The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1882-12-21
MONETA,s GRATITUDE.
An IncIdsnt OF vlotorlo,s Raid.

WOou A1ncn ana ,1tS hoSp1tablc owner,
Mr James Daulton. 1t is moro than
) likely that some one will tell Yeu this
story. Tor 1t is o fayoEite- tale on the
frontier, and has been related around
lie camp lire hundred times by all
sortSrof frontier people--soldiers, Mexi-
Cams, hunters, Indians, COWBOYS, miners
and coptrabandists Presidio is great
stock county--the second largest In the
State. thousands of cattle. sheep and
goats roam about its fertile canyons and
broad llanos. Two years ago there wore
not more than fifty people in Presidio.
living outside Of Fort Davis, the county
seat and military post. Several attempts
were made to settle this rich country.
but the Indians were hostile and the
adventurous piore eers were either mur
de ed or driven back to the post. In
tho winter of 1879 n company OF ran gers
We're sent to Presdio County. and they
began to dive out tie predator; band
of red men. The presence of the rangers
omboldened several reckless spirits to
again attempt Q settlement Of tho
country. James Daulton was one OF
these pioneers. Accompanied by his
wife. black herder, two Mexicans and
his nine children, he drove his cattle
and sheep into t 9 canyon of the Lone
Sottonwo d, about ten miles south o.
FoIt Davis, and made camp near a large
water-hole. He saw no sign OF Indians
and was not molested by the hostilcs for
several weeks. He held his cattle and
sheep near camp. Game was abundant.
Above the water-hole was large bog
thickly covered with high reeds. Along
3iittle "branch" or creek which bisected
the cane-brake, there grew great punches
OF water-cress. Although forbidden to
stray far from camp, the little Daultou
children used to go up this branch and
pick water-cress. The branch had its
source ut spring ON the side OF the
mountain. Near the spring was an old
Indian trail going up the cliff.
One morning two Of the children
started up the branch. Alice, the oldest,
was aeven, and she held her young
brother, Willy, by the hand. WillY
was the baby and just three years old.
Ae was petted by the whole camp. and
was the particular favorite of one of the
rangers, q famous scout and Indian
fighter, known along the frontier by the
non, de gneTre Of ''Apache George" :"
For while the children busted them
selves picking cress. Suddenly, with O
shout of delight, Alice dropped her little
brothers hand and started in pursuit OF
q butterfly. Willy soon lost sight of her.
: The chase was afruitless one, and when
the bright-winged insect rose high
above her head Alice gave little sigh
or disappointment and turned to hunt
up her brother. Not finding him along
the branch she got frightened and be-
gan 70 cry, at the Same time calling
loudly: - 004 .
willy! Willyr'
The cliffs threw back the sound of hor
voice as If in mockery. There was no
response from the lost child. The little
girl's frantic cries were heard in camp,
and anatching up his Winchester her
bro5a sr Jack ran up the creek. When
he vBached point where the tall reeds
nearly met o7er the bed of the branch he
gave sharp cry and cooked his Win
chester. Before him, in the soft mud
was the print of moccasin side by side
with the tiny tracks of baby WillY The
moccasin trail turned into the cane,
brake. and Jack, his heart in his mouth,
followed 1t. Near the seepage spring
he lost the trail and hurried back to
camp to get assistance. Alice reached
the camp before him, and her incoher-
ent ana fearful story started everybody
out in quest of the lost child. Jack met
the search party. In o few words he
made known his discovery. and led the
party to the seepage spring. His
aather examined the trail carefully.
This trail goes up the cliff" he said,
mountain
A fewyards back from the edge of the
cliff they found "horse sign" The
ground was trampled as though by the
hoofs OF score OF ponies. The top
OF the mountain was rough and rocky:
The searoh%party, led by the father OF
the lost child. took up the trail of tho
ponies and followed it for several miles.
: The country grew rougher and rougher,
and it was a difficult matter to follow
the trail Finally MIR. Daulton. practiced
front ersnan that he was, was Obliged
20 stop.
~ can follow the trail no farther,
men," he said. ''P6or little Willy.''
he sank down upon rock and
Dur cd his face In his hands. He was
%strong, brave man. who never ouaileti
IN the face of danger. Now the thought
OF his little son, in the hands OF ruthless
ana bloodthirsty savages. completely
unnerved him, and he groaned aloud in
his agony.
n tell you what, Cap'n Jlm," said
the black herder Madison, ''dat yer
OuAA 40 buEO uuu los O0C9 OulY one
nan kinfn' him -
"And shat manp'' cried the father,
starting dp. "Speak! Who can find
de: yere ranger, man, 'Pache
Georgep' -
The words of the black man and his
confidence In the ability of Apache
George to find little Willy put new life
into the whole party.
Madison is right, father,' cried
jack. APACHE George can follow the
gail over hard rook as easily as we can
throagh bog" 0''
"Rtln back to camp, son, as fast as
you. can, = commanded Mr.. paUIton, aud
Jack started.
Hold on one minute. continued
nis esther, and the mpetuous boy
stopped. Saddle the gray pony and
60 70 the ranger camp. Teli Captain
Neyln whaS has occurred, and then hur-
started on run.
The rernainder Of the party wertnoro
sioWiy Ut was a hard rnattar Ia com.
ioft the grief-stricken mother, raourn-
go T.. "a a a =