The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-15
CYNTHIA pARKER'S LIFE.
A wHITB GRE WHO BECAME THB
MOzHER or A COMANOYn CHIkH.

fisias Away ssA DSias Arssr Dssss Taken
fteo Der ssalas Aeos-Bss seas Jsy 80
DshsiAiss . Psrtrais Of hls I.sss Msthsr.
Foar WORTH. June lo.--A few days ago
there appeared In one Of tho city papers an
advertisement saying that Comanchs chief
living near Fort Sill wanted to obtain photo
graph Of his mother. Cynthia Ann Parker. and
asking ~ special favor that any one knowing
whore such . portrait could be had would COM
municats with him. A. y. Corning Of McIen-
nan county saw the advertisement. and at once
wrote to the newspaper In question that he
could furnish tho picture He happened to
know that IN old dasuersotype OF the woman
was In existenes In Waco. and. taking this to
an artist he had several copies made, ons OF
which was'sent to the chief.
Cynthia Ann Parker was the heroine OF one
OF the most touching romances OF the Tsxaa
border. Her parents and grandparents were
among the pioneers Of the State. Her grand.
father. Col. Parker. after whom Parker county
was named. was noted man In his day. The
Parkers lived on an exposed frontier. and.
though formidable In Indian warfare. they
wero frequent sufferers from raids by savages.
About tho year 1870 whom the Comanches swept
over that part Of the State. the Parkers lost
nearly all their property. and eventually some
Of them were killed. and Cynthia. then years
OF age. was taken prisoner. Many efforts we're
made to rescue her. but all without avail. Sew
eral times parties of brave men invaded the
camp OF the redskins and searched for the
child. and. on at least two occasions. lives were
lost In the effort to return her TO her family.
Every device was resorted to to gain informa-
be believed that she had been killed. but iinRl-
~ vague. story would gain circulation TO the
ssaI S x ss. Sa Stsn ssss 9th
PLACED het in charge Of their women. and the
sooa camS To- enjoy the ' Wild VIII lie witch sSs
and to look upon the Indians AZ her natural
adcpe s ss eans 81 has
language. took part In their gaines and oven:
% hsynS ,bs, lss asr
her capture found her the wife Of the war
chief OF tho tribe. apparently as oontentedwil
her lot as any OF the other women who woro
her constant associates.
Some years after her marriage. when the Co.
party Of white men entered their camp t one day
and found the missing girl now Gr1W ra OUT q
rsn psSe ssS He IKE
the other youthful aborigines. save that they
were heater In appearance Gnd much Wh more I,
questioned her they found that she had almost
forgotten her native tongue and It was with
Gcrsiand. She inquired after her relatives and
asked many questions about the white people
but in sp to a shs
she said she was happily married.. had a good
husband and nice children. and could not leave
s 81 prison 70 her They left Der very much
spread her story far and wide,
10, time tho Interest q her case was re- re-.
MAKE
war on the Comanohes and take her away from
them Nothing could sonynrS these ,n 9d set!
OF her own FREQ will. and II WINS only after the
most emphatic protests by the men who had
deiilerers abanioned the idea OF taking her by
force. She was finally Iecaptured most unex-
ssaS nfF KS T 81 VIZ pss' CT aa
Ross Of Waco. and taken prisoner In com:
sfs ns sksn Van hs tut eoa .s.
that she was .white woman. Then the story
was circulated that ehe was Cynthia Parker.
q fee s snd ss
earnestly. but could not. Femember her. The
Girl. and she finally admitted that he was right.
There was Rreat Joy over her recovery on the
30 with her. She yeinIy Tried to Escape, and
passed many hours In tear, She had with her
ss ~ h ss aSaR Sh s
and S s on" s aad sat
neither knew anything OF English. After q
while Cynthia and her child accompanied her
abe and tho babe soon pinned away and died.
Her two boys who had been lett with the
tribe grew to b. stalwaIt warriors. handsome
| Intelligent. One OF them Is now the chief OF
| the Onmanchss In the Indian Territory. man
the whites. and under whose guidance his
tribe has made decided progress IN civilization,
He remembers his mother affectionately, and
| his advertisement In the Fort Worth papsr was
tho result Of hts having heard that Just before
shs died she had her picture taken. He did
determining to obtain it. or copy Of 1t. II poa.
sible., advertised In tho Texas papers until he