The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-04-18
made no reference to his ever before
being engaged il fight.


The sun had scarcely passed Tx
meridian when we came in sight of tht
| settlement of the old Spanish colony
and my companion pointed out to me
IN the edge OF the river bottom, The
thatched rooted rancho Of Don Parchc
Diego, the Mexican with whom I hai
contracted for q thousand head O.
yearling ewes. Soon We had passed the
extensive corrals, in which large flock:
Of sheep were nightly driven, and rode
up to the low porch OF the Mezican''
dwelling. No persons were moving
about, and it was evident the oc
cupants were enjoying their post
prandial siesta.
"Good.evening, friends!' shouted
my companion; and his voice aroused
| a pack Of shaggy shepherd dogs, who
gathering from the numerous ont
| buildings, quickly called the poems
| and their master to the door.
''Down, down, dogs" cried an ol6
leather-clad Mexican, as he kicked the
noisy animals from his path, and ap'
proached us, still rubbing the sleeE
from his eyes.
"Ah, it is you, ny good friend,
Don Thomas?" said the old man,
grasping the hand of my companion
who had not yet dismounted, covering
it with kisses, and expressing the Ut
most delight at seeing him.
While the Mexican still clung to the
Texans hand an old matror rushed
from the house, and with a cry of un.
bounded joy seized upon my friends
other hand, and hugging his leg,
gave vent to the most extra7agart ex.
pressions OF satisfaction. Nor were
they satisfied with this demo1stratlve
welcome, for when the Texan at tle1gth
released himself from their embraces
long enough to dismount, they again
renewed the charge, and throwing
themselves upon his neck, almost
smothered him with their warm sa-
lutes.
After these transports were over
the Texan introduced me to the Mex
lean, and informed him that I was the
Harrison County gentleman who hal
been in correspondence with him in
relation to purchasing flock Of sheep.
T also received a kindly welcome, and:
poems taking our '.nimals, We were
led into the house.
stAh, Don Thomas!" exclaimed The
old lady, after We had been seated,
eve are so happy to see you again"
And then both. she and her husband,
speaking toset} er, commenced lcnS
story, how the Texan had saved their
lives few years before, when their
,:anche had oeen attacked by thicy-
ing band Of Comanches. According
20 their account, he, with small
party of rangers, had performed won
ders OF valor, for, coming upon the
settlement after the savages had al
reeSr-eat fra to -naa1su-af Alaa-,,a,acke ec
lie attacked more than ten times lis
"cwn numbers, and Staying more than
half Of them, saved the lives of the
entire settlement, since which the In-
Iians had not ventured to return.
During this recital I observed my
companion sat uneasily in his chair,
and seemed impatient Of his own
praises.
"Tut, int, my good friends, you lay
it on too thick" said he, as they con-
cluded their earnest talk. eyer see,
stranger, and some of the boys hap
pened along here a few years ago,
When we discovered party Of red
skins plundering the ranches, and
what could we do but drive 'em of,
that's ali. To be sure it was pretty
warm fight, and some of the boys got
hurt, but after all 'twa'n't nothing to
brag on"
sAnd he saved my life yesterday, y
said 7 to the Mexicans; and then I
repeated the occurrence of the previ-
Gus day, adding that I had not even
yet heard the name Of my preserve er.
you cannot have been long in
Texas" said Don Pancho, eff you
have not heard the name Of Thomas
Johnson, usually called Black John,
son. Then let me introduce you,
gentlemen"
''Black Johnson, 7 repeated. 20
yes; L have indeed heard his name
before" And then came freshly to
mind the anecdotes I had heard oi
this hraHe Tayan.