Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1890-09-18

of further mentioning the SUBJECT. He,
however, permitted her, reluctantly, to
sit at the root Of a tree, and while their
presence was doubtless happy event to
the poor stricken captive, who in her
dOleful captivity had endured everything
but death, she refused to speak one word.
As she sat there, musing perhaps Of
+ distant relatives and friends, her be-
reavement at the beginning and progress
of her distress, they employed every
persuasive art to evoke from her some
expression Of her feelings. They told
her OF her relatives and her playmates,
and asked What message of love she
( would send them, but she had been COM
manded to silence, and with no hope of
release was afraid to appear sad or de-
/ jected, and by a stoical effort controlled
/ ner emotions, lest the terrors Of her cap
/ t1vity should be increased. But the anX-
/ iety of her mind was betrayed by the
! culver Of her lips, showing that she was
/ not insensible to the common feelings of
! humanity.
| AS the years rolled by Cynthia Ann de-
| VelOped the charms Of captivating
| Womanhood, and the hearts of more than
one dusky warrior was pierced by the
/ Ulyssean darts Of her laughing eyes and
the ripple Of her silver voice, and laid
at her feet the trophies of the chase.
Among the number whom her budding
/ charms brought to her shrine was Pe-ta-
! to-co-na, a fedoubtRble Comenche war
/ chief, in prowess and renown the peer Of
! the famous Big Foot, who fell in a des-
/ perate hand-to-hand combat with the no
| less famous Texan Indian-hghter, Cap
tain ShapIey P. Ross, Of Waco, the illus
triOus father Of the still more distinguish
| ed son, General Sui Ross, now serving
! his second term as Governor of Texas,
from whom and bis heroic father many Of
! the details Of this narrative were obtain
ed. It is a remarkable and happy CO.
in fHenaa hot Ia The
fathers contagious deeds Of valOr and
proves, afJerWard in single combat in
the valley of the Wichita, forever put to
rest the brave and knightly Pe-ta-nO-
coma.
Cynthia Ann, stranger now to every
word OF her mother tongue, save only her
childhood name, became the bride of the
brown warrior Pe-ta-no-co-na, bore him
three children, and loved him with fierce
passion and Wifely devotion, evidenced
by the fact that fifteen years after her
capture a party of hunters, including
friends Of her family, visited the Co
manche encampment on the Upper Can
adam River, and recognizing Cynthia
Ann through the medium Of her name,
endeaVOred to induce her to return to her
kindred and the abode of civilization.
She shook her head in a sorroWful mega
tive, and, pointing to her little naked
barbariRns sporting at her feet and to the
near by, the locks of a score Of fresh
scalps dangling at his belt, replied:
I am happily welded; I love my hus-
band and my little ones, who are his,
too, and cannot fOrsake them.
RECAPTURE OF CYNTHIA ANN PARKER
Pc TA-NO- COMA.
This brilliant achievement and the
thrilling events which preceded it, can
best be told in the graphic language Of
the hero who accomplished it, General
Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Governor of
Texas, and I therefore append his mod
est letter:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
AUSTIN. Texas, April 8, 1890.
Gen. Geo. +. Afford, Dallas, Texas:
MY DEAR GENERAL: In response to /
your request. I herewith inclose you my
recollections, after lapse Of thirty years,
OF the events to which you refer:
In 1858, Major Earle Van Dorm, with
the Second Cavalry, q. S. A, one com
Pany of infantry to guard his depot of !
supplies, and 1876 friendly Indians under |
my command, made a successful cam |
paign against the Comanches, and by |
series Of well-directed blows, inflicted |
terrible punishment upon them. On the |
morning Of October l, 1855 We came in /
sight Of a large Indian village on the |
waters Of the Wichita River near what is /
now known as Fort Sill, in the Indian |
Territory. They were not apprehensive !
Of an attack and most Of them were still |
asleep. Major Van Dorm directed me, at |
the head Of my Indians, to charge down /
the line Of their lodges or tents, cut OF |
their horses ana run them back on the /
hill This was quickly accomplished. /
Van Dorm then charged the village, stri5- !
1t at the upper end, as it stretched along !
a Doggy branch. After placing about /
thirty-hVe of my Indians as a guard |
around the Comanche horses, some 400 /
In number, I charged with the balance of !
my Indian force into the lower end of .
the village.
The morning was very fOggy and after /
few minutes of firing the smoke and /
fog became so dense that objects at but a |
short distance could be distinguished |
only with great difficulty. The Conan
ches fought with great desperation, as all |
they possessed was in imminent peril, |
Shortly after the engagement became !
general, 1 discovered a number of Co /
manches running down the branch, about |
$50 yards from the village, and concIud- /
ed they were retreating About this time |
l was Joined by Lieutenant Van Camp, |
q. S. A., and a regular soldier by the /
name Of Alexander. With these and one /
Caddo Indian 1 ran to intercept them, |
thus becoming separated from the balance /
OF my force. I soon discovered that the |
Tug1tlTes were women and children. Just /
then, however, another posse Of them |
came along, and as they passed I dis /
and made the Caddo Indian seize her as /
she was passing, She was about eight |
years Of age and became badly frightened /
and difficult to manage when she found |
herself detained by us. Ithen discovered, |
much to my dismay that about twenty /
i've Comanche warriors, under cover of /
the smoke. had cut off nv small party Of /
four rom communication with our com I
Tades and were bearing down upon US. /
They shot Lieut.. Van Camp through the /
heart, killing him while he was
in the act of firing his double /
barreled gun. Alexander was next shot /
down and his rife fell out of his /
hands. I had a Sharp's rife, and at
tempted to shoot the Indian just as he
shot Alexander, but the cap snapped. !
Another warrior named Mohee, whom