The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-06-04
SAM HOUSTON'S WIFE.
The Romantic Story Related by q
Venerable Squaw.
How the Great Hunter Triclked an Indian
Rival in Order to Secure His Indian
Bride - His Loyalty to
tho State.

A correspondent Of tho st. Louis
Globe Democrat, who has been making
q tour of the reservations of the Kiowas,
Comanches and Wichitas in that part OF
the Indian territory adjacent to the
Panhandle, made the acquaintance OF
"Granny Houston" a venerable Indian
woman who claims to be the widow OF
Gen. Sam Houston, the Texas patriot.
''We were ushered," says the corre-
spondent, 'into small wigwarn, in the
center of which sat the oldest living
representative of the southwestern
tribes, small, shriveled creature,
whose skin resembled bag OF lie ather,
but whose eyes contained a surprising
luster, considering that she had reached
her one hundred and ninth year. She
extended her hand when we entered,
but did not attempt to rise from the
wen-worn panther hide upon which she
rested. Granny Houston is influential
among the Wichitas, and makes heap
good medicine although it is pretty
generally believed that she is Cherokee
by birth, and was adopted in her youth
by the hostile Wichitas, who carried
her OH on one Oh UnclT TuNS.
cat my desire, Cora Caruth, q full
blooded Wichita maiden who had been
educated in the east, piled the old lady
with questions and interpreted the an
swers for our benefit. From Cora's inter-
probation we framed the following
story, commencing from the time that
White Moon,' as she was then called,
says she met the Texas patriot, when
camped with the tribe on the Canadian
river, close to the present site of Web
ber's Falls:
'The braves were over in Texas on a
big hunt, and White Moon was in front
of the old chiefs wigwam stretching
and otherwise curing various assort-
ment of hides and furs for her father.
The head chief was great hunter, and
kept his only daughter in constant EN-
ployment. One forenoon, when thus
engaged, large white boat, contain
ing one white man and three Cherokees,
landed within few PAGES OF White
Moon. The former was dressed in buck
skin, and had long hair and bright eyes.
When he observed the girl he left his
companions, and, smiling upon her, ad'
dressed her in Cherokee.
''The other squaws then came for
ward to greet the strange Indians, ant
soon cooked large meal Of turtle an6
deer meat which the visitors appeared
to thoroughly enjoy. After eating
White Canoe, as he was called by his
Cherokee comrades, placed p gold chair
around White Moons neck and called
her his little wife. Two days after
ward the white man took the Indiar
girl in his boat on hunting and fishing
trip.
'But there was a rival to Whit
Moons hand In the person Of Littl'
Wolf, an unscrupulous savage. Th'
old chief, to settle the dispute in ;
| peaceable manner, and anxious to keeI
on friendly terms with the young war
rior who had great influence in hi
tribe, made the following proposition
which was in every respect unfavorabl'
to White Canoe.
each contestant was to go to wa
alone against the Cheyennes, will
whom the Wichitas were at variance
| and the first who returned with tn
enemy's scalp and arrows would thel
and there wed the chieftain's daughter
Little Wolf yelled with triumph; h
knew that White Canoe would not b.
likely to take scalp even under tn
circumstances. White Canoe remem
bered to have passed through settle
ment Of Cherokees some weeks previ
GUS, among whom he had observes
various war trophies captured from tn
Cheyennes and Arapahoes. He rod
directly to the point and purchased
full paraphernalia, including what h
afterward represented 10 the old chic
as O dead Indians war horse. Befor
the return of Little Wolf, White Moo
and White Canoe danced on the bu.
hide and were united
Granny Houston then told the stor
of their welded bliss, how they passe
many moons together-White Cano
hunting and fishing, while she made
home for him In their wigwam. Br
this Eden was suddenly broken int
by white strangers, who came to te
Houston Of the outrages OF the Mexican
on his people, and, leaving his cattl
and skins In her possession, he rod
sonth TO fight In the war of Texas indt
pendence."