The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1871-08-17
An INTERESTING LsffER FROM TEXAS.

e.e~~~Se
Through the kindness of Mr.. J. n. Fore
hand, we are allowed to publish extracts
from letter written by Texas gentle
man, and addressed to Maj. Rolf, now in
this city:
- Now for little frontier and cat
tie news. While Gen. Sherman wac at
Fl. Sill, short time ago, some Conan
che chiefs came TO the fort and made
their brags about capturing a train and
killing all the teamsters, near Belknap,
winding up about burning one Of them
at wagon wheel. While they were
making these remarks they were inform
ed that Sherman, Big white mans
chief" was there. They demanded ra-
tons and said, "May be so, big chief
white man, big -, d-n coward, no
fight" and had their Spencers' brought
to them on the parade ground, actually
defying the whole command at the fort,
Sherman and all. Upon that, Sherman
ordered them arrested, and in doing so,
one was killed. The other three chiefs,
Big Tree, Santana and Satank, were cap
tured and ordered to be taken to Jacks
boro, Texas. and turned over to the civil
authorities for trial, for numbering the
above mentioned party. In starting
with them, Satank, - noted Nova CHIEF,
while in wagon, managed To free him
self OF his hand-cufIs. got hold of 4 knife
and cut the sergeant in two Or three pia-
ces, and aimed to make his escape; but
was killed IN doing so. Santanta and
Biz Tree were taken To Jacksboro, tried
in the District Court, found guilty OF
murder in the first degree. and were
sentenced 10 be hung on the first Mon
day in September Fears are entertain
ed that an effort will he made by parties
in Washington to have them pardoned.
Santanta, kiowa chief, made speech IN
the court house, pleadin. for mercy, and
stating that if the whites would turn Big
Tree and him loose. they would forever
be their friends but in case the whites
should hang them, their tribe would be
turned loose on the frontier Of that state
and they would murder the whites, "as
fire DESTROYS the grass Of the prairies,
and there are fears Of desperate Indian
raids on the whole frontier this Fall. Ii
is reported that the Comanches, kiowas,
and Apaches. are uniting on the plains.
II is reported that they have lO,OOO war
riors, and consequently the drovers are
all turning towards Baxter Springs. the
hands belonging to the Chisholm trail. on
account Of Indian troubles. Many thous
ands are going TO Baxter. Major, am
of the opinion that after the frost, in the
portion of Kansas you are in, stock cat
tie will be in great demand, for the rea-
son tina. all the Summer and fall, droves
will be turning TO Fl. Gibson and Baxter,
and consequently all the Omaha, Salt
Lake, Nebraska. and in fact all the West
ern traders will be on the upper end Of
the Hans. Pacific Railroad. about Abilene.
Sa'ina sndother points, wanting 10 pur-
chase stock cattle IN particular and they
can't 20 to Baxter 10 buy, "a IL costs too
much To- drive them from thai place 10
Abilene. or other points west on the h.
p. X. r., where they are in the habit Of
buying and driving TO salt Lake, Oma-
ha. Idaho and California. know that
last summer. in July. warnings sold al
Abilene for fire and six dollars head
wilhelm November last, when 90, there.
yca-iings were twelve and fourteen dol
lars per heal. TIE idea is 10 have pa
t:ence and TO hold on 70 them with 3 grip,
and yor viii ccTae out all right
r. :. WADE.