Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-04-24

She had killed Ave men, three whites
and two Indians. The hrst man "nom
Mrs. ONO killed was an Indian VINO
was in the act Of shooting her iatner'
The last man she killed was Ed smith
who paid the penalty of trying TO ais
honor her. A half century ago hugh
B. Martin earned a livelihood In New
York by manufacturing barrels. he-
verses came and the old cooper was
forced to the wall. His family con-
sisted OF a wife and a b~lue-eyed. curly
haired girl of six. Martin concluded
to try new fields, and, disposing OF MS
effects, set out for the wild west. From
st. Louis he went by wagon to eastern
Kansas, and after three months made
his home in the Indian country near
where Eldorado, Kan, Is now, some
nifty miles northeast of Perry, which
at hat time was the home Of the Cad
do, Delaware, and Cheyenne Indians.
Martin bought a few cattle and
had a goodly number of cows and a
few hogs. With these and what he
could make from trapping, fishing, and
hunting he obtained a living for his
family. His little daughter Clara soon
learned to ride horses, shoot rifles, and
throw the lariat. Clara was a constant
companion of her father on the ranch.
The Martins soon became fayorites
with the Indians. especially the Cad
dos. The Indians visited the family,
and little Clara would accompany them
to their camps, where she would
shoot her rifle in matches with the
bucks. She also learned to handle the
bow and arrow with as much ease as
did a Caddo. All Clara's Indian ac-
quaintances were delighted with her
shooting and riding, and had wonder
full things to say of the Little Pale
Rose Often the old squaws would
paint Clara's face, and in this dis
guise she was taken home sometimes
to her parents, accompanied by mem
bers of the tribe. When Clara was six
teen she went with her father one day
to look after cattle. On. their journey
they met Che-wah-foh, a Caddo, who
for some time had held a grudge
against old Martin. Che-wah-foh was
in a bad mood that day and began a
quarrel with Martin. Clara was on
her pony, a short distance away, and
was watching the Indian closely. In
a fit of anger Che-wah-foh raised his
rife to shoot Martin, but no sooner
had the gun reached his shoulder than
Clara sent a bullet through his head.
He fell dead to the ground. The kill
ing of Che-wah-foh was soon made
known to the other members of the
tribe, who ever afterward looked on
the Martins as deadly enemies. The
mutual visits were discontinued. Only
now and then would a Caddo venture
to the Martin cottage. One month af-
ter the killing Clara was in the house
alone, her father and mother being a
few hundred yards away. A buck
Caddo appeared at the door and, find
ing Clara alone, offered her an insult.
Ten minutes afterward the father and
mother returned and found the Indian
dead in the doorway. This second kill
ing so enraged the Caddns that old
Martin was fearful of an attack. He
got rid Of a part of his stock. moved
his family many miles away, and lived
in peace for six months. He was fol-
lowed by a small band of Caddos. but
afterward was assured that thew
meant no harm. Still Martin felt I'M
easy, and was always on the watch.
For six months the Martin family was
not molested by the Caddos. Occa-
sionally a buck would make a short
call and eyince much friendship, es-
pecially for Clara. Among the Caddos
was a white renegade called Bill. He
had often attempted to make love to
Clara Martin, but had been refused by
her, and before the departure from the
old home Mrs. Martin had ordered him
from the house. One day Bill dropped