Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-13
NO. 1853.
A Romantic Story.
Snor RY THE INDIANS AND RESCUED FROM
CArrivIrY.

Col. Albert G. Pelton, whose beautiful
o.00O acre ranch Is out toward the Rio
Grande, near Laredo, has been the Peter the
Hermit Of the Texans for years,
according to the San Antonio correspondent
of the Chicago Tribune. He came to Texas
in 1874. common soldier. BY talent and
courage he rose to the rank Of Colonel, and
finally, in 1856. commanded Fort Macrea.
That year he fell in love with \ beautiful
Spanish girl at Albequin. New Mexico. The
admiration OF the young people was mutual,
and parental objections only intensified the
affections of the lovers. Finally, after two
years of entrea,y and devotion, Col. Pelton
won the consent of the parents of the beauti.
ful Spanish girl and they were married.
One day the two, accompanied by the young
| wife's mother and twenty soldier, rode out to
the hot springs. six miles from the fort, to
take bath. While in the bath, which Ia
near the Rio Grande, an Indian arrow passed
over their heads. Then a shower of arrows
fell around them, and q band Of wild Apache
Indians rushed down upon them, whooping
| and yelling like band of demons. Several
of the soldiers fell dead, pierced with pois-
oned arrows. This frightened the rest, who
fed. Another shower Of arrows, and the
beautiful bride and her mother dropped into
| the water, pierced by the cruel weapons Of
the Apaches. With his wife dying before his
eyes Col. Pelton dashed up the banks. grasped
his rife, and killed the leader OF the savage
fiends. But the Apaches were too much for
the colonel Pierced with two poisoned
| arrows he swan the river and hid under an
cverhanging rock. After the savages had
LEFT, the colonel swan the river and made his
way back 10 Fort Macrea. Here his wounds
were dressed he finally recovered, but only to
| live blasted lfe-without love, without hope
with vision Of his beautiful wife, pierced
with poisoned arrows, lying perpetually before
| his eyes.
After the loss of his wife a change came
over Col. Peltos. He seemed to think that
he had a sacred mission from Heaven to
| avenge her death. He secured the most un.
| crrinv rifles surrounded himself with brave
companions and consecrated himself TO the
work of revenge. He was always anxious
to lead any and all expeditions against the
| Apaches. Whenever any of the other In
dians were at war with the Apaches, Col.
Pelton would soon be at the head of the
former. One day he would be at the head
Of his own soldiers, and the next day he
would be at the head of band of Mexicans.
| He defcd Indian arrows and courted death.
Once. with band of the widest despera-
does, he penetrated hundred miles into
the Apache country. The Apaches never
dreamed that anything but an entire regi-
ment would dare to follow them to their camp
in the mountains. So when Col Pelton
swooped down into their camp with ten trusty
followers. firing their Henry rifles at the
rate Of twenty times a minute, the Apaches
fed in CONSERVATION, leaving their women
and children behind. 1t was then there
darted out Of lodge white woman.
| '.Spare the women!" she cried, and then
she tainted and fell TO the ground.
When the Colonel jumped from the saddle
to lift up the woman he found she was blind.
"Ilow came you here, woman, with these
| Apaches?" he asked.
II was wounded and captured" she said,
''ten years ago. Take, oh, take me back
again!"
"Have you any relatives in Texas?" asked
the Colonel.
mo. My father lives in Albequin. My
husband, Col. Pelton, and my mother were
killed by the Indians"
| "Great God. Bella! is it you--my wife?"
ooh, Albert! knew you would come" !"
exclaimed the poor wife, blindly reaching her
hands to clasp her husband.
When saw the Colonel he was reading a
newspaper to his blind wife, while in her
hand she held bouquet Of fragrant jsssa-
mines which he had gathered.