The true Democrat., 1854-08-09
A Fight with the Comanches.

O0IP~S CH1SH, 1erGS July 19, 1S04.
 On the l1th instant Captain Van Buren and twelve men of the mounted rifles, overlook a party of twenty-five Comanche Indians and whipped them handsomely. Captain King and party of infantry mounted on mules first got on their trail near Las Moras, on the Fl Paso road, and pursued them four days, when the mules gave out Fortunately, about this time he met Captain Van Buren, who was out from Fort lnge on scout, and put him on the trail. lie followed 1t up for six days and travelled over 300 miles, when he overlook the Indians To avoid pursuit they crossed the Nueces three times, and also large lake. Captain Van Bu- ren swam his horses 400 yards across this lake and struck the trail on the opposite side. The two parties discovered each other as the Indians were turning hill, and when the Captain got around the hill he found the Indians drawn up ln line of battle ready to receive him-they having taken their saddles and everything off their horses except the brides, and put them in pile. The Indians opened the fight with arrows, and when they supposed they had drawn the fire of the Captains party, charged 1t. The Captain immediately ordered his men to dlsmount and take their rf1es-before this they had used only their revolvers without much effect. When some five or six Indians had been knocked off their horses, they broke. and the Captain charged them
 The Indians left one of their number dead on the ground, but succeeded in carrying the other dead and wounded of. They left their saddles, etc. Capt. Van Buren and three of his men were wounded. In the commencement of the fight the Captain received a wound in his sword arm, which bled profusely, and in the charge he attacked powerful young h. dian, who was on foot, and after having made several cuts at him, the Indian suddenly sprung from under his horses neck with his bow al ready drawn, and shot the arrow through his body. It entered on the right side, about six inches above the navel and below the ribs and the iron head came out on the left side of the spine, having cut through his sword belt be- hind. He drew the arrow out with both hands. and believing the wound mortal, lay down to de. lie, however, sent an express to Fort Ewell, and Tn the course of two or three days an am bulance and Dr. Head arrived and he was taken to this place, some fifty or sixty miles from the battle field. It is now the eighth day since he was wounded, and the three distinguished ar my surgeons who are attending him (Drs. Tur- ner, Head and McParlin) are of opinion, to- day, that he will recover, but until the last day or two they had scarcely any hope.
 A Coop HIT FOR A YoUTH-An old chap in Connecticut, who was one of the most mi serly men known in that part of the country, carried on the blacksmithing business very ex- tenslvely, and, as is generally the case in that State: boarded all his own hands. And to show how he envied the men what they ate, he would have bowl of bean soup dished up for himself to cool, while that of the hands was set before them boiling hot. One of the boys was rather unlucky among the hot irons. frequently burning his fingers The old man scolded him severely one day, for being so careless.
 "How can l tell" said the boy, If they are hot. unless they are red?''
 "Never touch anything again until you spit on it, and if it don't hiss it won't burn"
 In day or two the old man sent the boy to see if his soup was cool. The boy went in spit in the bowl; of course the soup did not hiss He went back and told the boss all was right.
 "Dinner!" cried he.
 All hands ran; down sat the old man at the head of the table, and in went large spoon- full of the boiling hot soup to his mouth.
 "Good heavens!" cried the old man. in a rage.
 "What didyou tell me that lie for you young rascal?' I
 Il did not lie, sir" said the boy. "You told me should spit on anything to see if it was! hot; and l spit in your bowl, and the soup did not hiss, so supposed it was cool"
 Judge of the effect on the journeymen.- That boy was never in want of a friend among the journeymen.