West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-03-19
A BORDER TALE.
How jennie Moor Prevented a CO.
manche Massacre.

In 1860 the settlers along the banks
of the Big Wichita" i'm Western
Texas, had been excited 10 "a pitch
bordering on frenzy Fora long time
the Comanchc Indians had been com
mltting deprcdation~ of fearful char
actcr, and it wa, evident that Am omen
wariar" must cnsue. The savages must
bo cNtcrminatcd, or nearly so. else the
white settlers would bc driven away
from their homes or butchcrcd upon
their thresholds A settlement of some
thirty cabins had been formed upon
the banks of the beautiful Biz
wichita, and for ID, protection and
the safety OF its inhabitants i'm the ease
of an attack block-housc had been
erected on the banks of the stream. II
was strong building. surrounded by a
high >tockadc fence. and from within a
handful of brave. determined men
could defend themselves against "a laryc
number of their savage foes. II was
we'll supplied with provisions and am
munition. The settlers had been con-
StantlN expecting an attack. and were
hu~ilN engaged i'm removing the women
and children and light article, of house
hold goods. Scarcely had the settler.
with their families secured themselves
within the >tOckadcd fort when the
scouts came, in bearing the remains of
one of their ncighbors, who had lived
some three miles TO the westward. The
body had been horribly mutilatcd. but
was recognized to bc that of Albert
fcnton, a gentleman esteemed by an
who knew him He had left home a
few hours before to look after hi,
horses, and this was all that remained
To tell the story of his murder. Re
vengc was pictured upon every face.
and each hand clasped tighter the rifle
Il held. Then the shout burst forth.
Death to the Red Devils, Death To-
th" tOnauche>''
And so say L." repeated Colonel
Nilbrr Manning But we must act
with caution. boys; they are strong:
We are weak at present. lint think the
Rangers who are coming to join us
viii be- here tomorrow. They are i'm
camp ten miles down the valley now.
We must all remain i'm the stockadc TO-
night When the Rangers get here We
will march into the very heart of the
enemy country. and with rifle, and
knife teach the red iicnds a lesson they
willncvcr forget. -
y Wild cheer followed this brief adj
dress. and scarcely had the echoes died
awayinthc grand old forest when the
wild ~hrick- of women and children were
heard. "a they came running out of the
block house in the widest confusion
and fright. running i'm all directions TO
escape fury that the settler, had not
seen: but they understood at once that
the ~aNagcS were at their 6cndish work.
The lying women were met and uuc.-
TONED. They stated that the -ava0cs
had rot within the -sockadc unob-
served, while the settlers were viewing
The remains of FcntOn, and were even
ihcn setting ire to the block-hOu-c.
! hat this was true now became appar-
cnt to all. for the flames were seen TO
leap up. mclo-ing the main building
within the stockade
Forward. men; look well 10 your
arms. commanded Colonel Manning
I'm 20 few moments they had reached
The main building. which was now "a
burning mass. II was found impo--i-
hlc tO save IT, So completely VIZ the
building cnCirclcd i'm the dcyouring elc-
mrnt. having evidently been ignitcd at
many places at the same time But
ihr indians who had succeeded in en-
irring had departed a- quickly a- they
came. knowing that certain death
would follow their capture within the
-tockadc. All their provisions and al-
most all Oi their ammunition was de-
-troyvd by the flames The savage.
for once had completely outwittcd
them Something must be- done or
they were lost They know that they
were surrounded bv hundreds of Co
mmcht-. who only waited for nightfall
90 make am attack knowing that Che
settlers could not hold ont long gagaiust
such superior numbers without a-4i.t-
ancc If Captain Ford Ranger only
knew of their danger they could roach
them boo time
There i- bat one plan Of relief.
said Colonel Manning. "Tc.piVht
some ono must go through that stretch
o' woods. pointing to- the forest
'md down the valley to Ford
Rangers
But it i- INe miles through the for
c-i -aid and its swarmng with
Indians .o completely surround
cd and bo certain death
~ think not growlcd the old
Colonel. "Igo been in forests twenty
miles wide and indians thick ns hops
aII around me
li ..nt ihs danger Colonel, opl
pgfs heYe pepH 500 weli rle9 GR HPi