The Charlotte Democrat., 1888-09-28
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Texas Pioneers.
A Woman's desperate Battle sosts indians.

t5su& aGs 40A6S 14VAt6fh. 2ssE4rz4
A WonsaR's desperate Battle witk indians.
In 1867 the Indians made raid into
Llano county, and killed the Rev. Joseph
Dancer, one of the earliest preachers on
the frontier. On the 9th or Febfuary OF
the following year twelve or fifteen of
them attacked the house OF Mr. John s.
Friend, about sixteen miles from the town
of Llano, id Legion Valley. When frst
discovered by Mrs, Friend the Indians
were in the yard, and directly commenced
tearing down the house. The only resist
dians succeeded in getting into the house,
to shoot one. bat ere she could do so the
gun was wrenched from her grasp by 9
powerful Indian, who, in turn attempted
to shoot her; but the lady, summoning All
her strength, knocked the gun ont of his
ing iron knocked the Indian down with
that. Mrs Friend was then shot ID the
breast with an arrow, and fell fainting, to
the floor. She was then severely CUT and
shot with another arrow, and scaipsd.
The Indians then left, thinking she was
dead; but she recovered sufficiently to
watch them leave. After they had gone
some distance one of them returned TO see
if there was any spark OF life left in his
victim, and, taking hold of athe arrow
which protruded from her bfeasts worked
it back aud forth to see If shell would
finch. Mrs Friend, who had lain backiu.
the same position which she hadsoccupied
when the Indians had left oher, when sshe
saw ore returning, remained as ifaperfect-
ily lifeless during this trying erdeal. She
saw the Indians take off as prisoners aMrs
Boy johnson and child, and Mrs Babe
johnson and child, Mrs TO ownsepd aatf q
little girl named Cordle, and alsoohes own
little sou--seyen in all. siJ aiosf bsvIss
After recovering to some sextett,J she
arose and started 90 the house Of the Wids
ow johnson, distant about one and 81
half miles, where Mr. Bradford and fam.
lily were staying. This gentleman pulled
the arrow out OF her breast, placed q cloth
over her head, and fed to the wpeds, ,leav.
ing her alone sitting by the FIRE, .apd din
this condition she remained until morning.
The attack was made before snndown, and
it was twenty-four hours before the physi.
cian at Llano was notified Of her condi
ton. .-.. mad =.,~.g -,iEsrzs,.,' -.
When word was brought of this raid
every man who could possibly 60 started
at once, part going to the scene of The
bloody tragedy Arriving in the, night,
the settlers were obliged to wait until
morning to see the trail, which was by
this time SO hours old: z-. f..ts tsta,s a.gT
The child of Mrs Boy johnson was
found about four miles from Mrs Friends
house by parties the next evening after it
was taken. The next morning the men
who were in pursuit found Mrs Babe J ohm.
sons child, with its throat cut from ear to
ear; and about ten O'Clock of the same
day, after travelling over one of the rough
est mountains in that country, they found
both of the Mrs Johnsons murdered and
scalped, and horribly mutiated The lit.
tie girl, Cordle, and Mrs Friends little
son were still in the hands Of the TIndians,
bat the settlers could not overtake them.
Old Mr. Smith was killed and scalped near
the old Fort Mason crossing on the same
day of the other depredations. 0 The little
boy who was carried into captivity, was
finally rescued by his grandfather, Rev.
Leonard S. Friend. The little girlsWas
not recovered. aH5 a saof3 uaiwo4a sal
Llano County was originally vbinelnded
in Miller and Fishers Colony, and was
o'o0'ou Au AoSo' , ~ EIGtE39G
The good people of all countries cannot
but sympathize with the trials and hard
ships of the pioneers of Texas, especially
frail women and children. Some may ask,
"Why did they go there to undergo, .sucb
dangers and hardships, when they, could
| have remained in Tennessee, -Misso1ri
Kentucky and other States?" But: you
must remember that these States were
once the frontier-"the dark and bloody
ground"-and that our fathers and moth
ers came up to their time ia. the. same
great tribulation. This grand and glori
ous Continent Of America. in the purpose
OF God, was not to be peopled always By
savages, but by civil zed race, who bore
in their hands to the wilds of the great
West the everlasting Gospel of the Son oi
God; and although they we're compelled
sometimes to fight these savages in self
defence, yet thousands have been, reclaim
ed and are now living in the Indian Terri
tory, aud have farms, schools and churches
When, in the course of human events
there had to be an outlet for the ,teemins
millions of Europe. and refuge and rest
ing place for Gods people where thel
could worship him in their own way with
out fear or molestation, God in his wis
dom directed the frail bark of Columbus
across the unknown wa.ers, and the eros
was planted on the shores Of the New
World. e. =
- "a A. J. SowEIL,