the course of the stream. When he had gone a
bout four miles, he found the corpse of of his
companions The poor fellow had been seal ped
and Fergusons first thought was that all his com
rades had probably been surprised, and massacreC
singly. Indeed, the numerous footprints of hor
ses, some shod and some unshod, indicated the re
cent passage of both white men and Indians
without making any discoveries, untri ,i;rtl :,
middle of the day, when reaching slight emf
ncnce, he saw large Indian encampment
AT the same moment the Indians perceived til,
Captain, and lcaped on their horses Gliding hi
own imprudence, Ferguson turned Bride and be
gan as quickly as possible to retrace his steps,
Arrived at the outer border of the wood, he saw
on the plain which he was about to cross, a dense
cloud of lurid smoke extending either side a
far as the eye could reach. 1t was a prairie OF
fire. What was he to do? To return was death
to 90 forward, destruction no less inevitable.
In this terrible emergency, Ferguson did no
lose his presence of mind, but continued to ad
vance rapidly in the direction of the fire. WheI
he met the black advanced guard of smoke. behinC
which the fame wound and darted like some mon
strous hydra-headed serpent, Ferguson checked
his horse. and dismounted. He tore his mantl,
into pieces, fastened one as a bandage around hi
horses eyes, and another so as to enveop the an
imal's mouth and nostrils then he covered hi
own face in similar manner. This was thu
work of a few neutrality-suspicious. moments in
deed-for the yells of the advancing Indians be
came fearfully distinct. His preparations made
Ferguson remounted, and facing his horse toward
the fire, spurred him on with the energy of DIES
pair. The noble beast bounded onward, the derc,
flame enveloped him and his rider; but the arm
of the latter was Of iron strength he held up hi
horse and imneled him through the fire. A few
desperate bounds, and the torture was over
The fresh cool air-how delicious it was.-
Ferguson tore off the bandages which covered hi
own and his horses head, and threw himself OF
the ground. He is saved he has performed al
unparalleled exploit But above the roaring an,
cracking of the flames, he heard the triumphan
cries of his enemies, who think they have precip
itated him into the ocean of fire He made al
effort to give back deiying shout, but his vote,
died on his lips.
Half suffocated, both horse andman had hardl,
strength to move across the blackened plain We
Ferguson knew that without water they mus
perish. He therefore summoned his remainin!
energies, and crept on, leading his horse by tn,
bride. All the poor creatures lair was singet
off, and large pieces of his hide ca ne away at thu
slightest touch.
Tormented by raging thirst, Ferguson drag
ged himself towards the farther extremity of thu
plain; and there he perceived band of wolve
advancing with savage howls This new peri
reused both horse and rider. A clear fresh stream
was flowing by; into it plunged the animal, an,
Ferguson also dipped his head in the deciou
bath. Its restorative effect was magical, III
recollected that the wolves in these vast plain