The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-09-22
0, FIE! JOHN HANCOCK!
Nobody Thought That Your Claims
We're All GrOundleSs.
But Bit of Hitherto Unwritten History
Proves They We're.


1t Was Col. Williams, Not You, Who Had
the Indians Removed and the Mill
tary Telegraph and Depot
Constructed.
Gen. John Hancock, the democratic candi-
date for congress in this district, bases his
claims to the SutfrageS of the people on three
benefits which he and his adhcrcnts allcge he
conferred upon the citizens of Texas generally
and of San Antonio particularly.
These are 0st that he brought about the
building of the military depot in this city, end
that he secured the construction Of the military
telegraph now in operation throughout the
removed from the Texas Mexican frontier to
the Indian frontier and thereby saved Texas
from Il great loss of life and property: The
statements are untrue. The history of the cir
During the winter of 1872 Col T. G. Will
llamS, the present secretary OF the San Ant ohio
gas company, conceived the idea of undertak-
ing the removal of the lndians. As he was
then in Washington it was an easy task to at
once begin tie execution of his plan. Without
consulting with Gen. Hancock or anybody
else he visited the secretary of the interior. OF
his own vOitiOn, and offered FOR certain sum
of money 10 effect the removal. The secrc-
tary promised to lay the proposition before the
The cabinet. Soon afterwards the cabinet met
and resolved despite previous failures. to make
another effort to attain the end proposed. The
active instrument was to be commission.
he requested to be appointed member of the
commission. His application was endorsed by
Morgan Hamilton, then L. 5. senator for
Texas, and Gen. w. II. sherman of the U: S.
army. He was successful. The commission
was composed of himself and II. A. Atkinson,
of Nebraska. 1t is doubtful that Gen. Han
cock had heard of the proposed action up to
this time. If he had, the plan neither affected
him nor was affected by him. Nor did he after
wards have anything to do with it,
Before the commissioners quilted Washing
thf,Hr
gave them letters to the Governor of COahuila
and the Governor of Nucvo Leon, urging the
cooperation of the Mexican authorities. They
went from Washington to SaltilO where they
Governor of the state of COahua from whom
they received messages for delivery to the al
caldes OF frontier towns, who were thus in
structed to render all the assistance possible i'll
furthering the scheme. Governor CepCda did
more; he appointed II commission to accompany
the U. $. commissioners. From SaltillO the
ccived similar treatment from the Governor of
the state of NucvO Leon. At this time the In
dams were near Reno Lima in Coahuila. SAIL
ia Rose was the nearest large village Thither
the commissioners went. Arrived there they
found the alcalde and other officers StrenuOusly
opposing the proposed removal. Their posi-
ton was the effect of their connection with the
Indians from whom they derived a large rev.
enue by distressing of property stolen on this
side of the Rio Gr.ndc. They were then trying
to ntiame the minds of the Indians and have
commissioners were determined to continue
their line of conduct. They sent mes
sagcs to the Indians and set date
for q consultation. The night previous to this
they were Informed by their interpreter that a
plan had been laid to murder Col Williams and
make Atkinson prisoner, to be held as a host
arc for the women and children whom Gen
Mackenzie had captured, and who then were in
San Antonio. They were five amongst several
hundred the. two commissioners, an inicr-
prefer and two transfers and were without
noIl # III lafn Th..v nil flo.
but this they would not do. So they stayed.
They treated the Indians f,lniariy and kindly
and diSsipatcd much of the prejudice against
them by acting as II they had no approximations
of danger. The consultation was held at the
appointed time. The chief Indian spokesman
was tall, handsome man. you say" said he,
that the Great Father sent you here to make
peace yet while you are on this mission Gen.
Mackenzie one of his servants, is killing our
men and capturing our women and children
But for Il fortunate circumstance this state
mcnt would have been unanSwerablc. While.
the Indian was speaking Col. Williams thought
of Il dispatch he had received from courier ii
short time previously, in which Gen. Macken-
zie stated that he had been on the track of i.
marauding band of Iipans and had taken some
KickapOOs in custody. This was exhibited, its
contents explained and the Indians were in
prosecuting the Lipans for the sake of who's,
companiOnship the kictckapoos were now suf-
fering. If they wanted to be considered pcac-
ably disposed toward the Great Father and his
people they ought not to affiliate with the Lii
pans. So said Col Williams. His words produced
Il marked effect. When he finished the Indians,
who were arrlyed in war paint and feathers,
laid down their arms and assumed Il less hostile
appearance. Finally they consented to send Al
dcputatiOn to San Antonio to sec how their
women and children were treated. The dcpu-
thtiOn went and, on its return, made such n
favorable report that the Indians. with the eX
ceptiOn of one band OF - persons decided to
leave. Accompanied by the commissioners the
Indians proceeded toward the reservation. At
the staked plains they parted from the COM
miSSiOnerS but met them again in the reSerya-
ton, when they received various presents
which had been promised them They number
ed altogether some 400 or 800. The so who
stayed, under the leadership of Chief Chit O.,
were nearly all subsequently Obliterated by thu.
MeXicans, who had become their enemies. This
is the whole story of the kickapOOs leaving the
border. Gen. Hancock neither had any direct
knowledge of the transaction nor did anything
toward getting the commission appointed.
Col. Williams was also the originator of the
military telegraph scheme. While he was en-
gagged in the commission business on Main
street he and his partners Mr.. Steele, of their
own motion, sent throughout the state
a large number Of blank petitions.
When these were returned signed they were
pasted together. To the petition, now entire,
Col. Williams and Mr. Steele obtained the en-
dOrsement of Gen. Augur and Gen. Phil. Sher-
idan and by their instrumentality the endorse
ment of Gen. w. T. Sherman. The petition
was then sent to the Secretary of War. bill
was prepared; it was offered by ID: c. Giddngs.
of Brcnhaln, and engineered by him through
the house. Thus far Hancock had not appear
ed in the matter. II is true that when the bill
was presented for passage he voted in favor OF
1t, but 1t would have passed without his vote.
Even the third claim is without good foun-
datiOn. Col. Williams, not Gen. Hancock, is
the gentleman who is entitled To credit for
bringing about the construction of the mill
city council sent CO... Williams 10 Washington
to secure an appIDpriat ION OF SlUiiNbfOr build