Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-09
OLD-TIME INDIAN RAIDS.


The presence in San Antonio of an at
torney for the department Of Justice of
the United States to take testimony in
cases OF Indian depreciation claims has
brought to light some interesting remin-
iscences OF Indian raids In that part OF
Texas. 1t has not been much longer
than twenty years ago since depreda-
lions by bands of Indians were of fire.
quent occurrence around San Antonio.
and there are yet living in this city
and throughout this cetion n number
OF venerable men who are noted MS In
dian fighters. In those days the Texas
rangers were the principal source of
OF protection to the settlers, and many
of the most noted indian fighters
in the state today were members Of
ranger companies in those stirring
times.
one of the most noted pioneers and
Indian fighters OF southwest Texas Is
Thos. Galbreath of Castroville, Medina
county. MIR Galbreath settled at his
present home in 1859 and had many
exciting experiences with the Indians.
He said that when he first settled in
Medina county the Lapananan tribe OF
Indians were the worst foes OF the peo-
pl of that section. These Indians lived
across the Rio Grande. in Mexico. and
would slip over to the Texas side when
the moon shone and kill or steal horses
and quickly recross the river
Just before removed to my present
home" said Mr.. Galbreath, IA band of
Indians passed down Black creek, They
came to a house where two young Ger
mans were living. These two Germans
were quiet, Industrious young men and
had Just built themselves a cabin and
cleared field. At the time of the In
dams visit one of the Geymans was alb
sent from home and the other one was
sick In the cabin. The Indians looked
in the door and seeing the German ly-
ing on the bed. they passed on. a few
days nfterward the same band returned
In that direction and found the we'll
German working in the field. They
shot md killed him. but did not modest
the sick man. The sick man got UP
frem his bed and made his way to the
settlement on Francisco and told the
news A posse was formed to go in
pursuit of the Indians, and they were
trailed to Castroille. Near Castro
vile the pursuing party found the
bodies of two more men whom the In
dams had killed, and little distance
further on they came across the body
of boy who had been killed while
herding sheep. The Indians escaped.
taking with them considerable booty
One of the bloodicst massacres that
was ever committed by Indians in
Texas took place I'm the year 1S49 on the
Nueces river. A party OF three
families, embracing twelve persons In
ALL were so reckless az to leave their
homes In Louisiana and attempt to
cross the plans and deserts of Texas
and Arizona and New Mexico to reach
the gold fields of California. These
unprotected emigrants had hardly en-
tered the Indina country when their
presence became known to rowing
band of Comanche braves, who
swooped down upon them one night
and Killed every member of the little
party. The news of the massacr-
quickly spread to the settlements on
the Lower Nueces, and the murderous
Comanches We're pursued and over
taken. In the fight that ensued ten of
the Indians were killed.
In 1860 RUDE Smith, a prominent set
tier on the Hondo river. was out hunt
ing his horses when q band of Indians
came upon him and shot and killed
him. About the same time they killed
Peter Ketchum, another settler on the
Hondo. In that same year a party OF
Medina county white men were out
hunting hogs on Black creek. The
Indians attacked them and killed
Lish Whitley and James Macray. Joe
Murray and his son Gebhart of Castro
Vile left the little settlement one day
to hunt for u yoke of oxen. A rowing
band of Indians discovered them. and
the two men attempted to escape b :
running their horses, The elder Muir
ray escaped, but the horse which his
son was riding fell down and the In
dams took him captive. The boy was
carried of by the Indians and was
never heard of afterward, although re-
ports reached the whites that he had
been adopted into tn Comanche tribe
and afterwards became one OF the
chiefs. One of their raids In Medina
county the Indians met George Wheel
and Sam Baylock. The two white
men were on their way to the little
creek near Castroville to get a horse,
and did not see the Indians until they
were very near to them. As Wheel
and Blaylock were unarmed they at
tempted to escape by running. Wheel
was overtaken by one of the Indians
and scalped.
On one Of the last raids which the
Indians made to the Castroville set
Element they killed Isaac G2lbreath.
son of Mr.. Thomas Galbreath. The
Indians had stolen number of horses
around the town, and We're known to
be in the vicinity, but had not been
found. Isaac Galbreath had hobbled
his horse near his home, and the In
dams had discovered H. They waited
near the horse for some one to come
for the animal. Isaac Galbreath FIN
ally went out to the horse. and was In
the act of removing the hobbies when
a number of shots We're fired into his
body. and he was killed and scalped.
The band was pursued. but made its
escape. While on Its way out of thu
country It met and killed Henry Hill
ton. another well known settler of
that section.
Fifty years ago the Comanche In
dams were very troublesome on the
Lower Rio Grande They committed
many bloody crimes and rohberies. The
Texas rangers held the Indians In
check as much as they could, and
number OF desperate engagements oc-
CURED between the rangers and the
redskins. At that time Alpheus d.
Neal, John Wilbarger and Doc Sulli-
van, all noted for their bravery and
endurance, belonged to Col. rip"
Ford's company of rangers, and were
In active service in the Indian country
near Brownsville. These three men
were summoned to Austin to attend
court, and decided to make the at
tempt to go through the dangerous
country without an armed escort. They
started from their camp. and had
reached a point In Nueces county. near
where Kings ranch is now situated,
when they saw party of about thirty
Indians near them. The three brave
men migat have escaped by running,
but they decided to stand and fight
against the Indians. although the odds
were so greatly against them The In
dams lost no time In making the at
tack, and Sullivan was shot and killed
at the first fire. Wilbarger fell fighting,
and Neal received eight arrow wounds,
any one OF which would have proved
fatal TO, an ordinary man. The Indians
supposed that Neal was dead, but for