Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-05-17
Caught Bv Comanches.

Caught Bv Comanches.
In 1868 hunting party composed of
several prominent citizens of ST. Louis,
Cincinnnti, Louisville and Chicago, and
numbering about thirty in all, entered
the country of the Comanche Indians in
that elbow of Texas lying between New
Mexico and the Indian Territory for a
four weeks stay. There was a temporary
camp of soldiers at the junction of the
Big Wichita and the Red Rivers at that
time, and as we reached it on our way
into the country, l was bitten on the leg
by a rattlesnake, and laid up for five
days. was with the party in the capacity
of scout and hunter, but as it was
strong one, it was decided not to wait
for me. They were TO follow up the Red
River to the mouth of the Little Wichita.
and | should doubtless overtake them ere
they had decided on a permanent camp
While the Comsnches were bitterly
hostile at that date, they had been sadly
reduced by smallpox and driven to the
north, and the old frontiersmen stated
their belief that the party would not even
see one. When | LETT camp was four
days behind the party As all were
mounted and intended to push right
along, this meant matter of at least
eighty miles to me. However, | had a
hardy mustang, was well armed, and
when | rode away from the camp | had
about regained my strength. l felt bit
of dizziness as | galloped along over the
trail, and soon discovered that my eyes
were weak. The party had left plain
trail, and as my mustang had had long
rest he kept to his gait with hardly
break up to high noon. Along the banks
of the stream the country was wooded.
A mile to the west it was plain and
prairie mixed, sometimes badly broken
and then as level as floor for several
miles.
At noon | came to small creek, and
watered and baited my horse and ate my
luncheon. | had Just mounted for new
start when | heard "Yii vi. VIZ" on
my right, and l turned my head to see
five Comanches coming out of the timber
on their ponies. They were about half
mile away, and had evidently just dis
covered me. They were to my right and
rear, and as | started off on the trail |
had no particular anxiety for my safety
There wasn't an Indian pony in Texas
which could overhaul my mustang in his
present fresh condition. The yeils were
repeated as moved away, but after 60
ing mile I looked back and saw that
the red men had settled down to bust
ness. They were strung out in line, and
adapted their pace to mine. That meant
long chase and test of endurance
When man rides for his life the
greatest fear is in OVERRIDING the matter
If he pushes too fast at the start he will
''blow" his horse, and the effects will be
felt after the first ten miles | had been
five years on the plains, had pretty fair
stock of nerve, and | rode to favor my
beast. He would have gone third
faster had | permitted it, but | rode to
keep my distance and gain nothing.
Every mile or so | shifted my weight
forward OF back, to relieve the burden
on him, and so the afternoon wore away.
The timber was always in plain view on
my right-the plains on my left. At 2
O'Clock l rode right through the spot
where the party had camped the first
night, and as the Indians did not stop to
inspect it or give up the pursuit, l knew
that they had visited the spot before
They were some rambling party out on
the warpath, but too weak to attack the
larger party. AS the sun began to sink
in the west they sought to shorten the
distance and bring ME within rifle shot,
but word to the mustang checkmated
this
Had been able to keep the trail after
three o'clock, | should have counted on
finding the party in their second camp by
shutdown, as we were getting over the
ground at a rapid pace, but at about that
hour came to a rough, stony district,
where the passage of the horses had left
no TRAIL and | went ahead at random,
planning to keep my distance from the
river. Twice, in crossing small creeks
my horse got a little water, and as the
sun finally went down he seemed to be al
! iiiOSb ds liton 10 at HUH II was W Dt u
starlight night, and as soon as dusk came
urged my beast to faster pace, and
bore more to the left. When believed
that had gained quarter of mile l
swerved sharp to the right, rode for forty
rods, and then dismounted, and gave
''Custer" the word to lie down. We
were both fiat on the earth when the
party of pursuers swept by, and the
"thud! thudl thudn of their ponies
feet came very plainly to my ears. When
they had passed on, | led my horse to-
ward the timber, and reached it without
hearing anything further from the
Indians. We pushed through the timber
| to the river, and here were both grass
and water. had a cold bite in my
haversaek, and after disposing of it
stretched out and went to sleep, hoping
| had given the red men the Slip l
| opened lay eyes next morning in astonish
ment. Seated in a circle about me were
the FIVE Comanches, while their ponies
were feeding with my horse. There was
fire, and the Indians had evidently
| eaten breakfast. They were smoking as
awoke, and there was grin on each
| face as it was turned toward me. | lay
ON my back, with my hands clasped
under my head, and such was my
establishment that l could not move
Fortunately for me the fellows took this
for nerve. looked from man to man,
and finally said, in Comanche
at is easy enough for squaw to
track horse after sunrise, and even a
boy could make prisoner of sleeping
man"
Ought ugh" grunted two or three of
them.
"When your people at home hear of
your brave deed they will sing songs in
your praise" l continued, speaking in
tones of contempt: Here, l have the
claws of a grizzly bear which shot a
few months ago. Take them, and you
can secure further praise by claiming to
have killed the beast yourselves
From tie instant Irealized my situation