Sharp County record., 1880-04-08
AN ABDUCTED TEXAN GIRL.
The Strange Story of Annie jackson.

The Strange Story OF Annie Jacksoh'
On the incoming train on the Chica-
90. Burlington & Quincy Railroad, last
night, was a young lady passenger VINO
has had a remarkable experience. her
career during the last three years has
been one of romantic adventure ana
narrow escapes from tragic death. She
is now on her way home after pro-
tracted absence, which had led her
friends to suppose she was dead, as sne
has been unable to communicate with
them since leaving home until very re,
Gently. In relating her story she SAID
her name was Annie Jackson; that her
father and mother live on ranch near
the village of Iberia, Maveric County,
Tex, which is located in the southwest
ern corner of the State, and on the Mex
lean border. Mr.. and Mrs. jackson re-
moved from Philadelphia to Texas IN
1869, at which time there was consider
able emigration to that State, and they
prospered well under the influence OF
an active demand for cattle, large herds
of which Mr.. Jackson accumulated.
Annie was then about nine years of age.
The family, embracing, besides those
mentioned, two sons almost grown, oc-
cupied pleasant home, and no uneaSl-
ness was felt until the Mexicans began
to make raids in the neighborhood and
drive off stock. Then Mr.. jackson
manifested good deal of solicitude for
the welfare of his wife and children.
But he did not desert the place which
gradually became more and more dan
gerous in consequence of these forays
BY Mexicans and the disturbing elements
that were introduced among the lndi-
ans.
The father and sons prepared to de-
fend their place by strengthening their
residence and providing better arms for
use when occasion required. The Jack
son ranch was in the immediate vicinity
where several raids over the border
were made by Mexicans, and it became
the resting-place of the gallant Major
McKenzie's command when he made
his first chase of the greasers into Mex.
leo in 1872. This military command
was Joined by both of Annie's brothers,
who acted as guides and did efficient
service on the campaign, they becoming
conspicuous figures of the party as
they galloped along at the head of the
column, with their rifles on their shoul-
ders, pistols and knives in their belts,
and dressed in the fantastic costume of
their calling-buckskin trousers, sus-
tanned by red sash and tassels, col
ored shirts and cut-away jackets, and
wide white sombreros, which shaded
sunburned faces. Already Annie Jack
son was almost woman. She was tall
for her age, and muscular from the ne
cessities of the locality and the Incl
dents of her life. There was from this
time q constant cOmmotion on the bor-
der, which threatened danger daily.
Gradually she became familiar with
things which drove away all fear, and
prompted her to enter into rather than
avoid the intrepid experiences which
her father and brothers often endured.
She tells, in her narrative, of exploits on
the plains which would call forth the ad-
miration of the most successful hunter,
and of standing guard on various occa-
sions when there were prospects of WIS.,
its from the Mexicans of hostile char
acter. She encountered no actual harm,
however, until she was sixteen years OF
age, and then began the trials and
troubles which followed one another in
too rapid succession to recount all in
detail, but which, combined, form one
of the strangest histories ever written.
On the I'd of May, 1877, which was
Wednesday, while sitting in a vine
covered porch of her home, she was
accosted by two genteel-loOking Ameri-
cans, who Immediately bound her, hand
and foot, and conveyed her, despite
screams and resistance, to place
where three horses were secured, and
she was compelled to mount one Of the
steeds and ride between the two men all
of the afternoon. She knew that they
were going in southeasterly direction,
but that was all; and when they halted
at a small adobe cabin for supper, she
knew that she was on Mexican soil and
miles away from home. She was not
permitted to remain out of the sight of
her captors a moment, although they
offered her no indignity, and refused to
answer any question as to what they in
tended to do with her. The march was
resumed after the necessary rest, and
the lady was conveyed long distance
to hacienda, where she was afforded
comfortable quarters, but was retained
prisoner. This treatment was re-
peated for four days and nights in sue
cession, her captors evidently knowing
what points to make in order to procure
fresh horses for the succeeding hours of
travel. On the Sunday morning follow
ing her abduction they arrived at large
town, the name of which Miss Jackson
did not know, and here she was COM