, 1878-02-15
A Texas Episode.

Tall, sinewy, deep.chested, and ath
leticl I never remember to have seer
one of his race who so forcibly reminded
me of the imaginary Indian of Cooper
novels as did Jdndmdtd, or the Red But
fslo. He was Lipan chief whom | once
met in the wilds of Texas.
An unerring marksman, perfect ath
lete in riding, running and in hurting
the spear, Janamata was the ideal OF ar
Indian warrior. He was brave and daring
and his hate of the ComanChes made him
friend to their enemies, the whites.
As an illustration of his daring, let me
relate the incident by which he won the
sobriqlet of Red Buffalo.
Being once out with his band, engaged
in procuring their winter supply of meat
he encountered savage buffalo bull
who ''ripped up" his horse. Instead o.
retiring from the contest, as he might
have done with honor to himself, Jana
mata attacked the buffalo on foot.
Throwing away his bow and arrows
he calmly awaited the animals charge
AS he approached, he dexterously leaped
over its bowed head, and landing upon
the animals back, plunged his knife sew.
eral times into his body, then, jumping
off behind, he seized it by the tail, and
before the animal could turn upon him
severed its ham strings by the cut of his
knife.
In company with an old Texan, named
John Worth, had started on a hunting
expedition up the Guadalupe. One
day, upon reaching the little settlement
of Queno, about noon, we found the in
habitants excited over an outrage just
committed by the Comanches.
A young girl, of great beauty, only
seventeen years of age, the daughter of
an old settler named Lockhart, had gone
out upon the plain that morning to gath
er flowers. While there, within sight OF
her fathers house, a Comanche rode rap,
idly out of the woods near her.
She saw him, and ran, screaming, to-
wards the house. But the Indian over
took her, and, without checking the
speed of his horse, stopped in his saddle
and throwing his arms about her waist
lifted her before him, and galloped fu.
riously away. Her shrieks for help were
heard. Before assistance could reach her
however, the savage was far on the road
to the mountain with his prize
The whole population was out, and the
settlement was the scene of the widest
confusion. 1t seemed as if they had lost
their senses. Half dozen men had
their horses sadded, but no one had start
ed in pursuit. They stood listening to
old Andy, the girls father, who, with DISNEY
elled gray locks, red, swollen eyes, and
broken voice, appealed to every one to
aid in recapturirg his daughter.
Two or three messengers had gone up
the river to arouse the settlers, and it was
expected that at least fifteen would re-
spond to the call. At the old mans sug.
gestion, another had also been dispatched
to a Lipan camp, about two miles below
to request their chief, Janamata, to Join
in the pursuit.
The Indian soon appeared, but still the
party were not ready to start. They
seemed ignorant of the fact that every
moments delay made the chance of sue
cess more uncertain. Finally, my com.
panion, John Worth, rode into the circl,
ami said:
"Boys, I'm John Worth,o ,one of HAYES.
Rangers. I'm stranger to you, hut i
you'll follow me, I'll bring back the ole
mans daughter, or l won't come bach
myself. Who'll gol"
Thirteen men responded to the call
and, with hearty Texas yell, we started
We soon struck the Comanche's trail
The Lipan followed it like hound on
scent.
1t was terrible ride-through chan
arral So dense that we were Obliged /,
dismount and lead our animals; through
masses of cactus, whose long thorns tor
our clothes and flesh, and cut the legs o
our horses; over broad prairies, covere,
with flowers; through valleys filed wit
underbrush, until we reached the BAN
OF the river.
Nowhere upon the other side could W
discern any signs of trail. After som
time spent in searching for it, the keeI
eyes of Worth, who had ridden in ad
vance, discerned tracks on the Opposit
shore.
Calling the Lipan, Worth asked him t
swim his horse and ascertain if that wa
the Comanche's trail, or il the track
were those ofsome animal that had com
down to the water tor drink. In shor
time the Indian returned, and reporte,
that a bay horse, ridden by AN Indian
had crossed there. The next momen,
the whole party plunged into the stream
and crossed to the other side.