New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-08
A THRILLING TEXAN STORY.
SOLDIERS SUFFERING FOR WATER.

ON gHE BLOOD or HORSES.
In the early part of August intelligence reached
this city from Fort Concho in Western Texas, hat
a company of United States cavalry belonging TO
the 10th Regiment, under the command OF capt
Nicholas Nolan and Lieut. Charles l.. Cooper while
in search of band of hostile Indians, had been lost
on what are known rs the Staked Pians-a sandy
waterlcss region in Northwestern Texas Later re-
ports SAID they had made their way To Double Lake
i'm a very exhausted condition, having been four
days without water Following those reports, us
patch was received from Chicago, August ;, and de-
rived from official information" stating that
desperate fight hal taken place on the Staked Plans
between Government troops and Indians, ana lhat
the soldiers, who much exhausted from want
of water had all been killed. Ii was further added
that list OF the killed. consisting OF two officers
and thirty-One men, would be forwarded ~ soon rs
received Since that dispatch was published, moth
ing definite has been III tie public prints. TIE
TRIBUNE has now been furnished letter from Lieut.
Cooper of the officers Of the company, and dated
Fort Concho Texas, August 30 in which he informs
his father a resident of Brooklyn, of his safety and
gives an interesting account of the terrible suffer-
ings of himself aud others. The letter IA rs follows
Fort CoScHo Texas. August 30, 1877.
DEAR FATHER: You hardly imagine our astonish-
here, learn Of the sensation IN the newspaper
world our troubles and mfortuncs have been the means
I
sent me- the real circumstances OF the case are com
pleely misunderstood thought good idea 10 furnish
you brief account OF our trip. our company f. A. lo'h
Cavalry let July 10, with two officers ana
abont sixty men. for two months scout We were 10
make a supply camp at some convenient polnt an" man
auvre from there pursuit of depredatlng Indians as
also To protect settlers who rapidly populating TINS
region Of the country Upon arrival place called
Bull Creek about miles northwest from Concbo' we
found party Of twcntycight men (1uflo-huntefS VINO
had lost siderable stock account Of ndian tHeS
aud organized into company Tor the purpose
Of everlasting Indians and resanng their lost property
Capt Nolan (vho commanded our company Thought II
establish supply camp at tails place ana go
with The hunters, most OF them being acquainted with
the country; and they having as a guide Mexican
named Jose who had been for years in the habit of t
ing with these Indians. and had became thoroughly ac-
quainted with the country, and knew every " water
MOLE and possible campingplace where Indians might
be found.
We left our supply camp with forty and two Of
1cers on tie 10Th Of July Fhe hunters had tweutJ-one
mon all told so yOu can had quite party. After
marching for several days and from the first ex
porcncmg difficulty IN procuring water, on account OF
she great drought This year., found ourselves on the
staked Plains, at place called Double Lake. where
small quantity OF alka water obtained. Here we
rested on the 2G,h Of July whilst Jose Uhe guide and
few men went further west, Dry Lake seventeen
mies) in search and signs OF Indians. At ii
o'clock .. M, on the 10Th, while were waiting Tor
Jose two Of his men back hastily, with the news
that though water there that forty Indians
had passed that morning at $50 o'clock aud were les
urey going IN u northwesterly direction killing game
they went and evidently suspecting that troops
were IN the country. We sadled up hurriedly waered
the stock started for Dry Lake, from whence having
arrived about sunset Immediately started on the III
dian trail This followed until it dark the guide
was unable TO see H. and then made dry camp camp
Iaaz IN fhe AT la
break we took up the and folowedit without stop
until night and again made dry camp" During the
day, OF the were sunsrucS, ana sergeant and
A few men were lift with them TO follow
they had sufficiently recovered A. for myself felt tue
heat more - day than other during the trip and
owing to the intense and having water to drink
Al about O'Clock came giving up with sunstrOke
In the meantime had 70 Use nautical phrase,
| "boxed the compass" in following the trai and had
wandered all day sandy plain with sometimes
fresh indications Of TIE Indians having passed recently,
and then again completely loss To hnd which way
they had gone as the trails scattered In all directions
Toward night the guide gave the trail mp Geeling as
.nred could catch tnem), and commenced again
t look around for water. He had followed the trai!
with so much perseverance, and energy that he had not
kent account his bearings and found, conse-
quence. he as well all OF lost on the Staked
Plains without water and prospects OF getting
a, we did not know which way FOR II. and from
experience tie greater part Of the country
| a. dry bone"
In the meantime our men had bren dropping their
horses with exhaustion, mad now been nearly two
days without water and We were retarded greatly in
dravorng to keep the together this, TOO, az time
when every moment was precious to us. We made an
tber dry camp after dark endeayore 70 forget in
sleep the suferlngs all enured; the guide in the
meanwhile keeping in search OF water, followed by
eight OF our with all the canteens of the command
50 that in case they should happen reach they
rtfrtfr IN, III. and
help u, That is the Last Of tie guide and the
eit men, until We got back the supply camp on the
th OF AUGUST The next morning, having had no news
Of the guide and men, we saddled up and attempted
tn follow in the direction supposed they had gone,
but having nobody to guide us being IN an unknown
country we did not better our condition. Alter march
ing nearly al day III northeast direction Capt Nolan
| and conferred together and finally concluded
| m pusb back to Double Lake. the direction of
! winch we did not know, but reckoued Il TO be
about southeast We marched until 1t was
very dark and then halted 10 wait for the
moon 10 rise enable us 10 proceed We had now re-
duced our little party to eighteen men, two officers, and
re f1G,o-huuter and you can imagine were all in
had condition The were almost completely used
mn and the captain AMI | were not much better our
men had dropped back. by one, unable 10 Keep up
with Us; their tongues and threats were swollen ana
they were unable even swallow their saNa-in act,
they had no saliva to swallow. that u, II judge Oh
their condition from my own. Ny tongue and throat
were so dry that when put few morsels Of brown
sugar that I found my coat pocket. INFO my mouth
was unable to dissolve II IN order 10 swallow IT, During
this time while lying tbe ground, one Of ny private
horses showed signs Of exhaustion staggered and FELL
m in order to relieve the men, hd his throat cut and
the blood distributed amongst them. The captain ana
drank heartily Of the ,.eamns blood ami though Il
aided for time 70 relieve our intense suffering never
tbeless in a short time were in worse condition
than before for the horses having suffered 80 muh nom
/ -r-. tnDir hlnnl LAn nntnIAIlI OCrOIne