Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1859-07-13
Correspondence from the Frontier for the
Dallas Herald


T. H. Shields Esq., BG Grdyier ST., New Orleans.
Correspondence from the Frontier for tn
Dallas Herald
We give below extracts from communicate
sent by Mr.. VIM. Ii. Hunt, Of Wise county, VIII
attempts out of tho mass of contradictory re
ports made by both sides, to give what ho con
ceivcs to bea faithful account. Mr.. Hunt wa
engaged in some of the transactions, and of them
he speaks with certainty He is well known to
most of our citizens and his statement will bt
read with interest.
"After the failure OF the first effort against
the Reserve Indians, which was occasicned by
the killing of three Indians in Palo Pinto county
the people on the frontier became very much
alarmed, fearing the friends of those Indians
would seek revenge by numbering some Of our
unprotected settlers Indians of some sort con-
tinued to steal our horses, and murdered boy
on Denton, in Montague county. In consequence
OF this murder and continued stealing, the peo.
pie OF the frontier organized ranging companies,
who constantly traversed the frontier from Red
River to the Lower Reserve In Jack county
the rangers We're mostly young men, who were
paid $25 month, for their services. They
were also permitted to bring in and sell all the
horses they might find outside of the settlements.
They brought in several small gangs Of ponies
from Lost Valley IN. W. corner Of Jack co. }
which probably belonged to Indians on the Low
er Reserve. The Caddoes until within the last
IL months used to hunt and Craze their horses in
Lost Valley during the winter. Those ponies
found by the rangers had no doubt strayed from
the Reserve to their old winter range. While
was in Belknap, (during the ,car y | was told by
many reliable citizens of Young county, that our
81 s es wead eS sRa as fSdGs
give you the above statement to show you how
unjust 10 that charge against the Jacl: co. ran
gers.
Now for the killing of Fox, the immediate
cause Of all the late excitement The rangers
were instructed by the people Of Jack county, to
kill all Indians found off tho Reserve.
"Fifteen of the rangers, while encamped on
the branch, one half or of u mile below Pat
Murphey s stage stand, discovered party OF In
dians travelling in the direction Of the Lower Re-
serve. AS soon as they could saddle their horses
they pursued the lndiane, and as they came up
commenced firing unon them. The Indians then
run for their lives, and in the melee Fox was sep
Grated from the balance and surrendered himself
prisoner. He was taken to Murphey's. where
his saddle-bags We're examined. lie was then ta-
ken on in the direction of Jackhoro; as thev rode
along the question as to what they should do
with him was discussed, They could not agree,
and Capt Hagler, who was in c,mmand, told his
men that he would leave them, and they might
do al they pleased. After Capt. Ii. left Fox was
ordered to dismount and was shot with his own
gun II rs unnecessary for me to comment upon
these facts To say the least of it, twas great
calamity to the frontier, that these rangers met
that party of Indians, and much greater that
they killed prisoner. The story of his having
@ ohilds scalp is not true. l saw it myself. 1t
was probably whip of colts main, with a
piece of the hide about of an inch long, and
wide. Fox evidently used it rs paint brush
Tho killing of that Indian under the circumstan-
ces was ,rong. Had they killed him in the
fFIt they would have been sustained by every
man on the frontier and there would have been
no occasion for this terrible excitement because
Capt, Ross, would not have sent or permitted hls
InGians 10 go in pursuit of the rangers. lie
hGd previously made an agreement with com
fnitte of the people of Jack couny, not to give
his Indians anY more permits to leave the Re
serve, and had told them to kill any and all In
dians they might ind out of the Reserve, as they
were enemies. As it was, Capt. Ross DID q
grea. wrong in sending the Indians after the
rangers IF ne Rad reflected but q moment, he
must have seen that the consequences were
bcaa& 20 be dig2ssssasa He was violating the
laws, md raising storm that required oil the
bost energies Of the conservative men of this
frontier to quiet Every rejecting mind can
vuoss what the result of this excitement would
have been, had those lnOlanS dttdckeu anu kllleu
d portion of the jack county rangers. Instead
Of OF 400 men rendered timid by the fact that
thGy were sbout to violate the laws OF the U. 5.
$here would hGra been thousands made brave by
-he coneeiousness Of right and justice.
d" The 6ght on the Reserve and Flat creek, was
rot ANTICIPATED by Capt. Baylor, or any OF his
men. His intention was to pass on In the dlrec-
tiou Of Belknap, and if the commanding othcer
os tie U. S. forces had not interrupted, and In
Jiiaas had not attacked him, there would have
been 10 gun fred. regret that the Young co.
correspondents Of the Herald do not tell the
truth about that fight. was not there to see,
but oonversed with so many who were, that
am quite confident have sfted from all their
ly bitter enemy cf Capt. Baylor. and great
admlrer OF the ordre and noble 'ahorignees ~
Ne says, Capt. Baylor's party killed squaw.-I
The first intimation or Baylor or any of his
men, had of the murder of said squaw, was
from the published letter of ''good citizen" 1t
is false, every word of it. As to the old and
blind Indian: he was we'll mounted and carried
q good rifle. He rode up to Capt. Hammer, who
was in the rear of the command and made mo-
tions, as if he wished to see one in the par
ty. Capt H. eupposing he wished to see Capt.
BAYLOR, told him to come on and rode before him l
TO Capt. Baylor Capt. B. spoke to him in the /
Comanche tongue. In reply fe asked for the
"Big Chief" Capt B. after answering, asked
what he wanted. He could not tell. In the |
mean time the command was moving forward
Capt B. then told him to 60 hack to the agency.
He refused to do 50, but wished to foHo1 Capt.
n Cant r than told him IN IN al h.