The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-11-02
AN ADVENTURE IN TEXAS.
4 Thrilling Sketch.

AN ADVENTURE IN TEXAS.
A Thrilling Sketch.
During the recent war between the
United States and the Indians of Texas,
great number of volunteers joined the
expedition. One of these, Captain Fer
guson, of Kentucky, became celebrated
for his hardihood and success in the ter
rible hunting of Indians. The following
incident will convey 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 sew
eral days in 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, be-
fore returning to the camp.
Accordingly the following morning,
Captain Ferguson, mounted on an excel
lent horse, left his companions and direc-
ted his course across a cluster of hills,
hemmed in by thick woods which bound
ed the horizon. Arrived at the foot Of
the hills, the Captain perceived troop
of wild horses slowly advancing towards
him. Suddenly they broke into gal
lop; movement which appeared to him
suspicious, and induced our hero to watch
them closely.
/ They soon gained the level ground,
and the dull sound of their hoofs striking
the soil, became distinctly audible. The
Caption looked, and saw clinging to the
Aanks Of each, an Indian suspended hor
izontally by an arm and leg. This is
common stratagem among the Indians,
but, luckily for Ferguson, he was still at
a considerable distance from these un-
pleasant-looking cavaliers.
Percciving, by the sudden rapidity of
his flight, that they were discoverd, the
Indians climbed on their horses and pur
sued our hero at full speed, shouting their
terrible war cry.
Looking back, Ferguson observed that
his pursuers spread themselves across the
prairie, with the evident intention of cut
ting off his retreat to the hills He saw
that his only chance of safety consisted
in gaining the woods, whittier his pursu-
ers burst hot follow him, least they should
encounter the outposts of the American
troops.
/ lie did not again look behind but,
with bis eyes eagerly fixed on the yet
distant goal, he spurred on his horse to
his utmost speed. The animal stumbled
and the cry of the Indians became more
distinct; and the noble animal arose "a
gain, and with loud neigh, as though
concious Of the peril that menced his mas
ter, he made prodigious forward bound
and cleared the space which divided him
from the wood, with the speed Of an ar
row.
As Ferguson had forcseen, the Indians,
fearing to enter the woods, came to a sud
den halt Although 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 be was not man to
yex himself for triAes, SO he quietly re-
solved to sleep in the open air, and defer
till the morrow the task of fndind his
way. A clear stream, bordered with
shrubs, ran near, and Ferguson having
unbridled his horse, wrapped himself in
his cloak and lay down in the grass.
At daybreak he resumed his journey,
following the course of the stream
When he had gone about four miles, he
found the corpse of one fhis companions.
The poor fellow had been scalped, and
Ferguson's first thought was that all his
friends had probably been surprised, and
massacred singly. Indeed, the numer-
Gus hoof- prints of horses, some shod and
some unshod, indicated plainly the recent
passage Of both white men and Indians.
Slowly and cautiously he followed these
traces without making any discoveries un-
till towards the middle of the day, when
having climed up slight eminenee he
saw on the plain, at about miles dis
tancc, large Indian encampemcnt.
At the same moment the Indians per-
ceived the captain, and loaped on their
horses. Cursing his own imprudcnce,
Ferguson turned bride, and began 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, dense cloud of lurid smoke,
extending on either side as far as the eye
could reach 1t was a prairie on fire.
What was he TO do! To return was death;
to 90 forward, destruction was no less In
! evitable.
In this terrible emergency, Ferguson
did not lose his presence of mind, but
continued to advance rapidly in the di'
rection of the fire When he met the
! black advance guard Of smoke; behind