Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1893-12-13
AN old TEXAS FORT.
A Ruin That Recalls Many Adventures
Of Pioneer Days.
The Brush Covered Fertilization Discovered By Veteran
Ranger,-A Story About Colonel Bowie

brated James Bowie.
"A short time ago." remarked Captain
Lowell. while crossing the divide between
the Main and Dry FRO, about 30 miles
west of Utopia, noticed on the side of a
hill circular pile of rocks, resembling an
old fertilization. Being interested In such
things I turned aside to investigate. On
arriving at the place discovered that the
rocks had been placed there by the hand OF
man at an early day. The fort, which will
now call this rude structure, was built on
the south side of hill making n complete
circle, except gap mt the lower end, which
had been left open rs place of entrance.
Some Of the stones were very large and
would have required the united efforts Of
dozen men to put them in place. The
height Of the rock wall when first built
would have covered n man to the neck, and
the place would have made an admirable
spot to stand off n band Of Indians which
have no doubt it had been built for. The
next thing was to look around and See II
could discover anything by which | could
determine what caused the presence of the
men who built the fort, although | had
guessed they were gold hunters.
II noticed the entrance to the fortifica-
ton was on the lower side toward the foot
VI tnC hlii anu OpPoSibC IL Sliill ccldf
as II men would come from that point I'm
case of danger. AS soon as l entered tho
cedar brake the problem was solved at once.
saw an immense pile Of earth banked up,
and near it shaft. 1t was ut the base of IA
hill, not hundred yards from the fort,
near the head of ravine. 1t was an old
mine, either of gold, silver or lead, and had
been worked many years ago. The entrance
to the mine was down Il flight of 10 or 12
steps cut in the soil, which time and the
action of the water pouring into it during
heavy rains had not effaced. At the bot
tom of the steps the excavations extended
west under the hill upon which the fort was
built. did not penetrate it far, as had
no light On the mound of soil near the
shaft grew cedar trees as large as u mans
body, indicating n period prior to the ad-
vent of the Texas pioneers into these noun
tains, when the country was full of hostile
Indians. The fort on the side of the hill
commanded all approaches to the mine
I'm surmising in regard to the people who
formerly worked this mine at first conclud-
ed that they were Spaniards or Mexicans,
but finally connected the place with the cele-
brated Texan, Colonel James Bowie l rec
objected hearing my father relate circum-
stance which he heard from Colonel Bowie
In Gonzales before the Texan revolution
Colonel Bowie said that ON one occasion,
while prospecting for gold or silver in the
mountains west of San Antonio, he had
sunk a shaft in search of silver. He had a
force of 30 men with him, and anticipating
an attack by the Indians fortified the camp
by piling up large rocks. Their position
commanded every approach to their camp
and shaft, and also to spring of water
something over 100 yards distant.
while engaged working this mine they
were suddenly attacked one morning by a
large body of Comanche Indians. Bowie
and his men at once took refuge in the
fertilization, and the battle commenced
with great fury. The Indians, however,
were soon driven to cover in the ravines
and behind the rocks by the deadly fire of
Bowie's men. The fight lasted all day, each
party firing as opportunity offered. Dur
ing the day, however, Bowie's men drank
up oil their water and began to suffer in
tensely with thirst. The Indians, however,
from their position in the rocks and gullies,
commanded the spring, and it was almost
certain death for any ono to venture. If the
men all sailed from the fort, they were
likely to be overwhelmed by the superior
force of the savages, but something had to
be done.
Nov, Bowie owned a strong young ne
gro named Jim, who was one of the party.
"Jim,' says Bowie, turningto the negro,
won't you take the gourds and bring us
some water from the spring.
mo, sar, marse; Jim couldn't think of
such thing. Them Injuns is a-layin dar
in dat brush and rocks, and dey could get
up and kill dis Niger befo' you could say
scat" twice, and befo' could half fill dem
gourds. No, sab; can't co.
Bowie looked at the negro with his
keen, piercing eye, and said:
Jim, which are you most afraid of-me
or the Indians9
"'Well, now replied Jim, III you 'sist on
me gwine Of course I'll go; If de boys is
bound to have some water befo' they can
whip the Injuns and you 'sist on me
a-gwine, why den I'll volunteer my sarv-
ices. Hunt up dem gourds. Pm off,
Bowie now told Jim he need not fear, as
they could protect him with their rifles
from the fort while he was getting the wa
ter. 1t appears that the Indians were not
expecting any one to attempt to come from
the fort for water and evidently did not see
the negro-in fact, they had to keep we'll
hid themselves, as every exposure of their
persons would bring whizzing rifle ball
from the nlll Inc negro advanced to the
spring, filled the gouras and was starting
back .before the Indians discovered HIM
They now, however, set up a terrible yell
ing and commenced firing at him. which
also drew the fire of the fort, as several of
the Indians had shown themselves. The
negro now commenced running as best he
could with several gourds dangling about
him, with number of Indians in close pur-
suit, notwithstanding the fact that several
Of their number had fallen before the dead
ly aim of Bowie's rifles. One burly savage
dropped his empty gun, and drawing his
tomahawk ran close 30 the negro, intend
ing to strike him down with that.
"A rifle cracked from the lower end of
the Enclosure, and the Indian fell back
ward.
Jim soon arrived. putting and blowing,
bringing the water gourds with him. "-St.
Louis Globe-Democrat.
Miles of Thread without a Break.
A hank or cut of cotton always consists
- Ql0 vu yx1s MaSSrs Vhnmos HouIJS IA