The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-15
EARLY TEXAS.
Cannibal Tribes, and How They Ate a white
Nan.


In o recent interview with Mr.. John
Iiams, the oldest white settler on the
coast of Texas, many interesting facts
were ascertained regarding the Indian
| tribe who formerly inhabited and held
sway in this region now called Texas.
Mr.. 1iams, who still resides In Houston,
went to Texas, then province of Mexi.
| co, IN 1922. He and his father lived first
| at one place then another on the bayous
emptying into Galveston Bay. The ooun-
| try was then perfect wiIderness-wild
and desoate, inhabited by the wolf and
| the buffalo, the deer and the savage In
dian, who r0amed in its solitude, master
| OF all he surveyed.
somewhat adventurous disposition, took
every opportunity of cultivating the &C.
| quaintance OF the Indians and procuring
| their good will, especially as they Wsre
to be his neignbors. He became we'll
acquainted with them, and he now de-
| lights in recounting bits OF their history.
According to his account, the great re-
gion stretching from ths Trinity to the
river Brazos on the south, was at the
time OF the advent of the white race
| inhabited chiefly by two tribes Of saw
ages. One Of these was the Caronkawa,
The other the Coushatta tribe. The home
| the River Trinity, where there are Two
OF three settlements of them still exis =
| ing, the modern Coushattas adheriug to
| the same manner OF life as their fathers.
They roamed over the prairies as far
south as Buffalo Bayou, on which the
city OF Houston now stands, and in their
hunting and fishing expeditions to the
bayou and the bay into which IT empties,
they were frequently met by Mr., liams.
They told him on one occasion that
before that time 1929 they had been
living in the same territory they then
| occupied for upwards of thirty years,
which would date their residence back
to 1902.
| The Caronkawas were the immediate
neighbors of the Coushattas ON the
north, their dominIons and hunting
grounds ranging from Buffalo Bayou TO
the River Brazos. They also held Gal
weston Island, and occupied or elaine
the spot whore Houston now stands.
Iiams states emphatioally that these In
dians were cannlbals, and many years
after his arrival in the wilderness one OF
their exploits was tying up white man
to an oak tree, butchering him like fat
tening hog, and ending the terrible and
revolving spectacle by cutting him up
like fresh pork, cooking and then eating
the slices. Ii appeared to be delicious
to their palates.
The CaronkaWas In summer went en-
tirely nude, and their only weapon con-
sisted OF bows and arrows, in the use oil
which they were great adopts. The
women, except in winter-Whsn they
wore turs and sklns--also went entirely
nude, excepting a cloth made of grass
bounu about their loins. Their long
black hair flowed down on their shoul.
ders, giving them truly graceful and
picturesque appearance. There was a
time, away back, when, as tradition has
IL, the CousnaLtas crossed over the
bounds of the territory OF their neigh
bors and q war resulted. A battle was
fought on Clear Creek, near what is now
known as Fort Benz COunty. The Cou
shattas were led by an Indian known al
, Big-m0uthed Captain, and many were
killed on both sides. The CaronkaWal
were defeated.
There was at the time of the settle
ment of the country, tradition among
the Indians, and since handed down
among the class of citizens known al
"Old Texans" that the Caronkawas, OF
one occasion, fought a battle with al
in error tribe named Genes, who dwell
Bayou, whore the site known as CIty
MlIls, near Houston, now stands. Tnt
Oaroukawas, the strongest and more
. powerful tribe oil The Two, attacked thu
Cencis IN their lodges, fighting Will
tueir bows and arrows. Tue Cencis de
tended themselves TO tue last, but the
Caronkawas finally getting the uppel
hand, after slay ing the men and mas.
sacrelng the Women aId children,set ii {
TO the village.
The only one Of the Cencis who es.
capped was an old nag and sorceress, OF
at least reputed as such, and whom the
supers stitiuus fears OF the CaronkuWas
alone prompted to spare. While the
homes OF her tribe were burning she
climbed TO the top OF a low iree at tue
scene of the contiagratioD, uttered q
curse upon the spot and flung hersel
into the tlames-the last OF hcr kindred
and her tribe. To this day, strange az
it may appear, no enterprise started on
that spot mas ever prospered; at least
sucn Is the assertion of old citizens, par.
tlcularly those disposed 10 be superst ii
ti0us.