Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-10-24
LIFE OH DEATH
A TEXAN RANGERS BEST SHOT

their companions. With folded arms and |
thoughtful faces, they watched the shad-
ows of night stealing over Lake Chap.
peral.
can hour like this casts spell upon
my spirit" said Cameron. "I love 10 see
the glare of day fade. and give place to
the dim placid twilight"
81 hive similar feelings" replied Will
son, "but l like night best when advanced
toward the small hours, and the moon and
the stars brightly bcaming
Cameron made no reply, and the par
ties remained silent. Wilson was the first
to speak.
"Thats heavy rife Of yours" he said
glancing at the weapon upon which Cam
eron was leaning. 81 dare say it has
been Of service to you in its time p
"No money could induce me to part
with it, because have proved its metal on
various occasions, Did 1 ever tell you Of
an adventure I once had upon the Red
River?"
"Y ou never did l.; should like to hear
it," said Wilson.
"Several years ago. resumed Cameron,
Il was hunting near Cross Timbers, not
far from the Red River, the indians were
then troublesome and frequently commit
ted heir depreciation on the frontier settle
mcnls; but L was fond of hunting, and
cared little for them, willing to trust to
my own ingenuity and courage in any
emergency that might occur. carried
this same rife, and was called one of the
best shots in the country.
"Many people said that the piece was
too heavy for common use but | was used
to it, and it did mt feel butdcnsome 10 me
and when ! fired it was sure 10 do the
, right thing, for what animal could carry
an ounce and half of lead skilllully sped
on its errand Having discovered Indian
signs one day, l thought it best to change
; my hunting ground, and SO put consid-
, erab!c distance between me and the spot,
and oncamped on wide prairie, bounded
on the cast by the Cross Timbers. Not
, long after this event was sitting on the
, bank Of small stream, resting my weary
: limbs after long latigueing hunt, when
was fred upon, and slightly wounded.
81 was fortunate enough to discover the
marksman, who proved to be an Indian
Of what tribe | do not remember. | in
: standy shot him dead, aud then perceived
that he was not alone for one of his brcth.
4 ren was with him, who made his escape
, Time passed on, and | was undsturbed in
my amusemcnts for a long time.
. One day, not feeling very well I return
e cd to my camp sooner than usual, | laid
? down 10 sleep, but could not, lclt uneasy
) and nervous, and so arose and went OF
y the prairie. The grass was rot very tall
5 and the hot sun of the season had dried i
c until it was crispy, and ratified as walkoC
it, ascended gentle swell and looked
i around me. The scene was a grand one
= On one hand was the Gross Timber dimll
q seen in the distance resembling dcnsl
i wall of wood built by human hands whilt
It in every direction the prairie stretched
5 away until lost in the distance. The SUI
was getting low, and looked like a sun Sc
on the sea. As my eyes wandered from
point to point they were suddenly fxcC
upon a solitary figure several hundred
Yards distant, at the foot of a long swell
or roll upon which l was standing.
> Gle stood in an open place and | a
:, first wondered how that could be, as tn
grass was so high in every other place -
but the affair soon cxplaincd.tself Nor
n careful examination showed that the soil
d tary object was an Indian, and his mani
:, fest object in packing up the grass was t
,t set fir. TO the prairie 1t was doubles
the same fellow that had escaped at III
time | had fired Oh his companion. Ii
n had discovered my retreat, and was abou
y to revenge himself in a singular manner
l. "The wind was fresh towards me, an,
If if the grass h d been set on fire, no powe
on earth could have saved me, for tn
- feetost horse could not run fast enough t
ST escape from its devouring flames. A ter
a rblo dread of that kind of death cam
g over me. | stood like one fascinated an
gazed at the preparations OF the savage
'1 Ill stood in the middle OF the open spac
J he had made with blazing torch in hi
~ hand. Innumerable thoughts rushed t
Of my mind in an instant of time, ] W.
l. never SO completely Paralyzed and stup
e. fed in my life. The power of thougl
le sepped to he the only mower left me. an