Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-09-05
AN INDIAN FIGHTER.
THE ADVENTUROUS CAREER OF,
GOYElsNoR ROSS. OF TEXAS.
Thrilling Stories of His Conflicts
With tho Comanches by the Exccu-
tive ofthe Lone Star Statc-An
Escaps From SraiplnE

Governor Ross, OF Texas, is about Sax
feet tall. He has gray mustache and
goatce, and his hair is also slvered. His
face is full and his eyes light blue, with
q mild expression, but reserved force is
plainly marked in his features. lie was
born in Bentonsport, Iowa, September
81, 1888. His father moved to Texas
the following spring. Since that time
Governor Ross has been Texan. His
father settled at Waco, Mcclellan County,
aud Waco is still the Governors homo.
In 1858 he returned from Wesleyan
University, at Florence, North Alabama,
just as Major Earl Van Dorm, command
ing the United States forces on the
frontier, was about to start on an cx-
petition against the Comanches.
Young Ross mustered in 235 friendly
Caddo and Waco Indians and reported to
Van Dorm. The Governor himself gave
me a graphic account of the first engage
ment while we chattcd together at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel. -, ,>saass s;s.sss.s
lit wds On Octobc. %, 1885," said
he, 'tnat our expedition came upon II
large Comanchc village on the False
Wichita River in Indian Territory.
There was sharp conflict and our forces
killed some ninety of the Comanches and
captured their town, their supplies and
most of their horses.
''During the contest Lieutenant Van
Camp, an honorary aide on Van Dorm
staff, u Second Regiment cavalryman
named Alexander, one of our Caddo In
diaus and l found ourselves separated
from our command. While we were con-
sulting, q large number of Indian women
aud children came running by, one of the
squaws dragging with her white girl
about nine years old. told the Caddo
to seize the white child and hc started to
do SO just rs a band of about twenty five
Comanche warriors came whooping down
upon US.
Gas the savagcs rushed forward they
delivered volley Of arrows, one of which
pierced Van Camps heart. He fell NOR
tally wounded.
"Mcanwhile, Alexander, tho cavalry
man, had been fatally shot, and the In
dian, grabbing his gun, shot me, and
fell across Alexander The next instant
huge Comanchc chief lowered above
me with scalping knife. 1 recognized
him at once as Mohc, one of the ficrccst
OF the Comanchc captains. Before tho
knife could descend there was tremen-
dous uproar on the outskirts of the mob
OF yelling Indians, and suddenly NIohc
turned and with the other braves took
TO his heels.
Lieutenant James Majors, of the
Second cavalry, had charged and put the
Comanche warriors to flight. The Caddo
was then discovered untouched, with the
young white girl clutchcd in his arms.
general Winfield Scott, then Secrc-
tary of War, sent an autograph letter to
me commenting me for my services and
offering to help me to n place in the
regular army, should desire it. be-
lieve this is the only case of tho sort on
record, and was only M unknown
Texas boy at the time.
1.-THE young white girl was sent to my
home in Texas and alterward adopted
her, calling her Lizzie, after Miss Lizzie
Tinslcy, who became my wife. Lizzie
Ross married man who is now wealthy
merchant at Los Angeles. She died there
about two years ago"
After this campaign young Ross re-
turned to college at Florence, Ala,
where he was graduated with honors
year later. He returned to Waco, and
on application to Governor Sam Houston
received commission to enroll sixty
rangers and give what relief he could
to the settlers harrasscd by the confcder-
ated Comanches. He established post
at what is now Fort Bclknap, and then
determined to invade the Indian ceun-
try.
Leaving twenty men to guard the post,
he obtained from Captain N. G. Evans,
at Camp Cooper, twenty of the old Sec.
ond cavalry and started on the trail. -
eve marched into the Indian coun-
try" said he, telling me the story of the
campaign, Sand on December, 1S,
1860, came upon large Comancho vii
lage at the head of the Pcasc River. We
at once assaulted the village, killing q
large number of Indians and capturing
their horses and supplies.
"During the fight, while the Indians
were running in all directions, saw one
large buck with a younger Indian,
mounted behind him, making rapidly
toward the foothills on horseback. Fol
lowing them on another horse rode
another large Indian. Lieutenant Keli-
heir and myself, both well mounted,
gave chase. Kclliheir overlook the In
dim that was riding alone and pursued
the two ahead.
Gas came up within few PAGES I
fred at the younger Indian, intending to
kill both at one shot. The ball struck
the younger one in the back and pierced
the heart, but the big brayc Yves un-
touched. In falling from the horse,
however, the younger one dragged the
chief of at the same tine, and before I
could rein in my horse wtas alai5sy 6 2 81
HIM. He proved to Be The noted Pcta
Nocona, one of the bravest of the CO.
manches. As my horse came plunging
forward Peta fred rapidly at me with
his arrows. My horse reared so violently
that could not take accurate aim, but
while hanging from the pummc OF the
saddle let fly random shot, which
struck Peta in the right elbow, render.
ing the use of his bow impossible.