Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-06-30
Tragedy in Texas.

SUPPOSED MURDER OF A RESIDENT OF DELAWARE,
CHAs. s. BtiiL, THE CELEBRATED SCOUT
Oui readers arc all familiar with the brilliant
and graphic letters from the South published
from time to time in this paper, for tile last two
years, over the signature of Kaleidoscope"
We have mentioned, at least once, that this was
the nom he plume of Charles s. Bell, the celebrat-
ed Union scout and spy, who performed distin-
guisled services for our army during the war,
whose adventures We're published at length, in
the New York L''tger and who has been in Texas
for over year, helping to bring to justice the
outlaws that infest that state. His father's
family reside on the bay-shore below Newcastle
about seven miles from this city. and he has
considered that Ills home.
We have now to chronicle the report that tile
bold and intrepid scout has at last fallen in one
of his numberess conflicts with the outlaws.
The following letter appears in the New York
Standard, of Monday, having been received from
Texas, al that paper states on Sunday;
CIINroN, Dewitt Co., June Z, 1870
Dear Sir; An occurrence of the most mysterious
character has plunged our usually quiet village
into the greatest excitement. Capt. G. 81 Bell,
the renowned Union scout and spy" whose
war history has been given in the New York
Ledger, was attacked by five men in the Quad
aloupe bottom, about two miles below this place,
at late hour Yesterday, and is supposed to
have been brutally murdered by them. negro
living on Whites plantation first brought the
news and party headed by Jack Halen, our
Sheriff, at once proceeded to the spot, guided by
the negro witness of the deed.
| a bloody trail where a heavy body had been
dragged, was found, and upon tracing it up the
| party reached the banks of the Gaudaloupe
River, over which the body had evidently been
| thrown.
Returning to the spot where the trail first
started, three other trails were found and traced
by horse tracks and blood drops for some dis
lance and lost. A very fine slyer-handed navy
revolver found near the scene of the muir
der, with sc. :. Bell, Scout" engraved on its
handle. Five barrels of this pistol had been
| freshly discharged.
| The negro said lie saw the firing from dis
| lance that one man was shot off his horse, and
| then five men rode off, leading the fallen man
horse they passed near him, and he saw that
| three of their party were wounded and bleeding.
| He then went to the wounded man. who was
| dying, but happening to look up saw two men
coming, when he ran into the bottom, and then
came into town and gave the alarm. 1t is gem
orally believed that Captain Bell was the party
that was killed, and Sheriff Helm and large
posse have gone in pursuit of the murderers.
Yours, CLINTON.
We hope there is something wrong in the re-
port, though we fear it may be too true Cap
tain Bell has been in SO many such fights that lie
may once more have escaped.
Captain Bell was still young man, and we be-
lieve unmarried. He was tall 1.-THE, but muscri-
lar, developed by his wild and active life into
great agility, and surprising strength. He was
at home, about q year ago, and talked to us,
then, of his hope that he should soon be able to
terminate his exciting but perilous engagement
in Texas, and settle down with his family at
home, expectations he is now never to realize.
M rerApEs FpoN THE XII KIIfy
Harry Bell, brother of Captain G. $. Bell, the
scout, who was reported killed, on the It'll inst,
by correspondent of the New York Standard,
called on ,is this morning and informed lis that
one of the members of his family had received a
letter from the Captain dated the 18th instant,
which mentioned that he had been "serionsly ILL
but hoped to be home some time next month.
So we have every reason to believe he has again
escaped from death at the hands of the Texas
r tans aud ,.ll snat, be hnme amop.. hs fria.sia