Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-11-14
PETRIFIEO CORPSES.


in Deadly Combat, Discovered Fully Petrifed
after Lapse Of thirty Years.
The most remarkable story regarding
petrifaction that we ever heard, says the
McGregor (Tex.) Plaindealer, Is one
given III letter from Prof. Spring, of
Giddings, Lee County, Texas. 1t is
well-known TACT that Lee County pos
sesses very many petriied trees, stumps,
and large fungi of peculiar shape and
appearance. About forty years ago,
when the Indians and Mexicans were an
moving the Texas or American settlers
along the border-and large amount Of
the state was border at that time-sOme
Struggling Indians approached the log
house OF Mr. Taylor. who bad settled
near Three Forks III Milan County, and
commenced depredations on the place
The 4rylor family at once put them
selves IN a defensive attitude, and ere
the sun had sank to rest three dead
bodies of indians were laid out on the
grass and the rest took a French fur
Tough. At the time OF this Indian raid
on the Taylor family there was stran-
ger in the family VINO had starred off north
of the old San Antonio trail and stopped
few days at TayIor's. Howbeit, this
man did good execution In the fight, and
doubtless Was the cause Of saving the
lives of the euure family and the house
from the flames.
At the time of this fight Mr.. Taylor
had two daughters-Mary and Ophelia.
Ophelia was the younger, and attributed
her salvation on that occasion to the
stranger. Two years had passed
and the stranger met the Ophelia
again, and then and there assured her OF
: his love for her, and their love was
mutually pli9hted to each other. One
thing only prevented an immediate con-
Summation of their nUptuals-he had an
Indian to kill. One of the same in the
fight at 1ayior's had met HIM twice III
the woods, and had recognized the
stranger as the one who had slain his
three red friends. and it was a mutual
recognition, but the stranger escaped
alive, but after a hard and desperate
struggle each time. He could not marry
until he had killed this old Indian. He
told Ophelia that he would see her once
q year until the Indian was killed.
Twice after this he saw her, the last
time was when he was on his way from
Basrop to San Augustine. This was in
the fall Of 1913 or 1849. She never saw
his name was George Wayne, and that
he had been a exas soldier IN the Mex
lean war. Time passed away, and Ophe-
ia longed to see her only lover, but he
came not. Was he dead ? None could
relieve the aching heart of Ophelia, but
as time wore away she appeared IN So
ciety, and at the age of % she married
vell-to-dc farmer III the north end of
= ~
markable part of this story is contained
IN the following communication, sent Us
by Prof. James Spring, whose present
address is Austin, Tex:
BAsTRoP, Tex, September 28-ED1roR
PLAINLEADER: l have a very remaTkab de-
yelopment to communicate to you. 1t is on
the subject OF p8tridcatIon, IN which you, with
myself, have much interest. It is doubtless
one of the most remarkable on record:
You will remember IN the "reminiscences of
the early settlement of Texas which you pen
ciled down in Glddings last summer a year
ago, the Indian tiguG at IaylOrs near Three
Forks, and the stranger who saved Opheiia
Taylor's life and afterwards declared his love
to her and promised to marry her as
soon as he killed tie old Indian, never re-
turned nor was the old Indian ever seen again.
Both have been found. Alter thirty years
their bodies have heen anmistak2bly identified.
In a deep grottO not far from the river, about
half way between this place and G1ddlngs, Mr..
John Slagle and son were out hunting last
week. Camping in the evening as they were
on their way home, IN the Presbyterian settle
ment near pang4eWood, Lee County, and
about one and half miles from their camp IN
q sort of sink hole, which Is also spTingy and
somewhat bo66y, they were terror-strlcken at
finding two dead bodies, as they supposed, re-
Gently killed. Upon close inspection they
found that both of the bodies were solid rock.
There was evidence of desperate struggle
having taken place. The Indian. which was
very easily recognized as such, appeared to
have received a fatal shot, and afterwards he
doubtless plunged bis long-bladed knife into
the body Of the white man, as the bodies lie
very near each other. The feet and legs and
about one third Of the bodies Of each ap-
. geared to be imbedded III the soft earth, and
they we're covered with leaves when dlscoV-
cred by Mr.. Slagie, who said that they ap-
peared as though an attempt had been made
To hide them. OF course there IS nothing hay
ing the semblance of ralment about them.
However, tbs barrel of one rife was found
near their DOoies, Dat was really nothing but
mass Of c0rr0slor. There is not the least
doubt in the WCIlI that the knife WAS plunged
into the body, as there is dark red place with
light yellow border over the stomach OF the
white man or Caucasian, as the color OF the
BODIES are both SraylSh white. A small sec
ton of the abdomen of the Indian was very
badly sunkeD, aad looked as though suppura-
ton might have taken place, bat if SO the skin
was never broBen.
mr. Slagle loceeded homeward and SIS he
passed through GiddIngs | met him aud he in
a very secret way related the facts tome, know
inc that was very much interested, and we
concluded to keep it to ourselves, [ because
feared it was a joke and he because did.
I told Mr.. Slagle that would not fail to meet
him here if be would return soon aud take me
TO the spot He promised faithfully that he
would return tue fore part of The week, so
waited until Wednesday when he returned with
his wife, Mrs. OpheIia Jones and her son. TAX
ing Mrs Jones 10 my buggy we all proceeded
to the spot. Mr.. Slagle had related the facts
fo one or two in the neig hborhood where he re-
sides and it had reached Mrs. Jones, who came
TO see him, and his straightforward story IN
duced her to accompany the party If Mrs.
Slagle would also 90. Mrs. Jones was there
fore prepared In measure LOT inI1ea i ieeiln6s
on such an occasion. On arriving at the spot
'trs. Jones was quite overcome, and as she