The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-25
A Boys Adventures Among the Indi.
ans.

The Denison CTexas) Ners says: On
| the evening of the 26th of May there ar
rived in Sherman, Texas, 4 lad about If
teen years old, who, from his general ap-
pearance and starved look. gave indica-
lions of having suffered terribly from hun
ger and cruelty. This boys conduct and
general fOrlOrn, starved look attracted the
attention of several gentlemen who were
sitting in front of the Southern Hotel, and
one of them interrOgated him in relation
to who he was, where from, etc. The
boy at once told his story, which was re-
duced to writing, and is as follows:
THE BOYS STORY.
In the spring, two years ago, my father
and mother (maiden name Miss JOhnsOn)
with her children, six sons, myself includ-
ed, named and aged as follows: John Nc
Daniel, aged p; Frank, aged 2l; Charley,
aged 10; Samuel and William (twins),
aged l6, and myself, aged 13, with my sis
ter Maud, aged p, and Sarah, aged IL,
started from Arkadelphia, Clarke county,
Arkansas (my father was keelboat owner
at Arkadelphia. and was in comfortable
circumstances when we started, with two
wagons, one a three-hOrse team and the
other twO-hOrSe team, with household
furniture, clothing and provisions, to emf
CRATE to Texas. We Travelled by wagon
through Washington, Hemstead county,
Arkansas, and by way of Fulton; thence
through Mckinney county. Texas.
When within five miles east of Jacksboro,
Jack county, Texas, was walking ahead
of the wagons. when | called to father,
'Look at the Indiansl Here they come :"
My father jumped from the wagon and
said, "Right here will die.o
My father and sister Sarah both had two
six-shoOters each, and they fought desper-
ately. My father killed four indians and
wounded several others. My sister Sarah
wounded seven Indians. ..--.
All were soon killed of my family. They
were all scalped, the wagons cut TO pieces
and burned up, the horses stolen, and all
the provisions, apparel, plunder, etc., de-
strOyed. AT the commencement of the
firing | was cut off from the train, and held
up my hands and surrendered.
The Indians tied me to the back of
horse, and i'm this way | was forced to lay
for four days, until they reached their
camp in the Wichita mountains. | was
then taken from the horse and bound with
q lOg-chain to plum tree, in front of the
chiefs camp. was kept tied to this tree
for one year; was fed generally with raw
meat, and was at times forced to eat the
parts of entrails of beef and horses that
were killed, and was chokeduntil | did eat.
After the arrest of Santanta and Big
Tree, | was released from the chain, and
was allowed to wander around the camps,
closely watched. | stole a five-dOllar gold
piece from the pocket-book of the chief,
and bribed one of his squaws with that
money to get me an old hat, shirt and
pants, and made my escape that night.
walked all the way from Wichita noun
tains; been one week and half on the
road; have not had anything to eat until
this evening for four days.
The Comanches have five thousand war
riors with them and have made treaties
with other tribes in this settlement. Where
was confined they had about fifteen hun
dred families.
JAMES WILLIAM MCDANIEL.
His general appearance, his familiarity
with the habits and conduct of the Conan
ches, his knowledge of their language etc,
would satisfy any one that his story is cor
rect. He was crOss-questiOned by numer-
Gus parties and all pronounced his story
true. He is now in Sherman, Texas.