The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-06-01
OUR STORY TELLER.
DAVY CROCKETT OUTDONE.
New York SUM-

Doc. Cooper, a well-known cattle king
of Northern Texas, resides four miles
from Fort Richardson, one hundred and
ten miles from Sherman. Five years
ago he gathered herd of cattle for the
Kansas market. On the day before
starting, his herders were camped about
two miles from Fort Richardson. While
they were smoking around the fire their
horses grazed in bunch within sight.
In the dusk of the evening party were
seen approaching, and were supposed to
be cowboys from another herd. They
cut out Cooper's horses under the noses
of his herders, and sped away at full
gallop. By their yells the herders knew
they were Indians. AS Cooper had no
horses he could not pursue them. The
same night the herders struck the herd
of John Hinson, securing altogether
from twenty to thirty horses. Within
an hour after theraid Cooper was on his
way to Fort Richardson. He appealed
to the Government for aid. Colonel
Wood, the commandant, refused to pur-
sue the thieves, claiming that it was I'M
certain whether they were Indians or
white horse-thieves. If they were white
men he had no authority over them. He
was on'y authorized to put stop to
Indian depredations, and was not will
ing to send out his troopers without con-
elusive evidence that the raiders were
red men.
Cooper was an energetic fellow and an
old l. dian fighter. He did not propose to
tamely submit to the loss of his horses.
His friends rallied around him. By day
light nine sturdy cowboys were in the
saddle, The trail of the raiders was so
broad that they followed it at full speed.
About noon they found one of the stolen
horses dead on the prairie. He was a
bucker," and from signs on the grass it
was evident he had bucked his painted
rider in the most approved border
fashion, and had been shot dead for his
pains. The Indians had also killed a
COW, cut breakfast from her loins,
and left the carcass on the trail. Salts
fed that they we're losing no time in
getting away with their booty, Cooper's
party rapidly pressed on, hoping to over
haul them before they crossed Red
River into the Indian Territory. But
he was too late. The Indians were
shrewd, and kept changing horses, while
the cowboys had no relays. At regular
intervals the savages jumped down and
mounted fresh ponies, turning the jaded
ones in with the herd. Horses reared
by cowboys have an unconquerable
aversion to Indians. The scent of one
makes them uneasy and restless. The
buckers of Cooper's herd did their best
to escape, and frequently unseated their
riders, but in vain. The savages crossed
the border in triumph, and felt that
they were safe.
At the Red River Cooper halted. He
saw that the thieves had such a start
that he could not overtake them. Even
if he did succeed in catching them with
in the Indian Territory he would come
in collision with the United States au-
thorities, for the savages would un-
doubtedly swear that the horses were
their own property and accuse the Tex
ans of trying to steal them. From the
bend of the trail Cooper was satisfied
that the red rascals belonged to the Indian
Reservation at Fort Sill. He rode back
to Fort Richardson and secured the SER
vices of friend who was acquainted at
Fort Sill. Hinson and several others
accompanied him to the latter post.
They found large band of Noconee
Comanc es at the Reservation. They
were encamped on Cache Creek, and
their herds of ponies dotted the prairie.
Their Chief was Horseback, powerful
squint-eyed savage, six feet and one
inch in height. Heyworth, the Indian
Agent, listened to Cooper's complaint
and sent for Horseback. The Chief
readily admitted that band of his
young braves had recently returned
from raid in Texas. "Tell the Texan"
said he, " that my young men have got
his horses. have seen them, and know
them by the description and the two
yellow horses" The latter were two
sorrels, thoroughbred, valued at ever
5000 piece. Horseback said he could
not return the stock. They were be-
yond his reach. His young men would not
listen to him. He could not keep them
from skirting the frontier, and if the
Texans wanted to save their horses they
must lock them up in stables. Cooper
then asked the Agent to interfere. He
replied that the Indians were running
things with such high hand that
it would be utterly useless for
him to demand the horses. Though
he was issuing rations to these very In
dams every fortnight, he dared not at
tempt to reclaim the stolen property.
Cooper and Hinson went back to Fort
Richardson Disguised with Indian
Agents and swearing vengeance against
their red allies. They had lost property
worth hundreds of dollars, found the
thieves and coolly been told by Govern
ment officials who were feeding them
that they could not interfere. 1t was not,
however, an uncommon case. Scores of
cowboys had visited Fort Sill on
similar errands, and received the same
treatment. Savages mounted on stolen
horses had saluted them with the word,
How, how" and dashed away in 10Y.
The Agent would do nothing for them.
He was the legal protector for the
thieves. If the indignant herders tried to
seize their property, they were clapped
into the guard-house as interlopers on
Indian reservations. If necessary,
United States soldiers were called out
to protect the robbers.