Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-08-14
GOV. SUI ROSS.
The variegated Career OF the Man
Nominated for The Next Coy
ernor OF Texas.
HIS History as Citizen, Soldier and states
mana Clean Record of which
Texas May Be Proud,
81. lLonIn Glohe -pemoerat.

mother, were married In Missouri, ant
came to Texas In 1889. They came al
rectly To the then Indian village oil waco
where Capt. Ross was Indian agent, an(
where the subject OF this sketch has re
sided ever since His sister, now Mrs
Kate Padgitt, WINS the nrst white chile
born In McLeDnan county. Gen. Ross
WAS educated at the Florence wesleyan
university IN North Alabamg, and gradu
ated In 1853 with distinction. His boy
hood, In the Intervals between the SEES
sions OF his university, were spent In
actual service against the COmanches on
the frontier II Texas. This war
Ike tribe were always hostile, always
alert and always dangerous. Young
Ross won his spurs In this dangerous
warfare, and made a glorious record as
the "boy captainr while other lads of
similar age were dawdling about their
mothers drawing-rooms. In one Of his
vacations, IN 1873, with few followers,
he had battle with the Comnnches, In
which nlnety-1ve Indians were killed,
$50 horses captured, with q little white
girl whose parents were never known,
but whom Ross raised and educated, Civ
ing her the name of Lizzie Ross The
heroic young captain was dangerously
wounded in the action by rife ball
through his arm aud side. lie lay on the
battlefield for five days and was then
carried on a stretcher by four men Il
distance of ninety miles to a remote
United States post (Radzlninsky As
Don as he was able to travel he returned
his alma mater and graduated the next
summer.
DEPENDING rHE FRONTIER
When he returned to Texas In 1853
Gov. Sam Houston, the immortal, put
him, boy and all as he was, in supreme
command on the frontier, and well did
the "hoy captain ratify the clear iudg-
ment OF the governor. He at once or
ganized a force and went at the bloody
Comanches in dead earnest. lie cap
tured aud destroyed their principal vii
lagos, then on Pease river, killed great
number, captured over 400 head Of horses
and rescued Cynthia Ann Parker, who
had been a captive for thirty years among
them. Her son by her Indian husband,
I2uanah Parker, Is now head chief of sthG
Comanches. In this light the chief, Peta
Nocona, was killed In single hand-to-
hand combat by Ross. Ills shield, buffalo
horns, lance, etc, were secured and sent
as trophies to Gov. Houston at Austin,
where they were deposited In the
hANhANNn Va Ali NAhlts lAD6h uiIht was
shot through by Nocona in the desperate
struggle, but the young defender OF the
harried frontier escaped unhurt Partici.
pants in the fight aud observers of this
dreadful duel never grow weary in re-
lating II. The gigantic Indian, as grace
iul and handsome warrior as ever
rode to deadly lists, fought with superb
bravery and skill, But he had met
good match In the mere STRIPPING who
daringly confronted him. Ross courage,
while not as 'loudn as the Indians,
was OF liner grain, and the Comanche
bit the dust. This decisive battle broke
the power OF the Comanches for many
years and gave peace and security TO the
entire frontier OF Texas for long time
After these signal victories over the red
forces, Mai. Gen, Winfield Scott wrote
Ross an autograph letter Offering him,
young as he was, u commission In the
United States army.
DURING THE LATE uNPLEASANTNEss.
But the war between the sections soon
after commenced, and Sui Ross Joined
the company OF his brother, Capt, Pete
Ross, as private. Ile was soon made
major of the regiment TO which the com
pany was attached, rose rapidly to be
Northumberland, then colonel, and In
the fall OF 1862 was made brlgadier-geu.
eFal In the Confederate army. lie par
tlclpated Ia 1885 engagements of more or
less Importance and always with dlstlnc.
ton, winning plaudlts alike from friend
and foe. He was never wounded while
In the Confederate service, but had seven
horses shot under him.
At the battle of Corinth, Miss, his regi
ment, the Sixth Texas, charged Battery
Robinetto and lost 90 men out OF 1850 IL
gong distance of 800 yards before The
fort manned by heavy guns could be-
reached and taken. Gen, Datney II
Mowry In response 10 letter from Mr.
Sedden, secretary Of war In the Conied
crate service, asking him to furnish to tn,
department the name OF the man who dis
played the most distinguished gallantry
at the battle OF Corlnth, sent the name o
l.. S. Ross, and hence he has always beer
called in the South "the Hero OF Cor
NTH
HOME IN TIIE nRA1os BoTroM
Tie served with distinction until tn,
close OF the war, when he returned HON,
without a dollar He went to farming a
he did az the Indians and soon Dough
him little plantation in the Brazos bot
toms, whore he raised and educated hi
family, In 1878, during the time wheI
the criminal classes were In the ascend
ant, and when neither life no
property were safe, his law
abiding nelghhors selected him a
the fitting man for sheriff. lie serve,
two years. term, but left the oillc,
poorer than when he went In, but tn,
law was con top.n In 1878 he wai
elected a delegate TO the constitutions
convention, and served faithfully in tina
body. His name Is enduTahly connected
with all that Is best In that document. Ii
1851 no was elected to the senate, and
served there with equal distinction
Gen. Ross lisa man Of fine literary tastes
OF ripe education and 4 high order Of In
tellect Indeed, he is man among men
and no man since Houston's palmies
days ever held such place in the heart:
Of the people as does this simple, plain
nnpretending, modest gentleman who
has a record OF noble deeos, unselilsh III,
and honorable acts behind him which re
calls the Chevalier Bayard OF happy mem
ory, whea rank and fortune We're won a
the swords point In tho age Of chivalry
Gen. Ross has personal magnetism
ABOUT him which wins men and attaches
them TO his person as by hooks OF steel
His name aud history are without blem-
ish, as becomes the knightlY ngentlemar
whom the people win make governor
next November II he lives.
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Calvert.
Corgospondence OF tho Gazette,