The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-13
CYNTHIA ANN PARKER.
A Tragic Episode of Early Life in
Texas.
ny GEN. GEORGE =. AFFORD.

u
tiful and fertile region on the Navasota
River, about two miles from the present
city of Groesbeck, the county seat of
Limestone County. The colony consisted
of nine families, OF which Elder John
Parker was the patrisrchal head; his
aged wife; their son James w. Parker,
his wife and four single children; their
marie daughter Rachel and her hus-
band, j IL. S. Plummer. and infant son
fifteen months old; another married
daughter. Sarah. snd her husband, Il. ID.
Nixon; Silns NJ. Parker another son of
Elder John) his wife and four children;
Ben b. Parker another son of Elder
john, unm srried; Mrs. Nixon, Sr.
mother OF Mrs. John W. Parker; Mrs.
Elizabeth Kellogg, another daughter of
Mrs. Nixon, ST.; Mrs. Duty; Sam Nj.
Frost, his wife and two children; Geo.
G. Dwight, his wife and two children; in
all thirty-four persons.
They erected block house, which was
known as Fort Parker, for protection
against the assault OF hostile Indians.
This structure was made of solid logs,
closely knit together and hewed down so
as to make a compact perfect square,
without openings of any kind until 1t
reached n height of ten or twelve feet,
when the structure widened on each side,
forming projection impossible TO climb.
The lower story, reached only by an in
terror ladder, was used as place or
storage for provisions. The upper story
was divided into two large rooms, with
portfolios for the use of guns, which
rooms were used as living rooms, and
reached only by n ladder from the out
side, which was pull ed up at night, after
the occupants had assembled, making a
safe fertilization against a re sonable
hardy sons of toll tillel their adjacent
fields by day, always taking their arms
with them, and retired 10 the fort at
night. Success crowned their labors, and
they were rosperous and happy.
On the morning of May Is 1886, the
men, unconscious of impending danger,
left as usual for their fields, NJ lie dis
tant. Scarcely had they left the in
closure when the fort WAS attacked by
about seven hundred ComancheS and
Kiowas, who were waiting IN ambush. A
gallant and most lesolute defense was
made, many sayages being sent by swift
bullets 10 their happy hunting ground"
but it was impossible 10 stem the terrible
assault, and Fort Parker fell. Then be-
gan the carnival of dc 9TH. Elder John
Parker, Silas NJ. Parker. Ben +. Parker,
Sam NJ. Frost and Robert Frost were
killed and scslped in the presence of
their horror stricken families. Mrs. John
Parker Granny Parker and Mrs. Duty
we're dangerously wounded and left for
dead, aud the following were carried into
n captivity worse than death: Mrs.
Rachel Plummer. Jas. Pratt. Plummer,
her two year old son; Mrs. Elizabeth Kel-
iogg, Cynthia Ann Parker, nine years
old. and Der little brother John, aged six;
both children of Silas NJ. Parker.
The remainder of the colony made their
escape, and after incredible suffering,
being forced even to the dire necessity of
eating skunks TO save their lives, they
reached Fort Houston, now the residences
of Judge John II. Reagan, United States
Senator, about three miles from the
present city of Palestine, in Anderson
County, where they obtained prompt
succor. and a relief party buried their
dead.
We will now attempt briefly. TO follow
the fortunes of the poor captiyes. The
hr-t night after tho massacre the savages
camped on an open prairie, near water
hole, staked their horses, pitched their
camp and threw out their videttes. hen
they brought out their prisoners md
stripped them and tied their hands be-
hind them. and their feet clio sely ogether
with rawhde thongs, SO tightly as to cut
the flesh, threw them upon their faces
and the braves gathering around with the
yet bloody dripping scalps OF their mar
tyred kindred, began the usual war
dance, alternately dancing. screaming,
yelling. stamping upon their helpless vic
Tins. beating their naked bodies with
bows and arrows until the flowing blood
almost strangled them. These orgies
continued at intervals through the ter
rible night, which seemed to have no
and, these frail women suffering and COM
,-p.ued to listen TO the cry of their tender
little children.
Nc'. Kellogg, more fortunate than the
others, son fell into the hands of the
Kecchi Indians, who, six months later
sold her to the Delawares, who carried
her to Naccgdoches, where this writer
then lived small child with his par
ents. Here she was ransomed for $3.50
10y General Sam Houston, who promptly
restored her to her kindred.
Mr.. Rachel Plummer remained q captive
Cor eighteen months, suffering untold
agonies and indignities. when she was
Kansomed by Santa Fe trader named
William Donahue, who soon after es-
corted her to Independence, Mo-, from
whence she finally made her way back to
Texas, arriving Feb. 10, 1888. Her son,
James Pratt Plummer, after remaining a
Or soner six years, was rsnsomed at Fort
IN February. lS43, then aged Years.
During Mrs. Plummers captivity she
AGAIN became a mother. When her child
was months old, finding 1t nn impede
ment to the mental labors imposed upon
her as a slave, Comanche warrior forci-
bly, took it from her arms, tied lariat
around its BODY, and, mounting his horse,
dragged the inf mt at full speed around
the camp in sight Of the agonized mother
until life was extinct, when its msngled
remains were tossed back into her lap
with savage demonstrations of delight.
Such atrocities have forced me to the
belief that all good Indians are dead In
dams"
This leaves OF the sorrowing captives
only Cynthia Ann Parker and her little
brother John, years of age, each held
by separate bands. John grew up 10
athletic young manhood. married beau
tiful night-eyed young Mexican captive,
Donna Jnanita Espinosa, escaped from
the savages, or was released by them,
joined the Confed, rate army under Gen.
III. =. Bee, became noted for his eallantry
and daring and at latest accounts was
leading happy, contented pastoral life
as a ranchero on the Western Llano Es-
tacldo of Texas
CYNTHIA ANN PARKER.
va