Bent County register., 1888-05-05
n Texans Revenge.
COLONEL PELToS, THE SLAYER OF THE
APACHEs.

. RI
APACHES.
colonel Albert c. Pelton, whose beauti-
fal twenty thousand acre rancho is out
toward the Rio Grande, near Laredo, has
been the Peter the Hermit OF the Texans
for years. He has believed that be held a
divine commission to kill Apache Indians
Colonel Pelton came to Texas in 1874, a
common soldier. By talent and courage
he rose to the rank Of Colonel, ami finally
in ls27, commanded Fort Macrae. That
year he fell in love with beautiful Span
ish girl at Abequin, New Mexico Her Pa
rents were wealthy and would not consent
TO their daughters going away from all her
friends to live in n garrison. The admira-
ton of the young couple was mutual, and
parental objections only Intensified the af-
iection OF the lovers. The nature of the
Spanish girl is such that cnce in love she
never changes. Finally, after two years of
entreaty and devotion, Colonel Pelton won
the consent of the parents of the beauti-
ful Spanish giri, and they were married.
Then commenced 4 honeymoon such as
only lovers shut up in a beautiful flower
environed fort can have. The lovely char
seter of the beautiful bride won the hearts
Of all the soldiers Of the fort, and she reign
ed queen among these rough frontiers
men. One day. when the love of the SOL
dier and his lovely wife was at its seyerest,
the two. accompanied by the young wife's
mother and twenty soldiers, rode out to the
hot springs, six miles from the fort, to take
a bath. While in the bath, which is near
The lilo GTanle, an Indians arrow passed
over their heads. Then q shower of ar
rows fell around them, and a band of wild
Apache Indians rushed down upon them,
l. 81 u
mons Several of the soldiers fell dead,
pierced with poisoned arrows. This fright
ened the rest, who hed. Another shower
of arrows, and the beautiful bride and her
mother fell in the water, pierced by the
cruel weapons Of the Apache. With his
wife dying before his eys, Colonel Pelton
leaped up the bank, grasped his ride, and
killed the leader of the savage iiends. But
the Apaches were too much for the Colonel.
Pierced with two poisoned arrows, he
swan into the river and hid under an over
hanging rock After the sayages kad left,
the Colonel swan the river and made his
vay back TO Fort Macrae. Here his wounds
we're dressed, and he finally recovered, but
only TO live blasted life-without love,
without hope-with vision of his heart
ful wife, pierced with poisoned arrows, dy-
ing perpetually before his eyes
..fter the death OF his wife n chang
came to Colonel Pelton. He seemed to
think that he had n sacred mission from
Heaven TO avense his young wife's death.
He secured the most urerring rifles, sur
rounded himself with brave companions
and consecrateti himself to the work Of re-
venge. He was always anxious to lead any
and all expeditions against tho ApacheS
Whenever any OF the other Indians were
a.. al
Would soon be at the head of the former
One day he would be at the head of his
own soldiers ard .he next day he would be
at the head of band of MeSicans. Moth
ing gave him pleasure but the sight of dead
Apaches. He defied Indian arrows and
courted death Once, with band of the
widest despcradoes, he penetrated a hun
'red miles into the Apache country. Ihe
Anaches never dreamed that anything but
an entire regiment would dare to follow
them to their camp in the mountains. 80
when Colonel Pelton swooped down into
their camp with ten trusty followers, firing
their Henry rifles at the rate of twenty
times a minute. the Apaches fed in con-
sternation, leaving their women and chill
dren behind. ID was then that there dart
ed out of n lodge white woman.
Spare the women" she cried, and then
she tainted to the ground.
When the Colonel jumped from his sad
die to lift up the woman he found she was
blind.
allow came you here, woman, with these
damned Apaches ?n he asked.
AZ was wounded and captured, y she said,
"ten years ago. Take, oh, take me back
againl' ia,
"Hnvo you any relations in Texas"
ast-ed the Colonel.
@No, My father lives in Albequin. MY
husband, Colonel Pelton, and my mother
were killed by the Indians"
.Great God, Bellal Is it you-my wlfef T.,
"Oh, Albert, / knew you would conner
exclaimed the poor wife blindiy reaching
her hands to clasp her husband.
OF course there was joy IN the Old ranch
when Colonel Peltop got back with ms
wife. The Apaches had carried the wound
ed woman away with them. The poison
ca,fsed inflauanation' which finally de
stroyed her eyesight.
When saw the Colonel he was reading
n newspaper to his blind wife, while in her
hand she held a bouquet of fragrant cape
jeesamines, which he had gathered for her
It was picture OF complete happiness.