The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-25
ROYALTY In TEXAS.
A Grandson Of the Aroldulzc Charles a
Frontiersman.
From the New York Nail and Erprt

A Grandson of the Arohdulic Charles a
Frontiersman.
From the Ncw York Nail and Express.
One of the men who has Illuminated
the history of Texas and suffered so that
the State might grow has almost finished
his journey on the river of life. He can
be seen on any summer day in the streets
of Waco, and is held in great veneration
by all classes of Texans. A correspon-
dent of the St. Louis Globe. Democrat, in
writing about this man, says that away
back in '92 tall, stately young German
named Erath appeared in Houston. He
found employment as surveyor, and
was sent with small party 10 the very
heart Of the then unknown wilderness,
about where Cameron County was since
located. A large tract of land had been
purchased by the projectors of q German
colony, and it was his business to surrey
and plat it previous to its distribution
among the several members of this col
ony. Leaving Houston, the brave young
Austrian and his insignificant party were
soon on the ground-in the very midst of
the Comanches, Poncas and Wacoes,
which tribes roamed at will over the
beautiful prairies of this romantic re-
gion. After two years of arduous work
in the wilds of Central Texas, and after
completing his task to the satisfaction Of
his employers, Erath made his way back
to Houston and received nearly $4,000
in gold for the service rendered. Not
long after stately ship from Nice ar
rived off the bar at Galveston, bearing
on board the colony for which the survey
had been made These people were
principally Germans, the greater numter
being Austrisns. Young Erath piloted
them to Cameron, and to his experience,
gained by his two years of toll, the new
corners. were indebted for much of the
success afterward achieved. Belonging
to one of the families Of the colony was
a fair haired, blue.eyed girl from ro-
mantle dell nestled costly at the foot Of
the Tyrolean Alps. Our young surveyor
was captured very promptly and efectu,
ally, and now the silken chains which
then so securely bound him are gradually
slipping gracefully from his once strong
heart, and the fair Austrienne has been
for several years quietly sleeping in a
beautiful spot on the banks of the Basque,
six miles west from Waco. The colony
was securely planted, and after a months
basking in the sunlit smiles of the blue
eyed stranger, Erath was sent to distant
part of the province, still in his character
of surveyor. He had been away SOME
months, when word was brought to his
camp that the Austrian colonists were
sadly beleaguered by the Indians and had
been fighting daily for over a month to
defend their own lives and those of the
helpless ones committed to their care
In an hour after the dreadful news had
reached him Erath and his entire patty
were mounted and in hot march 10
relieve the distressed colony. In good
time they arrived in the vicinity of the
settlement, and upon every hand were TO
be seen evidences of the presence Of a
large number of Indians.
VICTIMS OF INDIAN HATE.
The party of sixteen men approached
in the rear of the savages. The bright
sunlight of fair April morning gilded
the flowers glittering on every hand.
The Southern song. birds were noisily
chanting their gayest peans to the god of
day. The scene suggested nothing of
the deadly work which was to occur ere
the brave rescuers could carry relief 10
the distressed colonists. Cautiousl y was
the approach made, and after deploying
from thicket of elms which had COLI
cealed their approach Eralh's party dis
covered an immense host of naked,
screeching devils determipedly attacking
the feeble barricaders Of the settlements.
At long intervals in the line of defence
could be seen single riAeman slowly
discharging his piece, but at every crack
of the gun one Of the red devils bit the
dust. A single glance was all that was
necessary 10 determine the brave Erath
to rescue his friends, but more especially
to save the fair blue-eyed stranger girl
from fate worse than death. "Vor.
warts" yelled the leader, and every horse
of the sixteen aud his brave rider was
amid the foes. 1t was sharp work. AT
close range the arrow and the lance did
fearful execution. But the bold rangers
went OH. Every now and then one Of
the small number would drop from his
horse and be scalped before the half
uttered prayer was breathed. Erath was
soon. covered with blood from dozen
spear head and arrow wounds. After
repeated charges and repulses, and after
three hours of such fighting as one only
sees on the frontier, the little party Of
rescuers, reduced to six, made their way
into the barricade to witness a sight o.
awful and solemn significance. Of the
sixty men left there few months before
but eleven remained. The remainder
had been killed in this most heroic de
fence, one which had only its counter
part at Thermopyla, and which was a..
fitting precursor of that wonderful strug-
gle which years after occurred at the
Alamo.
THE LOVE OF TWO LIVES.
This determined rescue had broken
the spirit of the Indians, and, with yells
of rage and disappointment, they slowly
left the place to its heroic defenders.