Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-11-12
A Story Of big Foot" Wallace.

s.Big Foot'' Wallace is native of Rock
bridge, but has many relatives in Augusta
county. He was in Staunton when. he
last came to the States about three years
ago, The N. Y. ''Sun" gives the follow
ing story about him:
SssBig Foot" Wallace, the noted Texas
scout. tells the following strange story: In
the year 1862 was in the northwestern
portion of Texas, private in Company X,
Dull's regiment, G. S. A., and stationed at
Fort Davis. While on scout two COM
panions and myself became detached from
the company, and camped on Providence
creek, few miles northwest Of the fort.
We were attacked at night by the Indians
my two companions were killed, and our
horses Stampeded. l escaped Ill the dark
ness, with only the clothes on my back,
my revolver and bowie knife. The next
morning while attempting to reach rocky
ravine 1 fell and fractured my left leg
about midway between ankle and knee.
both bones being broken. AT the edge OF
the water pool was deposit of tough, te-
nacieus wet clay. I bound my broken
limb with my shirt torn in strips, and plas-
tered it over thickly with clay, Keeping
the limb as quiet as possible, and frequent
ly renewing the clay poultice.
After the second day l experienced no
pain from the fracture. During the first
three or four days l suffered much from
hunger, used water sparingly, and KEEP
my belt comfortably tight about my waist,
which apparently afforded the relief from
the gripping pains that occasionally annoyed
me. For one day only Il think it was the
ninth or tenth) | became fIghty at inter
walls, but not ST. fficlently so to Danish from
nay mind that absolute rest of the injured
limb was necessary. The twenty-frs day
after the accident removed the bandage,
and found, to my great joy, the broken
bones were reunited. After few efforts l
raised myself erect and stood on my feet,
| holding On to a little tree until l became
satisfied could trust the injured limb.
| then cautiously and slowly, with the as
|. sistance of a forked stick that answered as
Pa crulch, worked my way for several hun
| dred yards, when L became exhausted, and
sought the shelter OF shelving rock,
| where I soon dropped into 6tful sleep
| that was aroused from by the bowling OF
d cayote wolf, which was but few yards
| from me.
| took as good aim at him with my re-
| volyer as my nervous and exhausted cODdi'
| lion permitted aud baZed away, prOvlden'
TALLY killing him, then cut his throat and
sucked his blood until had swallowed a
i
| stop by violent cramps in my stomach
After suffering untold agonies for an hour
or more the pain gradually subsidized, and
| fell into a sound and refreshing slum Der
| This Was the first fooo that had gone into
my stomach for twenty one days. When
awoke it WAS late III the night. An almost
Unsuitable desire seized upon me to fill my
stomach with The raw flesh Of the wolf.
knew, however, it would be death to do so
and partially relieved my hungry cravings
by chewing the flesh and only swallowing
the juice.
AS soon as daylight appeared collected
brush and wood, and made a rousing fire
and soon roasted the hams of the wolf, OF
which subsisted for the next two days
swallowing very little of the flesh, but al
the juice could extract by constant chew
ing. During the two days walked eigh
miles and reached the fort, where 1 Wa
received as one of the dead. was put il
the hospital, and under the kind care ant
skillful dietary management OF DR.. Ar
thur Stevens, Surgeon Z. S. A., l slowl
recovered my health and strength. M,
ordinary weight prior 10 my starvation
was about 205 pounds. The second da
after my return to the fort weighed 1873
My height is six feet one and half inches