The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-08-13

| however, permltteu ner, rtluctuntiy, 10
sit at the root of a tree, and while their
presence was doubtless a 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 perhi 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 VIII ( message of love she
would send them, but she had been COM
manded to silence, and with no hope OF
release was afraid 10 apr ear sad or de-
jected, and by stoical effort controlled
her emotions, lest the terrors of her cap
! tivity 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. redoubtable Comanche war
chief, in prowess and renown the peer of
the famous Big Foot, who fell in des-
perate hand-to hand combat with the no
less famous Texan Indian-fghter. Cap
tain Shapley p. Loss. of Waco, the illus
trious father of the sill more distinguish
ed son. General Sui Ross. now serving
his second term as Governor OF Texas,
from whom and his heroic father MANY OF
the details OF this narrative were obtain
ed. 1t is n remarkable and happy CO.
incidence that the son, emulating the
fathers contagious deeds of valor and
prowess. afIerwsrd in single combat in
the valley of the Wichita, forever put TO
rest the brave and knlghtly 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-ts-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 party of hunters. including
friends of her family, visited the Co.
manche encampment on the Upper Can
cdian River. and recognizing Cynthia
Ann through the medium OF her name.
endeavored TO in luce or TO return 10 her
kindred nd the abode Of civilization.
She shook her head in a sorrowful mega
tive, and, point N to her little naked
barDarians sporting at her feet and 10 the
great lazy chief sleeping in the shade
near by, the locks OF score OF FIRE ii
scalpS dan ling at his belt, replied:
i am happily we ded; | love my hus-
band and my little ones, who are his,
too, end l cannot forsake them.
Pf-TA-NC-CO-NA.
This brilliant ach evement md the
thrilling events which pr-cefe1 It, can
best be 10 d IN the graphic language Of
the hero who accomplished it. General
Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Gov rnor of
Texas, and III reforo append his mod
est letter:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
AUSTIN. Texas, April 8, 1922.
Gen. Geo. i. Afford, Dallas, Texas:
My DEAR GENERAL: In response to
your request. l herewith inclose you my
reco lections, after lapse Of thirty We rs,
of the events to which YOU refer:
In lS5S, Major Earle Van Dorm, with
the Seconl Cavalry, L. 5. A., one COM
pany Of infantr; 10 guard his depot of
supplies, and l35 friendly Indians under
my command, made successful cam
paign ag INST to Comarches, aud by "a
series o. well-directed flows, inflicted
terrible punishment upon them. On the
morning of October !, 1858. we came in
sight Of a large Indian village on the
waters of the Wichita River near what is
now known IS Fort Sill, in the Indian
Territory. They were not apprehensive
of an attack and most of them We're still
asleep. Major Van Dorm directed me, at
the head Of my Indians, TO charge down
the line of their lodges or tents, cut Off
their horses and run them bnck on the
hill. This was quickly accomplished.
Van Dorm then charged the village. strik-
ii nj the upper end, as II stretched along
DOGGY branch. After placing about
thirty hve of my Indians as guard
around the Combnche horses, some 400
in number, 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 fring the smoke ana
fog became so dense that objects at but q.
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, / discovered n number of Co
manches running down the branch, about
$50 yards from the village, and conclud-
ed they were retleating. About this time
l was joined by Lieutenant Van Camp,
L. 5. A, and regular soldier by the
name OF Alexander. With these and one
Caddo Indian / ran 10 intercept them,
thus becoming seper ted from the balance
of my force. / soon discovered that the
fugitives were women and children. Just
then, however, another posse of them
came along. and as they passed j dis
covered in their midst a title white girl,
and made the Caddo Indian seize her az
she was passing. She was about eight
years of age and becam bally frightened
and difficult TO manage when she found
herself detained by us. Then discovered.
much to my dismay, that about twenty
five Comanche warriors, under cover of
the smoke. had cut off nv small party of
four from communication with our COM
rades 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 rifle fell out of his
hands. / had Sharp's rifle, and at
tempted 10 shoot the Indian just as he
! shot Alexander but the cap snapped.
J Another warrior named Mohee, whom
I had often seen at my fathers camp on
| the frontier when he WIS Indian Agent,
! then seized Alexander's loaded gun and