Connecticut western news., 1889-10-09
BIC FOOT" WALLACE.
STORY OF A FAMOUS INDIAN
 FIGHTER.
A Texan Who Has Won Not Little
 Notoriety.

Where the city of Waco, Texas, now stands was formerly the principal vil- lage of the Waco tribe of Indians, the principal chief of which tribe was called t'Big Foot' by the whites, be- cause he did have feet of extraordi- nary size. This Waco chief was 8 terror to the scattering settlers of Texas at that early day, and they had a wholesome dread of party of h. dians led by the noted chief, a dread which was but natural in view of his many acts of atrocity committed on the settlers.
 One day, in the autumn of the year, number of scouts and hunters were gathered at Austin, the capital, then 8 small, log cabin town, however, among the number being Capt. Wallace, who had already won considerable fame as an Indian fighter, and who was also noted for his convivial qualities. He had high old time with the boys that day, and late in the afternoon repaired to his camp up the river piece and went to sleep. When he woke up he conceived the idea of giving the rest of the boys down at town fright, and securing dried cowhide he cut out a pair of sandals, which he laced on his feet, and going down to the river bank, he walked along the soft, sandy soil, making the impress of his sandals and leaving broad trail. He then went up in town and told some of his friends that the Wacos were on the warpath, headed by Big Foot, and as it was dark they failed to discover his sandals. They organized party, how ever, and started out to keep watch for the night. The next morning they found the trail left by Wallace, and, following it up, they found Wallace himself sound asleep, with the sandals still on his feet. It is said that he afterward killed the Waco chief, but whether this he true or not he has been known as "Big Foot" Wallace ever since the incident above mentioned.
 In 1863 I had occasion to travel from San Antonio to Laredo, Texas, and becoming separated from the party with which I had set out I was de- lighted to reach Capt. Wallace's cabin on the bank of the Chicon about dusk one evening, and was still further pleased to find him at home. He lived there alone, but hardly ever spent a night in his cabin unless he had com pany, generally taking his rifle and blanket and secreting himself in some adjacent thicket. He said if he slept in the house he slept sound, and the Indians might slip upon him, and they had made several attempts to surprise h1m. He promised to pilot me back to the Laredo road next morning and help me to find the party from which I had become separated during the day.
 We started about sunrise in the morning, and when about five miles from the cabin we came upon three deer quietly feeding. Big Foot wounded one of them, and, pointing out the direction for me to travel, he started in pursuit of his game, telling me if he had not overtaken me when I reached a certain hill, which he de- scribed, for me to wait for him. had scarcely ridden three miles after part ing with Capt. Wallace, when espied party of Lipan Indians, about fifteen in number, bearing down upon me, about half a mile away. The hill where the old man had directed me to wait for him was about a quarter of a mile away, and putting my horse at full speed I reached it some distance ahead of the Indians. I dismounted and tied my horse and, taking posi- ton behind a tree, prepared to defend myself. The Indians advanced to within 200 or 300 yards, when they halted and seemed to be holding con- sultation. Suddenly I heard yell, and at the same instant discovered Capt. "Big Foot" riding at full speed directly at the Indians, waving his hat and calling out in Spanish, "Come on boys, here they are; sail into 'em!'' The Indians ssstood not on the order of their going, but went at once," and when the old man got up to where I was standing, badly scared, asked him who he was calling to. He said, nobody; he had just taken that method of soaring the red skins off. It cer- tainly proved very effectual method.
 About year after this a Choctaw Indian who lived in Atascosa county, named Bob Coins, ran away to Mexico, carrying off number of horses with him, among the number four belonging to "Big Foot" The old man started after Coins, and I met him in Laredo I asked where he was going, when he told me how Bob Coins had stolen some of his horses and was at Lipan village over in Mexico, and he was going over after them. I asked him if he proposed to take legal steps to re- cover his property. He said no; Coins