The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-10-02
JOSIAH WILBARGER.
His Encounter with the Indians-Terri-
bic Suffering from Being Wounded
and Scalned

JOSIAH WILBARGER.
His Encounter with the Indians-Terr
BILE Suffering from Being Wounded
and Scalped.
One of the most remarkable il
stances of savage barbarism that eve
occurred in Texas. or any other couI
try, was exhibited in the case OF JC
siah Wilbarger. He emigrated t
Texas about the year 1926, settled an
remained one year in the town @
Matagorda, on the gulf, and the
moved up the Colorado river. H
located his headlight in Austin's col
ony, but by some mishap there. cam
up an older claim, and he lost his loca
ton. He then applied to Mr. AustiI
to know where he could find unoccu
pied land on which he might locat
with safety. Mr.. Austin informeC
him that all the best lands of the oil
colony were taken up, and the bes
thing for him to do would be to wal
until he (Austin) should return from
Mexico, to which city he would star
in few days to obtain a new grant
He gave Mr.. Wilbarger the geograph
Ical boundary of his intended new
grant, and went on to the City Of
Mexico.
During his absence Mr.. Wilbargel
explored the entirecolony alone, which
was located on the Colorado river
above the road leading from Nacogdo-
| location of his headright ten miles
above the road on tle Colorado river
built an occupation house and return.
ed to the settlement.
On Austln's arrival Mr.. Wilbarger
informed him of what he had done
| Mr.. Austin seemed surprised and
somewhat displeaSed,;s he wanted the
first location himself He told Mr..
Austin he had compiled with all the
| requirements of law, and would move
on his headlight in a few days; he
accordingly moved, hisuearest neigh
Dor being seventy-five niles distant;
but the new colony bling open he
could not remain alone long. Immi-
grants and land Spectators flowed in
great numbers. His bling the first
settlement in the colony, his house
was made kind of lad office by
these spectators. The employed
Mr.. Wilbargcr to locate Urge amount
| of land on the shares. Bythis means
he laid the foundation fora large for
tune.
In the month of Angus, 1883, he
and four others started on surveying
expedition in order to loate lands.
| Three miles from where tie city of
Austin stands is the place Were they
| met to begin work. On arriving at the
place they struck down tn Jacob
staff; "and as the surveyor Waslnwrap-
ping the chain to go to wok, they
discovered an indian moving slowly
| toward them. This, of course put a
stop to all business for tim. Mr..
Wilbarger having kno wledgeot the
language, called out to him to come
over, that they were good frienS; but
he refused shaking his head. Th COM
pany insisted on his coming, bulall to
no effect. Finally MI. Wllburgs told
| the company there was Somehing
wrong, and for them to stand st1. and
see if the Indian would allowhim
(Wilba rger) to approach him; an in
Structed the company that If the
Indian would not let him Approach
| and talk to him he would give aig-
| nal. and in that case they Shouldn't
stantly shoot him. He rode QUITO
wards the Indian, speaking to HMM
Spanish, telling him he was a god
friend. The Indian would not let I'm
come near, but pointed to the mon-
tain and said: Come go camp" II.
| Wilbarger looked in the direction lie
| Indian pointed and discovered igt
smoke guiding up among the cedr
timber that covered the mountain.
Finding he conld not approach tb
Indian he gave the promised sigma;
but the Indian succeeded in MAXIM
his escape to Che mountains.
Now, gentleman" said Wilbarger
"there is large party of Indians
there. Let Us hurry into the settle
ments and give the alarm, or those
Indians will attack the settlements
unawares. Let us hurry
On they went at rapid pace, keep
ing q sharp lookout, until they came
to spring. The weather being hot
and dry, some of the company stopped
| to get Watei. MIR. Wilbargar remon-
strated with them on the danger, and
said, eve can do without water until
we get to Mr.. Hornsby's; so LIT us
push on"
The surveyor said: "Wilbarger, get
down and rest your horses back, for |
do not intend to leave here for an
hour" Thinking he could not control
| the company, he got down and tied
his horse. Having quenched their
thirst, theymuSt now have a lunch
| and for thefirst time in life, in case
of danger, lie permitted himself to be
ruled by intautious men. While they
were in conversation about their
business, all of sudden, about fifty
or sixty indians opened fire on them.
Two OF the company fell dead. Mr..
Wilbarger'S horse became frightened
and ran of. He followed him for
some diStause, but was unable to catch
him; he then returned to the place Of
action. Hefound the other ten men
on their horses ready to run. One of
the men, who was shot down, Mr..
Christian. was still alive, and it was
thought that he might perhaps re-
cover, if he oouid be placed in a situa-
ton in which the Indians could do no
further harm.
Having five loaded guns, Mr.. VIII
barger proposed that the three take a
position in aravine which was close
at hand, and defend their wounded
comrade, and not allow the Indians to
were parleying about this, he received
a wound in the hip. He called out to
the ten men on horseback: "If you
will not get down and fight, stop and
let me get up behind one of you for L
am wounded.'N On receiving this in
telligence, they put spurs to their
horses and left him to take care OF
himself.
The Indiansnow had the opposition
OF only one man, and they came rush
Ing toward him. He had three loaded
guns by his side, and determined to
sell his life as dearly as possible. He
took position behind the largest tree
he could find, saying to himself: 81
am determined to empty these three
guns into three of the Indians before
| fall" I
Noticing that one of the Indians
was mounted on Christians horse,
aud knowing it to be gentle, deter
mined, as last resort, that ne would
shoot the Indian off that horse, take
the two other guns and make his
escape. This Indian would charge
up, let drive an arrow, and then re-
treat. This he did repeatedly. Final
ly Mr.. Wilbarger raised his gun and
took deliberate aim at his head, and
Just as the Indian was in the act OF
retreating, and just as Mr.. Wilbarger
was about to pull the trigger on him,
he received second shot from the
Indians who were thanking him from
both sides. The ball passed below the
under law, in front OF the splna
column, cutting, as he thought, botf
iuouIar veins. This. of course. brought