Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-28


votes or prairie wolves was heard to dis
| lu the campus. At the end of the fourth
| day toey arrived at their destination.
| When Saltus arrived at Uvalde his first
move was in search of a barber-shop, to
| lave beard OF four days growth removed
before presenting himself to the leading
citizens as their future journalist. Having
made the necessary arrangements for start
ing his newspaper, and having ordered the
press from St. Louis Saltus went to a
rancho fifteen miles from Uvalde, on the
"Rio Frio." to pass the time that must in
tervene before the arrival of his printing
| material. The occupat Is of the rancho
| house were three Cow boys" ;ovial, don't
care sort of fellows. He had been there
about one month learning to ride mustangs
and shoot wi hogs, ETC., when one OF the
boys returned from a trip to town with the
news that about three hundred Indians
were on raid through that county, and
had been seen by the rangers near Uvalde
Town. That night, while the boys were
making merry in the cabin, playing on the
violin, singing, etc, etc, they were startled
by q fierce barking of the watch dogs.
Some one looked out of the door and ex-
claimed "Indiansl to your guns |"
In twinkling four Winchester. rifles
and as many six shooters were produced,
aud the boys thus FASTENED into picket
awaited the attack.
The moon shone brightly, making OBJ
jects in the little strip of prairie before the
cabin discernable. Beyond this prairie
was a dense growth of chspparel bushes.
When the boys had taken refuge in the
picket house, they could see line of
horses, numbering about 100, drawn up on
the farther side of the open ground and in
the shadow of the timber. They could
not see the riders, if there were any, for
the shadow cast over them. The boys had
been in waiting for the expected attack
about ten minutes, when the line of horses
wheeled and were Lost to sight in the
woods r.--.
what do you think Of it. Frank ?"
asked one of tho boys.
II think the Indians were after those
horses and they ran here for protection.
Wed better keep sharp lookout, for we
might have to fight at any time"
They returned to the cabin, but did not
indulge in singing any more that night. A.
strict watch was kept up, but the Indians
did not modest them.
A few weeks after the incident related
Saltus issued the first copy of the Uvslde
Umpire Bent on giving his paper an i'm
mediate circulation through West Texas,
he started out for that purpose. Distant
thirty five miles southwest of Uvade is
the county seat of Frio, which was first
visited by Saltus, who arrived there just as
the sun WAS setti g behind the rolling
prairies. Saltus succeeded in adding u
number of names to his subscription list,
ana the next evening at A o'clock started
on his return to Uvalde. Ii was intensely
hot, even at that late hour of the day, and,
knowing that water was not to be had
nearer than the Leons ranche-twenty
miles-he rode at slow trot. when about
fifteen miles on the road (the moon was two
hours high, he noticed some strange look
ing horsemen riding along the brow of a
hill some 30 yards to the right of the road.
u was bald praire-not bush to be seen
and q horseman could be seen at long
distance. Saltus knew that the strangers
were not Americans or MexicaRs by the
manner they sat on their horses, but II he
entertained any doubt on that subject, 1t
was soon dispelled, for no sooner had he ar
rived opposite them than they turned and
came toward him, riding at u brisk gsllop
and firing their six shooters.
Pm in for it this time, unless you can
carry me out" said Saltus to his faithful
mustang. He had been told by the COW
boy that ''roped" gray that was the fastest
horse on the rancho.
Being armed with only one pistol and
three rounds of cartridges, he knew that
he would not stand much chance ia run
ming fight with twenty or thirty Indians,
armed with six shooters and Winches-
ter rifles; so, putting spurs to his horse, he
went flying over the prairie, the bullets
cutting the dirt all around him. Five
long miles before he could reach the Leona
| rancho. If little gray could only hold out
| that far. On, on came the pursuers; they
had now ceased firing, thinking that they
were sure of their man, and preferred
taking him alive. Saltus, looking over his
shoulder, saw the Indians had gained rap
| idly on him, and were not more than
twenty yards behind. Ahead OF him,
about one mile, he could see the white
| houses of Leona rancho cleaning in the
moonlight. If they only knew his danger
they could easily make the Indians take
the back track. Suddenly wheeling in his
saddle, he fred three or four shots in quick
succession. The ssvages paid no attention
to the shooting, but rode on the harder.
| Saltus buried his spnrs eep in his horse 8
side, which made him spring for
ward as if filed with new life. This
start gained him few yards in the race,
which be began TO think he Lad lost, when q
report of rife rang out a short distance
ahead Looking up, he saw a crowd of
horsemen coming to meet him at break
neck speed. The Indians saw them, too,
and halted for few seconds, and then
wheeled and rode off over the prairie
leaving the beaten track. When Saltus
met his deliverers he learned that they
were some of CaldwelI's company of
rangers, on their way to Frio City. they
stopped long enough to give him that
much information, and then started in pur-
suit of the Indians. But they never caught
up with the red thieves:
Saltus proceeded on his way to Uvalde,
arriving there at midnight. A day or two
after his return from Fro City, Saltus
CHANGED to witness ''set.to' between an
attache of the Umpire printing office and
an ex-ranger. Both parties were arrested
| and arraigned before justice of the peace
/ at Uvalde,. and Saltus was summoned as a
witness. Six jurors were sworn in, and
! the ranger was tried first, After hearin
the evidence pro and coz, the jury re-
turned verdict of not guilty. Then
the printer was called up, when the court
said
1.-THE same jurymen that sa! on the case
just tried will do for this case. Take your
seats gentlemen"
Witness, stand up and be SWORD"
Saltus was sworn to tell the truth, the
whole truth" etc, when the court contiL-
uad: "Now, witness, tell what you know
about this affair"
IF the court please" said Ssltus, ]
think it is customary and proper to read
the Indictment, 20 the jury may know the
offense charged against the prisoner"
You re not a praeticing attorney, and l
! don't see what you've got to do with the
conduct of this case" said the court,
pushing his glasses off his nose aud looking
very indignant
| ann not an attorney, but friend of the
prisoners, determined that he shall have
fair trial"
"Gve me the indictment, Mr.. Sheriff."
growled the court
Il nornI and az