Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-10
DON FRALo'S ESCAPE.
A Story oiiSs Texas Border.
ny WIN t. oanup.

nestle disturbances that occurred In
Mexico and along the western Texas
border about the time Of Prince ltuie
hldes reign, no prairie guide or scout
was better known in that sparsely set
tied section than Don Fralo. But little
was known OF Don Fralo's origin lt
was said, however, that he was exiled
from his native home among the vine
clad hills of Spain while yet a mere
youth, for publicly insulting his uncle
and guardian, who was at that time one
OF the high military officials Of his coun-
try He was compelled TO leave Spain
and he came to America After wRndor-
ing from settlement to settlement Ina the
vain hope of achieving wealth and dis
uncdon in the new world. whereby he
thought to propiuate his offended uncle,
he finally drfted 20 southwestern Texas
and choose the occupation Of n guide and
scout
At that time the Comanches were the
most fierce and powerful tribe Of Indians
In Texas. For nearly n hundred years
they woged an uncei sing warfare against
every other people who attempted 90
make settlements ia that country. They
watched with lynx eyes and expert
encad wild thrills of pleasure at the
occurrence Of the many revolutions along
the Rio Grande They never failed TO
take advantage of the situation when
they discovered both contending parties
broken down and their ranks thinned
10y the ravages Of war, to rush forward
lagos situated along the border of the
Staked plains and destroy all, appropriate
ing the spells TO themselves.
At the time Of which j write the
theater OF local war had been suddenly
changed from the Rio Grande and in
terror of Mexico TO the broad and beauti-
full prairies lying along the San Antonio
river.
Here native prince, with band Of
Spuniards and those friendly 90 his
cause, including the daring and adven-
turous Don Fralo, determined TO breath
the Chuinless air. and ''victors eXalt. or
In death be laid low, with their backs TO
the field and their faces TO the foe
The opposing army held the mission Of
San Juan, Ave miles away. and from
their very superior numbers their leaders
Were confident of victory.
The morrow was to decide the contest
as TO whether prince should reign or
president govern these people.
Each party, slumbering In the arms OF
hope, little dreamed that a lurge and war
like band Of their dCadlicst enemies, the
COmanchcs, were lowering near, watch
ing their movements with a pent-up hat
red of half a century burning In their
breasts, and the mnddened vengeance Of
a wrongcd and injured people hushing
from their piercing black eyes. As the
gaze of these red men Of the plains
rested upon those towers of strength and
| Jesliticul oppression. In which their cter
| nal foes We're rcpOsiug, every stone OF the
| little fort seemed To express In lines Of
| blood TINT these walls were reared 10y
| the forced labor Of their people that for
/ the propagation Of n creed (which they
| could not understand their people had
| been moved down like the grass Of the
| prairie and worked like beasts Of burden,
Deep-settled and fixed desperation APP
| pearcd in the swurthy cOuutenance of
each warrior; the very winds Of heaven,
| as they swept over that beautiful land
with refreshing mildness, seemed 10
| whisper in their ears q tale of vengeance.
The eyentful morrow dawned and with
! Il came the pOmp aud circumstance of
war. The young, the brave, the chival-
rous of the land. graced either army =
front ranks. Young Don FralO was CIV
en- command Of company of rebels, and
on a smooth, rolling prairie near the
present site of San Antonio, he mar
shaded his men in battle array, every
pulse beating high for victory. They
We're met by the opposing army, and the
| engagement WIS fierce. long and bloody.
The evening sun was hanging low In
the west and the soldiers Of both armies
were sinking from fatigue and eXhnus-
ton. suddenly a fearful sound was
heard. Nearer Il came, until an i'm
mense body OF horscmen were seen rush
ing upon them, fast and fierce. A terri
BILE truth daWned 40 once upon the
scattered aud wounded soldiers. The
COmanches We're upon them. Each sol.
der reused himself for last and dcs-
perate struggle for life, but the exhausted
troops made but feeble resistance against
The unerring shaft and deadly lance OF
this frenzicd throng
That night sealed with death every as
I al
next mornings sun shoue upon a prairie
crimson with human gore and filled with
slaughtered men, but the COnquerinc
COmanches had fled.
OF the two armies less than three
score men escaped death. Three of the
officers were taken prisoners, securely
bound and made 10 walk 10 the Indian
villages, nearly a hundred miles Distant.
Don FralO was one Of the three officers.
They were deprived Of their shoes and
made to travel barefooted. Aftor reach
ing the Indian villages Just south of the
| Staked plains and near the headwnters of
the Concho river Don FralO witnessed
the horrible spectacle Of the burning at
the stake Of his two unfortunate com
| panions for the pleasure and entertain
| ment Of the old men, squaws aud
papooses Of the tribe, and 20 satisfy the
| vengeance OF the victorious braves
| Two days elapsed between the first and
second execution and Don Fralo knew his
time would come next The thought was
worse than death 20 him. and he deter
mined to escape, All night long he tug
| ged and worked 10 free his hands and
feet from the raw-hide thongs that
bound him, and as the first streaks ap-
| peared over the eastern foothills he
| found both hands and feet free from
| letters. But the Indians were already
astir and his only chance Of escape wac
| 10 the north, across the desert
This chance he determined 10 risk
| Watching his opportunity when the
| guads back was turned for moment he
sprang from the tepee and bounded away
TO the north. The guard had not vet dis
covered his escape and Don Fralo silent
! " sped past the last tepee. An Indian
pony was fettered 10 a small mesquite
bush at the outer edge OF the village.
and this he hurriedly unlOosened ana
mounted. AS he did So a terrible blood
Gurdling yell rose from the throat of the
guard. The yell was soon repeated by a
score or more and Don Fralo was bound
ing away on the pony's back. He heard
the clatter and yen Of his pursuers be-
hind him, but be was gaining upon them
steadily aud their clamor and noise be-
came fainter and less distant as he shot
or past the mesquite bushes and prairie
| shrubbery.
| A et.~ .so,.ovo1 ,,,,,,., ,-..f1,, a.. 49,. 4