The bee., 1883-11-17
A Texans Revenge.
COLONEL PELTON, THE SLAYER OF THE
APACHES.

4 APACHES.
Colonel Albert G.. Pelton, whose beauti-
full twenty thousand acre rancho is oui
toward the Rio Grande, near Laredo. has
| been the Peter the Hermit of the Texans
for years. He has believed that he held q
divine commission to kill Apache Indians.
Colonel PeltOn came to Texas in 1871, q
common 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 pa
rents were wealthy and would not consent
| to their daughters going away from all her
| friends to live In Il garrison. The admira-
| ion of the young couple was mutual, and
parental objections only intensified the af-
,ction of the lovers. The nature of the
Spanish girl is such that once in love she
vcr changes. Finally, after two years of
1Itreaty and devotion, Colonel PeltOn won
he consent of the parents of the beauti-
full Spanish girl, and they were married.
Then commenced honeymoon such as
nly lovers shut up in beautiful flower
vironed fort can have. The lovely char
acter of the beautiful bride won the hearts
all the soldiers of the fort, and she reign
q queen among these rough frontiers
nen. One day, when the love Of the SOL
licr and his lovely wife was at its severest,
lie two, accompanied by the young wifes
mother and twenty soldiers rode out to the
hot springs, six miles from the fort, to take
bath. While in the bath, which is near
| the Rio Grande, an Indians arrow passed
over their heads. Then q shower of ar
| rows fell around them, and band OF wild
Apache Indians rushed down upon them,
hopping and yelling like band of de
MONS Several of the soldiers fell dead,
pierced with poisoned arrows. This fright
ned the rest, who fled. Another shower
OF arrows, and the beautiful bride and her
mother fell in the water, pierced by the
cruel weapons of the Apache. With his
wife dying before his eys, Colonel PeltoE
leaped up the bank, grasped his rifle, and
killed the leader Of the savage fends. But
nc Apaches were too much for the Colonel.
'ierced with two poisoned arrows, he
wan into the river and hid under an over
banging rock. After the savages had lett,
he Colonel swan the river and made his
.Iay back to Fort Macrae. Here his wounds
-ere dressed, and he finally recovered, but
1nly to live blasted life-without love,
iithOut hope-with u vision of his beauti-
al wife, pierced with poisoned arrows, Gy.
ing perpetually before his eyes.
After the death of his wife q CHANCE
came to Colonel PeltOn. He seemed to
think that he had a sacred mission from
Heaven to avenge his young wife's death.
He secured the most unerring rifles, sur
rounded himself with brave companions,
and 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 Wen
ut 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 q band of Mexicans. Moth
ing gave him pleasure but the sight of dead
Apaches. He deied Indian arrows and
courted death. Once, with band of the
widest desperadOes, he penetrated hun
dred miles into the Apache country. The
Apaches never dreamed that anything but
an entire regiment would dare to follow
them to their camp in the mountains. So
when Colonel Pelton swoOped down into
their camp with ten trusty followers, firing
their Henry rifles at the rate of twenty
times minute, the Apaches fled in con-
sternatiOD, leaving their women and chill
dren behind. 1t was then that there dart
ed out of lodge white woman.
'Spare the wOmenw 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?"
4sked the Colonel
''No, My iaGner lives in Albequin. My
husband, Colonel Pelton, and my mother
were killed by the Indians"
Great God, Bella! Isit you-ny wife p
"Oh, Albert, 1 knew you would come"
exclaimed the poor wife blindly reaching
her hands to clasp her husband.
OF course there was joy in the old rancho
| when Colonel PeltOn got back with his
wife. The Apaches had carried the wound
ed woman away with them. The poison
caused inflammation, which finally de
| stroyed her eyeslght.
When l saw the Colonel he was reading
newspaper to his blind wife, while in her
hand she held bouquet of fragrant cape
| jessamines, which ne had gathered for her.
1t was picture of absolute happiness
Cor. Of Chicago Tribune