The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-05-26
From the GALVESTON News.

similar instances OF Se!i-lmmoiaton among tiie
American Indians, rather than fall into the
hands Of their enemies; but do not recollect
any other case in Texas I'll our late accounts
confirm the fact that since the rangers were dis
banded tlrc Indians are renewing their predatory
incursiens with alarming frequency.
FoET CRoGHAN, Texas, April Z, 1858.
have Just returned from one of the most ar
-luous and exciting scouts have ever made. We
had been robbed twice here by the Indians with
IN four months They took down panel of my
stable lot and led cut nine of my finest horses
Il was one of the darkest and most clustering
nights of the season, and the robbery must have
been committed between and 10 o'clock The
next morning | started with II men in pursuit.
Failing to discover trail, l proceeded to the
post on the road of the Clear Fork of the Bra
ZOs, thence to the Indian Agency, halfway be-
tween Phan tom Hill and Belknap. Up to this
point could hear nothing of the robbery,
cept the opinion entertained by the Agent, Mr..
Stem and all the friendly lndians-which con-
Cured with my own-that the robbery had been
committed by Witchetas.
While at the Agency party Of that tribe,
under their principal Y r-chief, came to surren-
der some stolen horses they had previously pro-
missed to Stem they would do. The horses they
brought in were so Indifferent and broken down,
that it was evident they were acting in bad faith,
and that this was only intended a subterfuge.
| was not disposed to be triied with in this
manner; the Agent had also lost all patience
with them. 1t was accordingly agreed to detain
the chief and the principal portion of his party
consisting of nine warriors and several women,
as hostages, until the whole of the property sto-
len should be brought in. Mr.. Stem announced
to them our determination, and told them L
meant to carry them into Belknap and hold
them rs prisoners, permitting two of the num-
Der to return to the tribe and convey the talk
we had given them. Though L fully expected
IA break" on the announcement, which would
result in the death of Mr.. Stem or myself, or
18th I how oif fha,.
Of our lives at 100 per cent.-we were compel
led to face the danger with comparative indif-
ference. Any manifestation of fear or suspi-
cion would have increased the chances of their
resorting to the desperate alternative of ga
rush for liberty, plungng their knives into
whomsoeyer interrupted their passage.
As soon as told them they were prisoners, L
rose from the bear-skin on which | had been ST.
ting facing them, and mounted my horse, at the
same time drawing my pistol and motioning
them to go to their camp. The chief requested
that | should dismount, that he wished to speak.
I did so and took a seat on stool near by. He
motiOned me to sit in my former position on the
ground. did so, Mt the time drawing
my knife, under pretence of cutting tobacco to
smoke, He rose, addressed few remarks to
me about the difficulty Of restraining his young
nen from stealing, &c, and suggesting that 1t
would be letter that he should return to his
tribe. This l refused. He then seemingly yield
ed TO his fate, approaching me by the hand,
lifted me from the ground and embraced me-
first pointed to heaven and to ourselves to indi-
cate that the Great Spirit witnessed the proceed
ing. | told them l would not hold them as
close prisoners, but merely guard against their
escape, Dy placing sentinels around their camp
Meantime encamped my command near theirs
and took from them all the arms 1 could find.
They retired to their tents at dark, manifestng
not the slightest intention of attempt to es-
cape.
The moon shone as bright as day. had post
ed two distinct guards over them, Of six men
each, without sentines. | had been up and mo-
wing about camp until twenty minutes before
twelve. At y, the sentnels were relieved.
The sentinel posted more Immediately over their
camp, had gone near one of their tents to count
the number present, while the corporal of
the guard, the Old sentinel and a citizen who
had accompanied me, stood near, looking on.
Suddenly OF the Indians rushed from his
seat toward the sentinel, and presenting a pis-
tUl, fired. This seemed to be the signal for the
general "break.' As the sentinel turned to re-
treat up the slope towards his companions, the
chief, ko-we-a aka, rushed from his tent, threw
himself upon the back of the retreating senti-
uel and with his knife inflicted several wounds
before he was. shot down by the old sentinel
The rest succeeded efecting their escape,
running in different directions and answering
shots fred at them with yeils of defiance The
chief as was discovered, on searching the tents,
had purposely sacrificed himself, his wife, and
Boy seven years old. The wife and child, whom
lie had requested en- the evening before, to talk
10 and give them assurance of their safety, were
iuand lying in their tent side by side, as II IN
,eep sleep, but stabbed to the heart. The wife
had consented to her fate, as we were informed
by two old women, who had attempted to escape.
She seemed to have received the fatal blow
without q struggie-both were carefully cover
ed up to the breast, the child lying upon its
mothers arm. The chiefs moecasns were
found near their heads--a sign, the Indians told
us that he did not mean to leave the spot alive.
Nothing in romance or history that have ever
read approximates to this act of devotion and
selfsacriice Cooper could never have ventu-
red to paint such scene. The bright moon
lighting up the beautiful countenance Of the
mother for she was beautiful and young-with
her innocent boy by her side, and the blood still
nozing from their CHASTITY wounds-the husband,
father and warrior, still stretched upon the sod;
the bloody knife still grasped in his hand, look
ing terrible even in death the sentinel not five
feet from him, his cold blue eye looking to Hea
ven. while the figures of the soldiers hurrying
hither and thither in search of they knew not
what with occasional, but mistaken cries, indi-
eating some discovery The whole made an en-
during impression on my mind. / had witness
sed every description of death and suffering on
the battlefield, but combination like this of
pride, courage, love, devotion, selfsacrifee and
revenge.
What striking illustration of the principle
held by these tribes never to yield themselves
prisoner This brave chief could go to the Spir-
il land of his fathers, the still unsubdued war
rior, and his wife and child freely accompanied