Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-08-10
An Ad venture in Texas.


During the war between the
United States and the Indians OF
Texas, great number of volunteers
joined the expedition. One of these,
Captain Ferguson, of Kentucky, be-
came celebrated for his hardihood
and success in the terrible huntings
of Indians. The following Incl
dent will convey some idea of the
character of the man, and also Of
the war then raging in the new
World between civilization and bar
barism.
A small band Of volunteers,
among whom was Captain Ferguson,
spent several days in exploring Tex
as, and had wandered far into the
interior without meeting solitary
Indian track. Tired of this pacific
journey, theyresolved to separate and
seek adventures singly, before re-
turning to the camp.
Accordingly, the following morn
ing, Captain Ferguson, mounted on
an excellent horse, left his compan-
ions, and directing his course across
vast prairie, towards cluster OF
hills, hempled in by thick woods
which bounded the horizon. Ar
irving at the foot of one of the hills,
the captain preceived a troop OF
wild horses advancing towards him.
Suddenly they broke into gallop-
a maneuvre which appeared suspi-
cious, and induced our hero to watch
them closely. They soon gained
the level ground, and the dull sound
of their hoofs striking the soil be-
came distinctly audible. The cap
tain looked, and saw clinging to the
TANKS Of each horse an Indian sus-
pended horizontally by an arm and
a leg. This was a common strata
gem among the Indians, but lucki-
ly for Ferguson he was at consid-
cradle distance from these unpleas-
ant looking cavaliers.
Perceiving by the sudden rapidity
of his fight that they were dis
covered, the Indians climbed nimb-
ly on their horses, and pursued our
hero at full speed, shouting their
terrible war cry.
Looking back, Ferguson observed
that his enemies spread themselves
across the prairie, with evident in
tention of cutting off his retreat to
the hills. He saw that his only
chance of safety consisted in gain
ing the woods; whittier his pursuers
dare not follow him. least they
might encounter the outposts of the
American troops.
He did not again look behind.
but with his eyes eagerly fixed on
the yet distant goal, he spurred OH
his horse to it's utmost speed. The
animal stumbled, and the cry of the
Indians became more distinct; but
the noble animal rose again, and
with loud neigh, as though con-
scious of the peril that menaced his
master, he made prodigious bound,
and cleared the space which divided
him from the wood, with the speed
of an arrow.
As Ferguson had forseen, the In
dams, fearing to enter the woods,
came to a sudden halt. Although
now comparatively out of danger,
he did not esteem the neighborhood
perfectly safe, and therefore pursu-
ed his course for five or six miles
without drawing bride. Evening
was closing in when he judged it
proper to pause. He tried in vain
to discover where he was; but he
was not man to vex himself for
triAes, so he quietly resolved to pass
the night in the open air, and defer
for the morrow the task of finding
his way. A clear stream bordered
with shrubs, ran near, and Fergu.
son, having unbridled his horse,
wrapped himself in his cloak and
laid down on the grass.
At day break he resumed his
journey, following the course of the
stream. When he had gone about
four miles, he found the corpse of
one Of his companions. The poor
fellow had been scalped, and Fergu-
sons first thought was that all his
friends had probably been surprised