Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-28
RAMSTIEN.

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At Fort DAVIS Capt. Knes5 was en-
ployed by the Butterfield company, and
put in charge of the supply train as
wagon master, the train consisting of
Ave eight mule teams and eleven well
armed men as escort and teamsters.
On his return from Ell Paso, Kness en-
camped for the night at the South Con-
cho station. The freight mules were
herded in a separate bunch from the
stage stock, and were placed tn charge OF
five well armed and resolute men. Early
the next morning a band of Mescaleros
swooped down upon the stage herd and
killed two herders. When the station
keeper heard the firing he caught up his
gun and ran for the herd, but was o o
shot down and his body horribly cut to
pieces. The Indians drove off all the
stage stock before Capt. Knees could
give help. A few days afterwards the
same band of Indians attacked
Grape creek station, and drove off all
the stock, but killed no one. Two weeks
later, however, Mr.. Ramstien, station
agent at La Muerto, or Dead Mans Hole,
in company with a Mexican, had gone
Ou u DuChDOdIu W u 1lOlh . NVC1p,
about twenty-seven miles to the west, on
business connected with the mail line;
and on his return some Comanches
killed him, captured the mules and de-
stroyed the blackboard. The Mexican
made his escape, but was afterward
killed by some of the stagemen, who ac-
cused him of having ''stood In" with the
savages.
This Ramstien, an educated German,
had emigrated to Texas during her revo-
~lutionary struggles with Mexico for in
dependence, and had been a 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 of the most daring
and skillful Indian fighters Of his day.
His invariable success in outwitting them
made them dread him all the more, and
whenever ''Ram's Horn" as they called
him, was about, they were in
constant dread. Frequently when
they made a big stock steal
Ramstien would go alone and dog
them for days and weeks until they be-
came careless; then he would charge upon
the stock single handed and drive it off
in triumph. This he did several times,
until the Indians believed that ''Ram's
Horn" spirited the stock away, as they
were never able to come up with 1t, or to
get sight of their dreaded enemy, to kill
whom they were willing to take desperate
chances. After they had murdered him,
his murderers fled from his dead body as
though from some dreadful impending
calamity.
One Of Ramstien's exploits Is worth
stopping to tell here. During the July
of 1851, the Comanches killed a German
family living in one of the frontier settle
ments of Texas, and carried away cap
tive the only daughter, a girl of about
IA. Ramstien, learning Of the outrage,
resolved to rescue her If possible, and
being then on friendly terms with the
principal chief Of the Comanchea he de-
termined to utilize the chiefs good win
to accomplish his designs Accordingly,
towards the last of August he mounted
bis horse and set out alone across the
trackless plains to visit the Comanche
rancheria, situated at the time on the
had to be traversed through a country
continually beset with wild tribes of In
dams to reach the Comanche camp, but
the daring Ramstien cared not O whit
for the danger and hardships; they only
lent enchantment to the forlorn hope he
had undertaken. Onward he sped over
the green sward and the barren plains,
ready for anything, and luckily for him
without encountering any rowing bands
of Indians until he reached the vicinity
Of the rancheria- Here he suddenly an
countered a band of Comanches under @
%sub-chief, who, knowing Of the friend
ship between ''Ram,s Horn and hi.
superior chief, volunteered to accompany
him to the camp. The offer was gra
ciously accepted, and ON reaching TIKI
tepee of the chief Ramstien was cordially
received and a sumptuous Indian repas
was soon spread before him.
One day and night had passed befor
he dared breach the subject Of the cap
tive girl. The chief readily consented t.
allow her to be returned to her own PEG
pie upon the payment Of 100 ponies as
ransom, but refused to tell him wher
she was. or to allow him to see her. Tn
required ransom was by far o large
sum for Ramstien's purse, and he at ono
resolved to resort to strategy as a cheap
er means Of effecting her release
Five long days Of intense anxiety ha
passed. and nothing accomplished, an
he began to despair of success. Severe
hundred Comanche warriors thronged tn
~rancheria, who cast suspicious looks upo
Ramstien as he passed to and fro over th
ground, on purpose to learn who had tn
girl in charge. He did not lose courags
however. relying upon his own ability I
outwit them, even should they learn b
object in visiting their camp, which b
thought not likely, as the old chief WI
very cautious and reticent
More by good fortune than desfg
Ramstien had with him a very fine sea
let silk scarf, such as is frequently wor