Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-09-14
A Texans Revenge.
COLONEL PELTON, THE SLAYER OF THE
APACHES.

COLONEL PELToN, THE SLAYER OF THE
! APACHEs.
| Colonel Albert G. Pelton. whose beauti-
full twenty thousand acre rancho is out TO-
ward the Rio Grande, near Laredo, has
been the Peter the Hermit of the Texans
for years. He has believed that he held a
divine commission to kill Apache Indians.
Col. Pelton came to Texas in 1874, CON-
mon soldier. By talent and courage he
rose to the rank of Colonel, and finally, in
1927, commanded Fort Macrae. That
year he fell in love with beautiful Span
,, ish girl at Abequin, New Mexico. Her
parents were wealthy and would not con-
sent to their daughters going away from
all her friends to live in garrison. The
admiration of the young couple was mu-
tuaI. and parental objections only intensi-
fed the affeetioa of the lovers The ma
ture'of tire Spanish girl is such that once
in love she never changes. Finally, after
two years of entreaty and devotion, Colo
mel Pelton won the consent of the parents
of the beautiful Spanish girl, and they
we're married.
Then commenced a honeymoon such as
only lovers shut up in beautiful flower
environed fort can have. The lovely char
acter of the beautiful bride won the hearts
of all the seldies of the fort, and she
reigned a queen among these rough from
tiersmen. One day. when the love of the
soldier and his lovely wife was at Its Sc
verest, the two, accompanied by the
young wife's mother and twenty soldiers,
rode out to the hot springs, six miles from
the fort, to take a bath. While in the
bath, which is near the Rio Grande, an
Indians arrow passed over their heads.
Then shower of arrows fell around them.
and band of wild Apache Indians rushed
down upon them, whooping and yelling
like band of demons. Several Of the SOL
diers fell dead, pierced with poisoned ar
rows. This frightened the rest, who fed.
Another shower of arrows, and the beau
tiful bride and her mother fell in the
water, pierced by the cruel weapons of the
Apache. With his wife dying before his
eyes, Colonel Pelton leaped up the bank,
sped his rifle, and killed the leader of
the savage fends. But the Apaches were
too much for the Colonel. Pierced with
two poisoned arrows, he swan into the
river and hid under an overhanging rock.
After the savages had left, the Colonel
swan the river and made his way back to
ark
dressed, and he finally recovered, but only
to live blasted life-without love, with
out hope-with vision Of his beautiful
wife, pierced with poisoned arrows, dying
perpetually before his eyes.
After the death of his wife change
came to Colonel Pelton. He seemed to
think that he had sacred mission from
Heaven to avenge his young wife's death.
He secured the most unerring ri6es, sur
rounded himself with brave companions,
ana consecrated himself to the work of re-
venge. He was always anxious to lead any
and all expeditions against the Apaches.
Whenever any of the other Indians were
at war with the Apaches, Colonel 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. Moth
ing gave him pleasure but the sight OF dead
Apaches. He defied Indian arrows and
courted death. Once, with band of the
widest desperadoes, he penetrated hun
dled miles into the Apache country. The
Apaches Dever dreamed that anything but
an entire regiment would dare to follow
them to their camp in the mountains. So
when Colonel Pelton swooped down in 70
their camp with ten trusty followers. firing
their Henry rifles at the rate Of twenty
times minute, the Apaches fled in con-
sternation, leaving their women and chill
dren behind. 1t was then that there darted
out of a lodge white woman.
''Spare the women !" she cried, and then
she tainted to the ground.
When the Colonel jumped from his sad
die to lift up the woman he found she was
blind.
"How came you here, woman, with these
damned Apaches ?" he asked.
II was wounded and captured, - she said,
ten years ago. Take, oh, take me back
again -
"Have you any relations in Texas ?"
asked the Colonel.
mo. My father lives in Albequin. My
husband, Colonel Pelton, and my mother
were killed by the Indians"
"Great God, Bella Is it you-my
wife %
"Oh, Albert knew you would come -
exclaimed the poor wife blindIy reaching
her hands to clasp her husband.
Of course there was joy in the old rancho
when Colonel Pelton got back with lis
wife. TIE Apaches had carried the wound
ed woman away with them. The poison
caused Inflammation; which finally destroy
ed her eyesight.
When I saw the Colonel he was reading
a newspaper to his blind wife, while in her |
hand she held bouquet of fragrant cape |
jessamine, which he had gathered for her.
1t was a picture of absolute happiness
Cor. of Chicago Tribune.
Teaching Housekeeping.
It has been said that the surest method |