Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-09-18

W Gfyg pub M1&aa U1ta INQUIRY Dehida 21G
and carried him alon1, taking him to my
home ct Waco, where he became an
obedient member of my family. When,
return to his people, he refused to 90
and died in McLennan County about four
years ago.
When camped for the night, Cynthia
Ann, Cur then unknown captive, kept
crying, and thinking it was caused from
fear of death of our hands, had the
Mexican tell her, In the Comanche LAM
guage, that we recognized her IS one of
our own people and would not harm her.
She replied that two of her sons In addi-
ton to the infant daughter were with her
when the fight began. aud she was dis
tressed by the lear that they had been
killed. it SO happened, however, that
both escaped, and one of them-Quanah,
is now the chief of the Comanche tribe.
The other son died some years ago on
the plains. Through my Mex cen inter-
prefer then asked her to give me the
history of her life with The Indians and
the circumstances attending her capture
by them, which sue promptly did in
very intelligent manner, and as the
facts detailed by her correspond
with the massacre at Parkers
Fort in 1886, Twas impressed with the be-
lief that she was Cynthia Ann Parker.
Returning to my post, sent her and her
child TO the ladies at Camp Cooper,
where she could receive The attention her
sex and situation demanded, aud at the
same time / dispatched messenger to
Col. Isaac Parker, her uncle, near
Weatherford, Parker County, named as
his memorial, for he was for many wears
a distinguished Senator in the Congress
Of the republic and in the Legislature Of
tho State after annexation. When Col.
Parker came to my post sent the Mexi-
can with him to Camp Cooper in the
capacity of interpreted, and her identity
was soon discovered to Col. Parkers
entire satisfaction. She has been cap
tive just twenty-fonr years and seven
year when recovered.
The fruits of that important victory
can never be computed in dollars and
cents. The great Comanche confederacy
was forever broken, the blow was deei-
sive, their illustrious chief slept with his
fathers, and with him were most of his
doughty warriors, many captives were
taken, $50 horses, their camp equlpage,
accumulated winter supplies, etc.
If could spare time from my official
duties, and had patience, could furnish
you with many thrilling incidents never
published relating to the early exploits,
trials and sufferings of the pioneers. Ny
father was appointed Indian Agent in
1856. He had an excellent memory and
treasured these untiIlater in life listen
ed by the hour to their recital. remain,
my dear General, sincerely your friend,
l.. S. Ross.
But little Of this sad episode remains
to no fn1G IN h.n l. -
barbarian were taken to Austin, the CAPT.
tai OF the State. The immortal Sam
Houston was Governor, and the Seces-
son Convention was in session. She
was taken to the State House, where this
august body were holding grave discus
sion as to the policy of Withdrawing
from the Federal compact. Cynthia Ann,
comprehending not one word of her
mother tongue, concluded it was coun-
Gil of mighty chiefs, assembled for the
trial of her life, and in great-alarm tried
to make her escape. Her brother, Hon.
Dan Parker, who resided near Parker's
Bluff, Anderson County, was q member
Of the Legislature from that county and
a colleague Of this writer, who then rep
resented the Eleventh Senatorial Dis
trict.
Colonel Dan Parker took his unhappy
sister to his comfortable home, and es-
sayed by the kind Offices of tenderness
and affection to restore her to the COM
forts and enjoyments of civilized life, to
which she had been SO long stranger
But as thorough an Indian in manner
and looks as if she had been native born,
she sought every opportunity to escape
and rejoin her dusky companions, and had
to be constantly and closely watched.
The civil strife then being waged be-
tween the North and South, between
fathers, sons and brothers, necsssitated
the primitive arts of spinning and weav-
ing, in which she soon became an adept,
and gradually her mother tongue came
back, and with it occasional incidents of
her childhood. But the ruling passion
Of her bosom seemed to be the maternal
instinct, and she cherished the hope that
when the cruel war was over she would
at last succeed in retaining her two
sons who were still with the Comanches.
But the Great Spirit had written other
wise, and Cynthia Ann and little Prairie
Flower were called in 1864 to the Spirit
Land, and peacefully sleep side by side
under the great oak trees on her brothers.
plantation near Palestine, Texas.
Thus ends the sad story of o woman
whose stormy life, darkened by all eter-
nal shadow, made her famed throughout
the borders of the imperial Lone Star
State. When she left it, an unwilling
captive, it contained scarce $4,000 peo-
pie. and was distracted by foreign and
domestic war. To-day it contains three
millions, and is the abode of refinement,
wealth, culture, and universal prosperity
and happiness.