Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-05-14
An Extraordinary Narrative.
INDIAN DESPERATION

rea0 OF sln!iar instances OF el1ifnmOlatlon
among the American Indians, rather than fall
into the hands of their enemies, but do not
recolect any other case in Texas. All our
late accounts confirm the fact, that since the
Rangers were disbanded the Indians are renew.
ing their predatory incursions with alarming
frequency
Fort CRoGHAr, Texas, April 7, 1858.
My DEAR-:I have Just returned from
one Of the most arduous and exciting scouts
have ever made. We had been robbed here
twice by the Indians within four months The
last time on the night of the 9th March. They
took down a pannal Of my stable lot and led
out nine Of my finest horses. It was one of the
darkest and most clustering nights of the sea-
son, and the robbery must have been committed
between nine and ten at night. The next
morning started with seventeen men in pur-
suit. Failing to discover tra! | proceeded at
once to the post on the head Of the clear Fork
of the BEazos, thence to the Indian agency half
way between Phantom Hill and Belknap. Up
to this point could hear nothing of the rob-
berry, except the opinion entertained by the
agent, Mr.. Stem, and all the friendly Indians
which concurred with my own--that the robbery
had been committed by Witchetas. whilst a.
the agency party of that tribe, under their
principal war-chief, came in under the pretence
Of surrendering some stolen horses they had
previously promised 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 in
tended as subterfuge.
was not disposed to be tri6ed with in this
manner; the agent had also lost all patience
with them. 1t was accordingly agreed to de-
tain the chief ard the principal portion Of his
party--consistng Of nine warriors and several
women, as hostages until the whole of the pro-
perty recently stolen should be brought in.-
Mr. Stem announced to them our determines
ton, and | told them in pretty plain terms |
meant to carry them into Be!knap and hold
them as prisoners, permitting two Of their num-
Der TO return to their tribe and convey the
"talk" we had given them. Though / fully ex~
peeted "a break" on the announcement, which
would result in the death of Mr.. Stem or my
self or both-indeed would not have insured
either of our lives at 100 per cent-we were
compelled to face the danger with apparent
indifference. ANY manifestation of fear or
suspicion would have increased the chances OF
their rssorting to the desperate alternative Of
"a rush" for liberty, plunging their knives into
whomsoever interrupted their passage. The
sequel proves the desperation with which they
would have acted. AS soon as had told them
they were prisoners, rose from the bear skin
upon which had been sitting facing them, and
mounted my horse, at the same time drawing
nv pistol, and u.otioning them to 60 to their
camp. The chief requested that should dis
mount, that he wished to speak. | did so, and
took seat on stool near by. He notioned
me TO sit in my former position on the ground.
6rosx m mi
under pretence of cutting tobacco to smoke.
He rose, addressed few remarks 10 me. about
the difficulty Of restraining his young men from
stealing, etc, and suggested that it would be
better that he should return to his tribe. This
refused He then seemingly yielded to his
fate, approaching me and seizing my hand, lifted
me from the ground, and embracing me, first
pointing to Heaven and to ourselves, to indi-
cate that the Great Spirit witnessed the pro-
ceeding. told them would not hold them
aa close prisoners, but merely guard against
their escape, by placing sentinels around their
camp. In the meantime encamped my COM
nand near theirs, and took from them all the
arms | could find. They retired quietly to
their tents at dark, maniresting not the slight
est intention of an attempt to escape. d
The moon, shone as bright as day. had
posted two distinct guards over them ofsix men
each, with our sentinels had been up and
moving about camp until about twenty minutes
before H.. At IL the sentinels were relieved. |
The sentinel posted more Immediately over
their camp, had gone near one OF their tents-
Suddenly one of the Indians rushed forth from |
MS tent towards the sentinel, and presenting |
pistol, fred, shooting him through the heart
This seemed to be the sequel for general
Al L. al fn
he slope towards his companions, the chief ko-
ve-ska, rushed from his tent like demon,
brew himself upon the back OF retreating
en,ne and with his reeking knife inflicted
everal wounds before he was shot down by
he old sentinel The rest succeeded in effect
nc their escape, running in different directions
nd answering the shots fred at them with
ellis of defiance The chief, as was Discovers
d on searching the tents, had purposeIy saeri>
ced himself, his wife, and boy seven years old,
0 secure the escape Of his companions The
rife and child whom he had requested on the
vening before TO talk to and give them assur"
nee Of their safety, were found lying IN their
.nt side by side, as If in deep sleep, but stab
ed to the heart. The wife, at least, had con-
ented to her fate, "a We were informed by two
Id women who had attempted to escape.
She seemed to have received the fatal blow
'ithout struggle-both were carefully COW
red up to the breast, the child lying upon its
lothers arm. The Chiefs moccassins were
,und near their heads, a sign, the Indians told
9, that he did not mean to leave the spot alive.
othing in romance or history that have ev-
r read approximates to this act ofdevot!on and (
sIf.sacrifice. Cooper never could have ventur-
to paint such a scene. The bright moon
ghting up the beautiful countenance OF the
Iother-for she was beautiful and young
ith her innocent boy by her side, and the blood
ill oozing from their CHASTITY wounds--the
usband, father and warrior, still stretched up
n the sod; the bloody knife still grasped in
is hand, looking terrible even in death; the
sntinel not FIVE feet from him, his cold blue |
ma lnnk;nn "a Haauan sphila the GQn Has Of thu