Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-06-14
CAPTURED BY INDIANS.
Two Days the Prisoner Of a Party
Of Comanches
How a Merry scout Puzzled His Captnr.
aud Put Them on Their Guard
Tragic Outcome Of a
brilliant Victory.

In ls6s a hunting party composed Of
several prominent citizens d -. Louis,
Cincinnati. Louisville and Chicago, and
numbering about thirty in all, entered
the country Of the CoInanche Indians in
that elbow OF Texas lying between New
Mexico and the Indian Territory for a
four weeks stay. There was a temper
airy camp OF soldiers at the junction Of
the Big Wichita and the Rel rivers al
that time, and rs We reached it on GUS
way into the country, | was bitten on
the leg by a ractlesnake, and laid up
for five days. ! was with the party in
the capacity Of scout and hunter, but as
it was a strong one, it was decided not TO
wait for me. They were to follow up
tho Red river to the mouth Of the Little
Wichita, and / should doubtless over
take them ere they had decided OF a
permanent camp
While the Comancte5 were bitterly
hostile at that date, they had been
sadly reduced by smallpox and driven
10 the north, and the old froaliersmcn
stated their belief that the party woGld
not even see one. When / left camp !
was four days behind the party. As all
were mounted and intended to push
right along. this meant matter Of al
least eighty miles 10 ne. However, !
had a hardy mustang, was well armed,
and when | rode away from the camp |
had about regained my strength. felt
a BIT Of dizzines, as / gallopcd along
over the trail, and ! soon discovered
that my eyes we're weak. The party
had left 4 plain trail. and as my mustang
had had a long rest he kept TO his gait
with hardly a break up to high noon
Along the banks Of the stream Tie coun-
try vas wooded. 4 mile to the vest II
vas plain and prairie mixed, sometimes
badly broken. and then as level az a
floor for several miles.
At noon ! came 10 a small creek and
yatcred and baited my horse and ate
my luncheon. | had just mounted for a
new start when | heard a ''Yi. vi. yi"'
on my right, and ! turned my head 10
see five Comanches coming out Of the
timber on their ponies. They were
about half a mile away and had evident
ly just discovered me. They we're 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 yells were repeated as ] moved
away, but after going a mile ! looked
back and saw that the red men had set
tied down 10 business. They were
strung out in line and had adapted their
pace TO mine. That meant a long chase
and a test Of endurance.
When a mar rides for his life the
greatest fear is in his OVERRIDING the
matter. II he pushes too fast at the
start he will blow" his horse and the
effects will be felt after the first ter
miles. ! had been five years on the
plains, had a pretty fair stock OF nerve
and ] rode to favor my beast. lie would
have rome a third faster had | permit
ted it, but rode to keep my distance
and gain nothing. Every mile or so
shifted my weight forward or back, u
relieve the burden on him, and so tho
afternoon wore away. The timber. wa,
always in plain view on my right-tht
plains on my left. At two o'clock | rode
right through the spot where the part,
had camped the first night, and as tn,
Indians did not stop to inspect 1t or give
up the pursuit, | knew they had visited
the spot before. They were some ramb
ling party out on the warpath, but to,
weak to attack the larger party. As thu
sun began TO sink in the West thel
sought &c shorten the distance and brin;
me within rife shot, but a word to tn,
mustang checkmated this.
Had ! been able to keep the trai
after three o'clock, ] should hay,
counted on finding the party in thci
second camp by shutdown, as we wcr
getting over the ground at a rapid pace
but at about that hour ! came TO
rough, stony district, where the passag
OF the horses had left no trail, and
went ahead at random, planning to kee
my distance from the river. Twice, /
crossing small creeks my horse got
little water, and as the sun finall
went down he seemed to be almost a
fresh as at oon 1t was " be a stal
light night, and as soon as dusk came
urged my beast to a faster pace an
bore more to the left. When | believe
that ! had gained a quarter Of a mile
swervcd sharp TO the right, rode fc
forty rods, and then d%ismounted, an
gave Cluster" the word to lie down. w
were both fat on the earth when tn
party Of pursuers swept by, and tn
"tbud! thud! thud!' OF their ponie
feet came very plainly to my ear
When they had passed on, | led IN
horse toward the timber, and reached
without hearing any thing further fro,
the Indians. We pushed through til
timber to tho river, and here were bot
grass and water. had . cold bite |
my haversack, and after jisposing Of
stretched out anu went TO sleep. hopin
had given the red men the slip.
opened my eyes next morning In astol
fshment Seated In = circle about n
we're the five Camanches, while the
ponies were feeding with my hors
There was . Are. and the Iadians hs
svideruy esten breakfast Iuey wei