Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-01-30

Ihr ltmns1 iassch tr'nlNilnh
referring that portion Of the Gov
ernors message relative Ia recon
slruelion 10 special committee Of
ten,
The Adventures az q Cattle
HRiNE 20 CALIFORNIA,
From The Was0 Register, Jsn, 2uih-l
Stepping down on the street yes
( tcrlay evening we wero suddenly
brought face % face % about the
last man We expected 10 see In ghl,
world. Mr., Robert Sloan Is u gen,
llcman CO years ofage; iow mcn are
more widely known or better esteem
cl ON the Texas fr0nticrthan hc, lie
formerly lived on Deep Creek in the
unorganiEed county of Callahan, but
the Indians becoming more trouble
some Immediately after the close oi
the war hc moved his family 10 the
vicinity of Stcphcnsvillc, but took
his vast herds of cattle still further
| Wcst-tO the waters of Pecan Bayou,
/ Since the 18th day of October 1861,
TO the present time, Mr., sloan 5
family or friends have had no word
from him and hc was supposed
dead. We give his story, which no
one who knows him will for mo-
mcnt doubt:
On the day above named, himself
and Pete Narbo, gentleman also
well known, with n suitable number
of hands, wagons aud n complete
outfit, started with one thousand
head of cattle westward, for n mar.
kct-pcrhaps TO California. They
moved over the old overland road
rs far as Horse Head Crossing on
the Pccos, thence up that stream on
tho East side TO Pope's Crossing,
thence Westward again to III Paso,
and still onward, after many n
weary day over the hostile plains,
they reached Tucson, the young
Capitol of Arizona. Here they
rested for II while in hopes of Gnd
ing II market. Disappointed in this,
and having disposed Of but few
bccves, about the Goth Of April they
resumed their Westward journey
Up to this time they had expert,
cnccd fatigue and hardship, but no
difficulties threatening life or prop.
erty. But now calamity WAS near
at hand. When only about 40 miles
ont from Tucson they were attack
ed by band Of the savage Apachcs,
numbering about fifty. The wa
gons were thrown into position for
defense as much and rs soon as pos
siblc, and the fourteen brave from
tiersmcn made the best defense they
could against the overwhelming
numbers Of the Savages. Only two
whites were killed and the Indians
were partially rcpulsed; not, how
ever, until the wagons were plum
dercd and tho cattle scattered,
Through great effort the cattle wcro
mostly recovered and again they
proceeded on their way. But the
wiley foe was not thus to be cheat
ed Of his prey, and before many
miles were made the doomed cara
van was again beset, this time from
thick ambush and by increased
numbers. Four hundred and thir.
ty of the drove were now cut off by
the Indians and hurried away into
the mountains. The remainder of
the cattle We're greatly scattered
and only three hundred and six
bead were recovered. No whites
were killed. As soon as possible,
application was made to the nearest
Post and a company OF U, s. caval-
ry were at once dispatched in pur-
suit of the Indians and for the re-
covery Of the cattle. But in their
mountain recesses the savagcs
baffied and thwarted every effort of
+4c troops, and the pursuit was at
length abandoned as hopeless.
Still undismaycd, Mr.. Sloan and
Narbo determined to 60 on.
On account of the great rcduc-
ton in tho number of their cattle
all their employees but two were
discharged. After a tedious march,
but without further serious moles-
tation, they arrived at Warmers
Rancho, Santiago county, in South
ern California, on the 10Th day of
June. With considerable difficulty
they disposed Of their cattle during
the Summer, at an average Of S3l a
head in gold.
On the 20th of last month Mr.
Sloan left Los Angeles for San
Francisco, where he Immediately
took steamer for New York via
Panama. The steamer sailed at an
unpropitious time, and in addition
to his previous misfortunes Mr.. S.
experienced the dangers of ship
wreck on the voyage. From New
York he sought his long unseen
Texas home with all tie speed of
steam and rail, and we were glad to
meet him so near the end Of his
journey, as aforesaid, in good health
and in vigor apparently no way i'm
impaired.
Mr.. Narbo will remain in Califor-
mia until Spring, when lie also will
return.
Mr.. Sloan is Of the opinion that
California will soon pass a law cx
Guiding Texas cattle from that
State. As it was, he experienced
considerable difficulty in disposing
of his cattle on account Of the cattle
disease, the fear of which was very
prevalent among the people.
The steamship Gulf City was lost
of Hattcras a few days since. She
left Galveston on the 1st inst, with
following cargo 6Ts bales cotton, Z
sacks wool, 6347 hides, 6 hhds tai
low and Al packages pecans-valued
in the aggregate at 81 GOO, coo, a