The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-05-09

""' LII SoSSion. was tnen serving my
irst term as legislator, and was put on
the committee to make disposition of
the Indians. Through the medium of
an interpreter had an interview with
the captured squaw, as l imagined she
must have very interesting history.
What was my surprise and sorrow to
learn that she was my little sweetheart
of earlier days, Cynthia Ann Parker,
who had been captured seventeen years
before. She was recognized by her
uncle, Hon. Dave Parker, then and for
nearly thirty years afterward member
of the Legislature. She was taken to
his home, which Is still near Palestine.
There were no railroads then in Texas,
all travel being by horseback or wagon
Cynthia Ann made repeated efforts to
escape from her white friends and it re-
quired their utmost vigilance to take
her TO her future home.
Gradually recollections of her early
life, which had been obliterated by her
savage surroundings, came back to her.
Her memory was aided more by the
woodland scenes around her old haunts,
and more especially by the rude school
house surroundings than by any thing
that could be drawn from or impaired
to her in the way of conversation. She
then gave an account of her life among
the Indians. She loved to tell of their
uniform kindness and tenderness to
her. After growing to maturity she
was made the wife of the old chief, by
whom she had one son, whom she
named Quanah. She constantly grieved
for her son and her dusky husband and
for the old Indian life, and made fire.
quent efforts to escape and return
Every thing possible was done for her
by relations and friends, and she had
every comfort and every luxury; vet
it was plain to all that under the re-
straints and restrictions of civilization
she was fretting and pining her life
away. She told them that her captivity
among her own people was worse than
her captivity among the Indians. The
burden of her longings, her signs and
her plaintive songs was for the old In
dian life and for her absent husband
and child.
She was ever gentle and loving; but,
like tender flower transplanted from
balmy atmospheres and soft skies to
uncongenial chimes, keen air, gray skies
and chilly winds, she dropped and died.
She survived her return home about
seven years.
Her warrior husband, Big Buffalo, be-
came fercer and holder in his forays
from New Mexico down into Texas, try
ing to recapture his wife and avenge
himself on the pale face. He was final
ly- killed in battle near Fort Worth a
few years after his wife's capture.
Quanah, who was almost a man, sue
ceeded his father as chief of the tribe,
April, 1885, L was visiting my ranch in
Archie County, near the South line of
the Indian Territory, and stopped at a
hotel at Wichita Falls. I noticed among
the guests tall, well-dressed. graceful
and Misunderstanding Indian. His
complexion proclaimed him to be half
breed. On inquiry. ascertained that
it was the celebrated chief of the Com
manches, Quanah Parker.
When introduced to him 1 told him
that l had known his mother in her
beautiful young girlhood that l had
been schoolmate of hers, and had seen
her often in her last days. He showed
great interest and the delight of boy
at meeting some one who had known
her. He said he had known his mothers
history from his boyhood, and he felt
he had no right to attempt to get her
back from her friends and relations.
He thus early exhibited those noble
traits and high-minded characteristics
which have enabled him to lead his
tribe to the progress they are making.
While he was talking he took me aside,
that his friends might not see what they
would consider unmanly tears in his
eyes.
Quanah Parker is one of the best
known of the younger Indian chiefs.
He is wealthy, owns large herds of cat
tie and horses, has immense pastures
and well-cultivated fields, and last, but
by no means least, five wives and
numerous children. | asked him about
the personal appearance of his squaws,
and he replied, with a genuine Indian
shrug:
ugh! heap pretty-all sweet"
And then he smiled as if he knew that
this was the Indian side of his nature
which l could neither appreciate nor
approve. He gave me cordial invita-
ton to visit him in the Territory. He
said that he could promise me an abun-
dance of game and fish and a good time
generally at his wigwam. may remark
that his ''wigwam" is very commodious
and handsomely furnished house.
In December, 1885, Quanah's life ca me
near terminating at the time his CO.
chief, Yellow Bear, met his death.
They were at the Pickwick Hotel, in
Fort Worth, Tex, and occupied suite
of rooms. Yellow Bear blew out his gas,
and in the morning Quanah was found
almost beyond recovery. while Yellow
Bear, in the adjoining room, had entirely
yielded up his ghost and gone direct to
the Indians happy hunting-ground. He
was taken to the Territory and buried
have been the largest and most affect
| ing that has ever been in the Terrific
ry. The grief of his tribe was probably
greatest that he met his death by the
common practice of pale-faced Con-
gresham.
Quanah Parker is unquestionably the
wisest, the most progressive and the
most advanced chief the Comanches
| have ever had. This is undoubtedly
due to the inheritance of his mothers
intelligence. The Comanches have al
ways been noted for their ferceness,
their intrepid bravery and their love Of
war. They have always been the bess
riders among all the Indian tribes, and
have always demanded chief who
would lead out these savage character
iStics in them