The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-07-21
THE TEXAS INDIANS.

A YOUNG GIRL CARRIED AWAY By THE RED
sKINs-HER ATTEMPTED RESCUE AND THE
RESULT.
The Sedalia Mo- Bazoo gives the follow
ing incident of lite on the Texan frontier:
A family, consisting of man aud wife and
three children, passed through this city this
morning, slowly vending their way north
ward to their old home in Rails county
They were in a covered wagon, and had a
team which. some day, bad been good one;
but its travel worn appearance, together
with the faded look of the travellers, attracted
the attention of a BazOo reporter, who ellie.
tied the following particulars oftheir journey
TO the westerns portion of Texas-and how
their number was now less than when they
started from their Rails county home: Mr.
Ressler was a well-to-d armer, who in an
early day went 10 the State of California
and by hard work amassed what he consid-
cred for good start in farming life
lie returned home to Missouri, married
and settled down to regular farming
life. This spring, when emigration COM
menced Texaswards, the old fever which
rage, and although he had a good home be
grew restless, ana concluded to try his for
tune in Texas. He was looking for cheap
lands, and passed through Grayson county
west into Cook and out into the western por-
ton of Montague county. This county,
sions Of the nomadic tribes of Indians that
infest the western border, is rather rich and
full of game. Ressler pitched his camp
on little stream, near good spring, some
four or five miles from any hsbitation, and
little dreamed of danger. On the fourth
day of their stay there the Oldest daughter,
Young lady of seventeen, went to the
spring for a bucket of water, but. alasi she
never came back. One scream like that of
the surprised panther was carried to the ears
of the mother, who was at the camp, the
father being out hunting. The mother
RUSHED TO THE RESCUE.
of her first born only to hear the receding
footsteps of the Comanche's pony. The
mother was parslyzed with grief, and tainted
away as soon a. she realized the fate of her
daughter. The father returned in a few
hours, and examined the locality of the
spring, and found that about fifteen ponies
had been hitched hard by, and the Indians
had evidently crept up TO the spring, and
were lying in wait for their victim. Mr.. r.
cared for his wife, and at once started tor the
next neighbor, and the alarm was given that
a young lady had been stolen. The frontier
Texan is ever ready to Jump into his saddle
at moments notice, and party OF ten de-
termined men were soon on the trail of the
red fiends which had taken a westerly direc-
ton. The superior horses of the Texans rap
idly gained on the poor ponies of the In
dams, ana dlt6r trdVelluR ali T1gnI on a
warm trail, came up with the Indians the
next morning, just as they came to a halt,
and fight ensued, in which the object of
the chase lost her life, and was scalped, all
of the Indians getting away but three. One
OF the three killed had tie CORY scalp of the
young girl attached TO his belt. They had
killed her Just as soon as attacked. The
father was almost distracted, and absolutely
frenzed with grief, and when the chase was
given up by the others he could hardly be
kept back. The young lady was buried
where killed In the western wilds of Texas,
and the family could no longer remain in
the country that caused them so much
misery. The Bszoo reporter asked what be-
came of the scalp The tear-dimmed eyes
| of the mother looked in the direction of q
substantial chest in the wagon, and she
said: 1T is there" We asked if they had
any objection to showing it. They said no
and the father unlocked the chest and pro.
! duced long lock of dark hair, cut from the
/ crown of the head. with about an inch and q
half in diameter of the scalp When thi'
was produced the entire family gave way u
loud sobs, and we wondered why so ghastl,
a memento was kept, that would ever keeI
i fresh In their memory the tragic end OF thei
beloved daughter and sister.