The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-05-23
OUR STORY TELLER.
DAvY CROCKETT OUTDONE.
New York Sun.l

II
New York sun.l
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 we're 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 the raid Cooper was on his
way TO Fert Richardson. He appealed
to the Government for aid. Colonel
Wood, the commandant, refused to pur-
sue the thieves, claiming that it was un-
certain whether they were Indians or
white horse-thieves. If they were white
men he had no authority over them. He
was only authorized to put a 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 ar
old Indian fighter. He did not propose tC
Il 90 he
His friends rallied around him. By day
light nine sturdy cowboys were in the
saddle. The trail of the raiders was 81
broad that they followed it at full speed
About noon they found one of the stolel
horses dead on the prairie. He was
"bucker," and from signs on the grass i
was evident he had bucked his painted
rider in the most approved borde
fashion, and had been shot dead for hi
pains. The Indians had also killed
COW, cut breakfast from her loins
and left the carcass on the trail. Salts
fed that they were losing no time i
getting away with their booty, Cooper
party rapidly pressed on, hoping to ovel
q haul them before they crossed Re
River into the Indian Territory. Bu
he was too late. The Indians WEI
shrewd, and kept changing horses, Will
the cowboys had no relays. At reguls
intervals the savages jumped down an
mounted fresh ponies, turning the jade
ones in with the herd. Horses reare
by cowboys have an unconquerab
aversion to Indians. The scent of OF
makes them uneasy and restless. I'll
buckers of Cooper's herd did their be
to escape, and frequently unseated the
riders, but in vain. The savages cross
the border in triumph, and felt tn
they were safe.
At the Red River Cooper halted. /
saw that the thieves had such a sta
that he could not overtake them. Ev
If he did succeed in catching them wit
in the Indian Territory he would COZ
in collision with the United States q
thorities, for the savages would L
doubtedly swear that the horses we
their own property and accuse the Tt
ans of trying to steal them. From t
bend of the trail Cooper was satisf
that the red rascals belonged to the Indi
Reservation at Fort Sill. He rode bs
TO Fort Richardson and secured the s
vices Of friend who was acquainted
Fort Sill. Hinson and several 9th
accompanied him to the latter pc
They found large band of Nocor
COmancbes at the Reservation. Th
were encamped on Cache Creek, a
their herds of ponies dotted the prail
Their Chief was Horseback, a power
squint-eyed savage, six feet and
inch in height. Heyworth, the Ind
Agent, listened to Cooper's compla
and sent for Horseback. The CT
readily admitted that band of
young braves had recently return
from raid in Texas. "Tell the Texa
said he, " that my young men have
bis horses. l have seen them, and kr
them by the description and the
yellow horses" The latter were
sorrels, thoroughbred, valued at C
$500 piece. Horseback said he co
not return the stock. They were
yond his reach. His young men would
listen to him. He could not keep th
from skirting the frontier, and if
Texans wanted to save their horses I
must lock them up in stables. Coo
then asked the Agent to interfere.
replied that the Indians were rum
things with such a high hand I
it would be utterly useless
him to demand the horses. Tho
he was Issuing rations to these very
dians every fortnight, he dared not
tempt to reclaim the stolen property
Cooper and Hinson went back to
Richardson disguised with Inc
Agents and swearing vengeance aga
their red allies. They had lost prop
worth hundreds of dollars, found
thieves and coolly been told by Gov
ment officials who were feeding t
that they could not interfere. 1t was
however, an uncommon case. Scor,
cowboys had visited Fort Sill
similar errands, and received the &
treatment. Savages mounted on st
horses had saluted them with the W.
How, how" and dashed away in
The Agent would do nothing for Il
He was the legal protector for
thieves. If the indignant herders tri,
seize their property, they were clal
into the guard-house as interloperl
Indian reservations. If necesi
United States soldiers were called
to protect the robbers. MI Z .E1F
When Cooper and Hinson told
s.ory, the hearers smiled and sarcs
ally asked why they expected diffa
treatment from others in a similar
dicament. One evening, while drin
in Murphy's saloon in Fort Richard
Cooper damned all Indian Agencies
Indian Agents He swore that j
could only get crowd together
shot-guns and six-sheoters, he wou
up to Fort Sill, lay around and W
his chance, tear through an Indian {
some night, riddle their tepees, and