The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-02-17
Death or Chief Victoria,

|
The death Of this Indian Chief and can
ture or his band Is thus told by cores
pondcnt -
a hasty council was held, and the quick
lald plan was as soon executed. The com
pete Knowledge Of the country possessed
ny Icrrazas and his scouts led him to be-
licve that tho Indians would try and make
q certain watcr-holc by evening, rest and
water and be of again. 10 head them at
this hole was the only hope of the purs,lcrs,
and every effort OF the tired and wcaried
band was now put forth. They forced
their way by clrcultous march and arrived
at'thc spring at the moment the Indians
appeared. They had no time to refresh
themselves, but charged the Indians, who
took to the small mountains among the
rocks for shelter Tcrrazas sent his chief,
Juan Mata Artiz, with half tho force around
the mountain, TO cut off any retreat, and
the Comancho scout Cruz took Il few more
and scaled an adjoining cliff and did excel
lchI work with uncrring aim. All that
cve.'lng and all night the fight lasted, tho
Indians, securely screened behind the rocks,
| being hard to dislodge. During the nipht
the Indians built two bright fires, which
were only allowed to burn short time,
when they were extingulshcd. Terrazas
knov their meaning and sent word around
The line to keep sharp look out. The
order was scarcely given when Il voIlcy
and yell told of the enemy III the rear
Encouraged by these demonstrations the
Indians on the hill opened the battle anew
and attempted to fight thoir way through
the line, but were rcpulscd. The attack
ing party III the rear, after losing thrce
men, concluded to leave, aud did, not again
rcappcaring. At daylight the fight WIS
resumed with much vigor md continued
until o'clock, when 1errazus gave the
order to charge the hill with sabre and
bayonot, IT being apparent that the Indians
wore short of ammunition. Then the
bloody work indeed began. and by noon it
was over. Victoria and seventeen dead
warriors and Indian women lay upon The
field, and seventy eight women and child
ren were prisoncrs-a dcath-Dlow, certain
~, to the band. Not cnc of tho Indians
upon the mountains escaped death or cap
ture. The loss of tho Mcxicnns was lhrcc
Killed and eleven wounded, two of whom
have since died. The band which came
up and attacked was supposed to be less
than thirty in number.
The battle commenced on the afternoon
Of the 18th and ended ut noon on the 10Th,
Friday. On the Monday following we re.
! cclvcd the first courier giving an official
account of the battle and victory. 1t was
too good to be true, ovory one said, but
every day brought words of confirmation
and that Col Tcrrazus was OH his way to
the capital with the prisoners. First one
day Was set down for the arrival, and then
another, until at last Sunday at 8 o'clock
was tho hour appointed. The whole city
turned out-all classes and conditions. The
house tops wero covered, the balconies
were alive, and banners were flying from
all the masts. The bands played and from
the church and cathedral towers the bells
rang out in tuncful clamor. At al early
hour, in company with somo American
friends, was in saddle en- route to meet
the advancing hosts. | Lruvcrscd the
denscly crowded streets with difficulty and
at last reached the dry bed Of the river.
From here we could see upon an cmincncc,
on the hill beyond tho crowd, and II little
further on we could discover some black
objects against the sky like waving plumcs
OF the knights Of old. The signal was Civ
en- and the column moved forward, and
behold! those floating plumcs were the
ghastly scalDs of the fallen enemy held
aloft 10 the gaping crowd. First came an
immense throng Of people, men women
and children pushing each other to and fro,
mad with excitement. Then came II band,
whose music was drowned from time to
time by the plaudits Of the p0pulacc. Then
came Col. Tcrrazas and his staff Of officers,
looking worn and travel stained. lmmc-
diatcly after came the prisoners, mounted
upon ponies aud mules. They were all
women and children except one Comanchc,
whose fife was spared by Cruz, the scout.
After the prisoners came tho scnlp-bcnrers
and pack trains. There has long been Il
standing reward of $500 for the scalp of Il
warrior and 500 q head for prisoners IT
having been found that tins was the only
way to keep the State free Of them. This
campaign will cost the State not less than
500, O0U cash outlay, besides nll the prop
clty destroyed by the Indians. The scalp
Of Victoria, tingcd visibly with gray, was
carried by the man who was given the
credit of shooting HIM.
About l o'clock the procession halted
before one Of tho large prisons or camp
yards, and the prisoners dsmountcd and
passed in. The next day all smaller child
rcn were given away, and strange us 1t
may seem, they have been taken into tho
best and wcalthlcst families III the city.
Gov. Tcrrazas took two, Il boy and IL girl.
One gentleman took three. They have
been cleaned up and dressed in comfort
able clothes, and arc much improved IN
appearance.
The slayer of Victoria has been present
cd with suit that is neat and not gaudy
either The short jackct is OF crimson
broadcloth the vost and brceches OF black
docsk in, trimmed with silver lace; the hat
a magnificent white fur broadbrim, and
covered with spangles. lie is peaceful
Ferhumara Indian, and bears his h)nors
quietly.
what Boys should Learn.