The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-08-12
rnG GRRAY IsnI.S RAID OF isio.

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caslonal sketches In the HERALD OF
interesting events In our history pnrt-
~ TO revive the memories of our old,
but more particularly for the enter
lnlnment of our new foll0w-cllilens'
This article shall bc devoted 10 II con-
densed narration Of the great Indian
raid In August, 1910,
The Mexican government, after It's
defeat IN Texas In 1896, being still con-
trolled by the central or monarchlcal
party, as against the federal, liberal,
republican or democratic party las va
riolsly called, first melted the MeSl-
can rebellion under Cordova, at Nh
cogdoches In 1888, the Cherokee
war. of 1880, and finally THIS
great raid In 1910, AT that time Gene
raj Valentin Canallao, II distinguished
Mexican officer, commanded northern
Mexico, with headquarters at Malta
moras. 1t was through him that these
Vaccinations, through shrewd ennis
snros, were put In operation, causing
great loss to Texas, but utter ruin to
most of the tribes seducod into his
plans. t..
The raid of 1910 was composed of
about one thousand warriors, consist-
ing mostly of Comanches aud renegade
Mexicans, Cherokees, pawnecs, Kick
apoos aud Others. In passing, lot II
be understood that nearly all the acts
of the Mexican government In those
days, against which humanity pro-
tests, were committed by the central
or monarchical party while they were
opposed by the intelligent patriots Of
the party OF liberty. The names OF
Pedraza, Valentin Gomez Farius,
Mariana Arista and other eminent
leaders of the liberal or democratic
party, will ever be associated, relative
ly, with those antagonistlc principles
which are asslmilated TO the spirits
and doctrines of l77G.
The Nachogdoches and Cherokee re-
bellion having been crushed In 1889,
General Canalizo, the fast friend of
Santa Anna, persevered until, by the
spring of 1910, he had perfected the
combination among the wild tribes
and renegade bands as previously
stated.
AT that time there was no human
habitation between Austin aud San
Antonio, but two between Austin and
Gonzales, but one between LAGRANGE
and Gonzales, and none bet tween the
Lavaca settlements and the Guada-
lupe. Starting from Victoria or Linn
vile, the one on and the other near
the coast, there was an open country
for from forty to eighty miles wide, to
the Austin and San Antonio road, and
beyond that not house short of I'll
Paso, Santa Fe, Fort Smith, or indie
pendence, Missouri, hundreds of miles
away. Through this wilderness this
large confederation of wild Indians
and their half civilized but renegade
allies passed down to the coast, during
the light Of the moon, in August, 1910,
They had few squaws, children and
old men, In addition to their available
force.
Their iirstencounter with white men
was near the Lavaca river on the 9TH of
August, where twenty-seven of their
tlankers chased two men for four miles,
Tucker Foley and Joel Ponton. Foley
was caught, his left foot skinned and
he was made to walk mile over burnt
prairie-then shot and scalped, Pom
ton was dangerously wounded, but es-
capped into thicket. He yet lives, l
think, in Lavaca county. One of
Foley's brothers had been killed in
Fannin's massacre in 1896, and an
other by MeXicans on the Sal Colorado
in 1889. Ponton's father had been
killed in 1885 by the Indians.
On the afternoon of August 9Th, the
whole body suddenly dashed upon the
town of Victoria, killing several per-
sons In the vicinity, white and black,
and chasing others into the very heart
of the town, among them Judge
Palmer, father Of Mrs. Guedry of BAL
las. The people were pauic-stricken.
No one ever dreamed of such an
invasion. A few men of nerve
rallied and attempted TO hold
them at bay, but they were soon over
powered and killed-among them DIR.
Gray, McNuner and Others. Colonel
Pinkney Caldwell, n gallant aud dis
tinguished soldier was killed while
entering the place from n trip to the
east. families were speedily "fortedr
into log houses, aud the suburbs left to
horses and mules, herded on the prai-
RE, were easily captured. The Indians
retired, but returned next day, killed
several persons ana added largely To
their herds, then passed down nine
miles, where they captured Mrs. Gross
by Ia granddaughter of Daniel Boone)
and her child. Thence they passed
across the prairie during the night,
twenty-five miles In the direction Of
Linnville, on the bay. They killed
one or two teamsters on the way, and
camped for portion of the night.
Linnville stood near where Iiavaca
now Is, and was the only town on the
west side of Matagorda and I.avaca
bays. The whole Of that part of the
coast region was otherwise unsettled.
Linnville was u small seaport, its ware.
houses containing three hundred thou
sand dollars worth of goods for the
Mexican trade.
AZ sunrise, August S, the vast caval-
cade approached thcunsllspecting town
tho fuxv naof,la oQfir sunpnsinu n Ia In