The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-21
RAMSTIEN.

AZ Fort DAVIS capt hneo5 was or
moved bv the But;er'ield company, and
but in charge Of the supply train as
wagon master, the train consisting Of
five eight mule teams and eleven well
armed men as escort and teamstcrs.
On his return from III Paso, Knees en-
camped for the night at the South Con-
cho station. The freight mules were
herded in q separate bunch from the
stage stock, and were placed in charge Of
five well armed and resolute men. Early
the next morning a band Of MescalercS
swooped down upon the stage herd and
killed two hcrlers. When the station
keeper heard the firing be caught up his
gun and ran fcr the nerd, but was soon
sho: down and hs body horribly cut TO
pieces. The Indians drove of all the
stage stock before Capt Knees could
give help. \ few DAYS afterwards the
same band Of Indians attacked
Grape creek station, and drove of all
the stock, bat killed. no one. Two weeks
later, however, Nh. Ramstien, station
agent at La Muerto, or Dead Man S Hole,
in company with Mexican, had gone
on a blackboard 70 Van Horns Wells,
about twentv-sevon miles 10 the west, on
business connected with the mail line;
and on his return some Comanchcs
killed him. captured the mules and de
stroyed the blackboard. The Mexican
made his escape. bat was afterward
killed by some Of the staSemen, who ac-
cuse1 Linn OF having stood in with the
sayages.
This Ramsticn, an educated German,
had omigrated t. Texas during her revo-
lutiongry struggles with Mexico for In
dependence. and lad been . ranger un-
der Gen. Houston. He was by nature
cool and calculating. and his long career
on the frontier had won for him the rep
utation Of being one oil the most daring
and skillful Indian fighters Of his day.
His invariabic success in outwittins them
made them dread HIN all the more, and
whenever Rams Horn, as they called
him. was about they We're III
constant dread frequently when
they made biz stock steal
Ramstien would go alone and dog
them for DAYS and weeks until they be-
came careless; .hel BE- WoIld charge upon
the stock single handed and drive it off
in triumph. This he did several times.
until the Indians believed that Rams
Horn spirited the stock away, as they
were never able 20 come up with il, or to
get sight Of their dreaded enemy, to XII
whom they were willing to take desperate
chances. After they had murdered him,
his murdcrers fled from his dead body as
though from some dreadful impending
calamity.
One Of Ramstien's exploits is worth
stopping to tell here. Daring the July
of 1851, tn. Cowanches killed German
family living IT, oneol the frontier settle
ments Of Texas, and carried away cap
tive the only daughter. q girl Of about
IA. Ramstier, learning Of the outrage,
resolved TO rescue her if possible, and
being then en- friendly terms with the
principal chief OF the Comanches, lie de-
termincd 20 utilize the chiefs good will
to accomplish ils designs Accordingly,
towards the last If August ne mounted
his horse ana set cat alone across the
tracklcss plains 10 visit the Comanche
ranchcria, situated at the time on the
Salt Fork of the Byazos. Over $50 miles
had TO be trayersed through a country
continually bcset with wild tribes Of In.
dians 70 reach tho Comanche camp, bat
the daring Rcmstien cared not a whit
for the danger and hardships; they only
lent cnchaniment 10 the forlon hope ho
I.I f.ls hntrrarl L.. .f..l
the green sward and The barren plains,
ready Tor anything. and luckily for him
without encorntegng any rowing bands
of Indians until he reached the vicinity
of the rancheria. Hero he sudd-ny en-
countcrcd a band of COmanches under a
sub-chief, who, knowing Of the friend
chip between "I,am's Horn" and lis
superior chief, volunteered to accompany
him to the camp The offer was gra-
ciously accepted, and ON reaching the
tepcc of The chief Ramstien was cordially
received and a sumptuous Indian repaSt
was soon spread before him.
One day and night had passed before
he dared breach The subject Of the cap
tive girl The chief readily consented to
allew her to be returned to her own peo-
Pile upon the payment of 100 ponies as a
ransom, but refused to tell him where
she was, or 70 allow him 10 see her. The
required ransom was by far too large a
sum for Ramstien's pu-se, and he at once
resolved 10 resort To strategy Is a cheap
er means Of effecting her release.
Five long days OF intense anxiety had
passed, and nothing accomplished, and
he began TO despair of success. Several
hundred Comanche warriors thronged the
rancheria, who cast suspicious looks upon
'Ramstien as he passed TO and fro over the
ground, On purpose 10 learn who had the
girl in charge. He Gid not lose courage,
however, relying upon his own ability 10
outwit them, even should they learn his
object in visiting their camp, which he
thought not likely, as the old chief was
very cautious and reticent.
More by good fortune than design
Rims.ien had with him very fine scar
lei silk scarf. such as is frequently worn