Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1867-05-18
Letter from Jno. L, Lovejoy.

Having recovered from lhc NouHhA ~
ceiyed from Col. Williams on the 10th of
March last, while was acting in the capac'
ity of State Agent for the Tunkowa Tribe,
propose at the solicitation of my friends,
as well as in the dischalg &c Of my duty 10
myself, TO give full account OF the entire
transaction; that thereby erroneous impress
sions created by the short and hasty notice
of the affair by the Waco Register may be
corrected.
The LIST of March was the day fixed by
me for our departure from Austin TO the
heighborhood Of the town of Jacksboro
where the entire tribe were TO be settled on
land donated and appropriated for that pnr.
pose, but on repairing to the camps found
the chiefs and principal Indians drank, ana
on inquiry, nsccrtained that the rations
provided for them during theirremOval had
been sold for whiskcy, consequently the
time was postponed until further arrange
ments could be made.
Through the Kindness Of Brig. Gen. Oaks
procured five days additional rations con-
sisting of four barrels Of flour, two and q
half of pork and 50 lbs of salt, which to-
gether with nine bccv6s afterwards pur-
chased by me, was consumed on the march
from Austin to Waco. When in fact the
rations sold by the Indians for whiskey
would have been ample to supply their
wants. And probably, if the facts, which
did not disclose, had been made known to
Gen'l Oaks they would have been forced to
perform the entire trip to Waco on such sub
sistance only as they could have drawn
from the charity of the people on the way
During this interval, did not allow an In
dian to visit town, fearful that by their con-
duct of beastliness and total want Of hon
orable and manly principle, they would
bring that disgrace upon themselves which
their previous conduct so justly merited
On the 3rd of March, with the assistance
of my friend Geo. Davis, arrived at camp
with the supplies lastly obtained, found
the Indians without anything to eat, SEEM
ingly much dissatisfied and manites'ing an
unwillingness to leave, however, gave the
orders, and soon everything was in readl-
ness to move. Travelled to Walnut, & miles,
and camped. In the night, an Indian known
as Capt. Jackson, came to me and said that
81 had hurried them oif-he wanted his
money-that was Withholding IL from them
that wished to steal it, &C." | told him
did not haveany money belonging TO them
that none had been placed in my hands,
that when got the money they would most
not satisfy him, he grew angry and shook
his fist in my face. ! pushed him to one
side and bid him behave himself.
The next day we reached Georgetown, l
Travelled in advance, and prevailed with the
"Grocery keepers to close their houses and
make no sales whatever to the Indians, for
which was that night, much abused by the
chiefs and principal Indians.
uho Eth 10 nj Mr. Kinp'S-kiilel
two beeves, and the camp rung with the cry
of "bueno agent"
The 6th-camped at Salado, was not trou-
bled with whiskey here, the high state of
morals and good propriety of the place for
bidding its introduction.
The 7th-arrived mt Bolton. | Travelled
in advance and obtained a promise from
the "Grocerv keepers 10 close their houses,
but one hiG'ng fellow broke his promise,
and the Indians parting with all they had
that was valuable in threye of this unprin-
cipled wretch, were soon drunk and un-
manageable. At night, Holman, noted
desperate, swan the river and came into
camp druak. lie inquired for the agent
said he intended to kill him, and took n
gun from wagon with the intention of us
ing it. / caught the gun, and pushed him
down, the squaws at this time intertered,
carried him away and tied him.
The 9th-reached Elm Creek-killcd
three beeves, and the camp again resound-
ed with 'bueno agent"
The l0th-camped at Mastersville, ar
rived at this place 0 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, Travelled ahead as usual, to CLOSE the
doors. / found L. c. Kelly, the only "Gro
Gerry keeper in the place, he said he had no
whisky, and if he had, most certainly he
would not sell it to the Indians But how
true to his promise remains TO be seen,
lured by the sight of the shining coin, he
diluted his stock of alcohol, and sold it to
them, against the solemn protestations OF
the citizens of the place.
About three O clock in the evening, Col.
Williams the chief subject oi-ihis article
came into camp, which was on Cow Bayou,
about one mile east of the town, just drunk
enough to be active and devilish, and pro
posed to sell the -four which had been issued
20 him, which was positively forbidden by
instructions 4 from the Governor. ! calm
ly said, Williams you must not sell your
flour. He replied, shut your mouth Cd
d-n you, or kill you The chiefs don
like you, the squaws don't like you, the
boys don't like you, and | don't like you
kill you right now, d-n you, and suiting
his &C tions to his words, he drew his knife
and made at me- | sprang up and drew my
pistol he came down with his knife, pass
ing Il through my coat in the rear of my
shoulder, at the same instant | fired, but
fortunately for Williams, missed in conse-
uuence of exertions TO evade his knife.
twice placed my pistol against his breast
twice pulled the trigger, but the weapon
failed to fire; despairing then Of its firing
with my utmost strength, | dealt blow
with the pistol on the side Of his neck which
brought him TO the ground, and ! really
thought at the time it was the effect Of my
shot, and stepping back little with the
intention of shooting again, | fell backward
over an OK yoke. Williams was instantly
on me and struck me with his knife on the
left breast, passing it through my waist
coat and India rubber suspender, and glanc
ing to one side, the blow turned the flesl
dark and gave me pain during month at
terward. threw my left arm around BIZ
neck. struck him twice with my pisto
which weakened him 50 much that ! wa
enabled to draw him sufficiently close 70 nj
to prevent his doing me much injury, re
leasing my hold pushed him away, hndint
himself ont Of my grasp, he raised bis nil
70 strike a second time, but drawing M
knees up TO my breast and placing my zee
against him. and with miraculous strength
bringing myself to a straight line, entirel,
detached him from me. Attempting TO rise,
had only gained a sitting posture when b
was on me again, he strHck me with hi
knife. passing through my clothing and cut
ting me about two inches on the back par
Of the shoulder. lie nov thOught be ha'
done his work, and comIlacenily mutterft
while be was tnrr ing and twisting bis knit
around. 20 yes Cd IN Jon me Kill yoi
AZ last. m 80. ST.. 0w' which ] comics
I really rl.r-l true bot determine
10 sell o.. die a. dearly as possible
cooked ny pistol and placed i sgainsi b
bssrt and in an instant would have fred
hut squaE caught IT, ard in nttsmTiinl
10 draw ID ont Of ny han3- pulled me iron
under hin, and We were again On cur fss'
ertrnr,inr ny pistol from the GRASP d n