The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-31
Ghn9ataLllqetleer:
A Boys TRUE STORY.
WRITTEN BY unGsE1iF.+

| D
vas born in Texas. My arst recollec
ton is Of Indians, coming In daylight
and driving off our horses. My fathel
and the herdsmen were out, and had 6
hard rite to escape the arrows. ON
stuck inmy fathers hat, and i have i
now. Ny mother was so alarmed tha
she tainted remember well how pale
and beautiful she looked, as my father
rubbed her Hands and bathed her face
/ stood by. twas the first time I had
evertelt or thought much. Presently sht
opened her eyes, and looking ut me, said
sHly darling, kneel down here by me
and let us thank God that your fathel
was not killed today ltg,
did so, my father standing near.
Ai(er this, my mother taught me, daily
how TO say y.name, my fathers name
anu the name; Of the State and. county
where / lived, thatiflI should be. takeI
by the Indians, and ever escape, OF. By
bought from them, / might be able to tel
who was, and where came from.
When was large enough to ride, my
father gave me pony, o beautiful irol
gray, very gentle and very swift IsOoI
learned to ride him; and to love him. ON
day, after l had owned tho pony q lonl
time, and couldride well, 1 was out will
my father, hunting cattle. Presently w
saw.the' cattle running In every direction
and one COW came up to us, with an In
dian arrow sticking in her side. Ny
father said: iiE EHoy-S
Nov, my. boy, we must ride for lie
Your pony can oItrun my horse, try Z
get home, my SOL"
Istarted, under whip and spur. Tvs
excited and afraid. The dust nearb
blinded me; but l knew my pony ws
taking me home, 1 heard o great Gran
among the rocks behind me, and groai.
/ stopped and looked back. My fathir
was just behind me. His horse had ben
stricken with an arrow, and had falln
under him. Jumped down and said,
Papa, mount pony can take US bob
homer
1 felt like man, when papa said, "Gtd
bless you, my son." And we both gSt
home, safe and sound, on the dear, god
pony.
My mother was always uneasy about
me and father when we werelout looking
after stock, so father concluded 10 sell his
horses and cattle, and leave the frontier,
l was old enough now TO be atschOOl, and
father thought my education must not be
neglected. We packed up provisions for
two or three days, and took long ropes to
stake our horses on the grass, and started
out with a number OF herders to gather
the stock. siav ,a tlgs
Mother bade US good bye with tears in
her eyes, and said, II hope this Is ths last
time my dear ones will ever go outfrom
me, In this wild country"
We had been out two days., and were
very lucky in our hunt. Father and l
were q little way from the herders, lying
on Dur blankets talking. Father was Yell
ing me what Unjust do. il the Indbns
should ever kill him, when we saw abput
twenty-five savages charging right down
upon US. Father took his siX.shoder
ftom his belt, and was'saying ONE,
"Remember, my son, what ] have tod
you. TIE fndi6nsS nay kill me and taka
you captiyt BE q brave, good boy, and
~ % get DO D you mother"
i had a D ringer pistol, and took It ID
my hand; 4 llafdly knew what for, but
thought ms Be 1 could kill one Indian
Most Of the herdsmen, I think, got away
but my poor father was surrounded. dc
fought till he fell, then one big Indian cut
round his head with knife, tore of his
scalp and struck me in the face with it
All the time Of the fight, l do not think
moved. I felt paralyzed; but my fathers
blood struck in my face, reused me.
fired my Derringer atthe savage and he
fell. Immediately Twas thrown down and
tied, hands and feet, with raw.hide
strings, rolled and kicked about in the
dirt, and much of my hair pulled out
Then / was bound fiat on the back Of q
horse, and started of on gallon.
How long this ride lasted, l do moi
know. Ny suferings were so great that
I must have been delirious, for ! thought
l had ridden through seas Of blood and
fire, and was going through rivers Of
water when became conscious, / was
inideep water the horse was stumbling
over rocks, and l was frequently entirely
under. Tho water had heightened the
raw.hido bonds, and 1 could feel. Oh
how suffered.
After the Indians all got over the river,
with all the horses they had stolen, they
unbound me, took mo off tho horse, and
loosed my hands and feet, which were
badly cut and swollen. My head ached,
o, so badly and my eyes seemed to be
balls of fire. My tongue was so swelled
and dry, that It stuck out OF my mouth,
Butt remembered all except the ride.
That seemed to have been years ago.
The Indians had got home, l reckon, for
there were some tents, and squaws, and
children, and saw my fathers fine
horse, and my dear pony.
Icould not get on my feet, though my
bonds were loose. An old squaw brought
her little boy where l lay, and made him
sDit upon me. Then she went away, and
die boy stopped down and felt my
tongue, then brought some water and
poured upon 1t, and put some In my
mouth, and a portion ran down my
throat. After that / slept long time,
reckon, for the sun was rising when !
awokc, so thirsty and hungry, so stiff
and sore. I Ind been lying Id. the dew
all night, The good boy that spit on me
the day before brought me some more
water and some meat drank and ate
and then. l remembered what my father
had told me, ito be q brave, good boy
and try to get back to my mother"
prayed 10 God, as my mother had taught
me from infancy, that He would take, mt
home, IL
I do not know how long I had been
with tho Indians, but had got well and