El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-11
HEROIC-PATRIOTIC.

HEROIC-PATRIOTIC.
Early in the spring of 1899, when the
trees were covered with green
leaves and the earth with
green grass and many kinds of
sweet smelling flowers which per-
fumed the air, and the forest echoed
with music of the festbered songstere
and everything alive seemed to enjoy
existence, band of 500 Commences
attac ed the sestlements near Austin,
Just located in the hunting ground OF
the Indians.
They first attacked, about 10 O'Clock
in the morning, the house OF the widow
Coleman near the Colorado river,
SKI, en miles below Austin. She WAS
In the garden at the time with her
little son Thomas, about seven years OF
age, and, on the approach OF the In
dams, called him and ran to the house.
At the door she turned to look fo-
little Thomas, and as she did SO an In
dian shot an arrow into her neck.
Entering the house now Mrs- Cole man,
assisted by another son thirteen years
old, barred the door and then, taking
down rifle, with the instinct paternal
of trying to defend her family, sat
down with the gun across her lap.
The deadly arrow, however, had done
Its work aud she soon fell from the
chair and expired after Withdrawing
the arrow. The son now took posses
sion of the gun and as the Indians
approached the door fred through 1t
and killed their chief, who fell dead
on the door step. Twice more the
gallant boy loaded and fred the rife
and killed one more Indian and
wounded the third. An Indian
now, however, thrust lance through
q crack in the house and ran the brave
boy through the body. He fell near the
bed VIII ere bis sisters and brother we're
concealed, and the eldest girl took bis
head in her lap. While bleeding to
death ne told the poor little ones that
he would not groan to let them know
that he was wounded. Father is dead,
mother IS dead" said be, land l am
dying, but something tells me that
God will protect you" The Indians
not knowing the situation and fearing
thedeadly rife balls, failed to enter the
house, and the balance of the children
were saved On account of the heroism
of the gallant frontier boy who sup.
pressed his dying groans so tina, the
Indians would not know that they had
dIsaolei ain. Little Thomas was
carried off. aud Texas, history tells Us
of the defeat of the Indians and his
rescue by the gallant Ed Burleson and
his no less gallant men. A brother,
however, VI NSueE6l oUTlSsou "ao
killed and three others, among whom
was Ed Blakelv, whose mother was q
widow. On arriving at Fort Willoarg-
err, where the families were forted up
the dead bodies were depositedtn
room to themselves amid the
frantic shrieks of mothers and wives.
Mrs. Blakely start ted into the room to
take a last look at her son, but was
stopped and told not to go in as Edward
was shot in the face and horribly dis
figured, and that the sight would be
too painful for her. She claimed and
demanded the right as a mother to
take last look at her son; it was
granted, and going into the ROOM
kneeled by his body, wiped the
blood and brains OoZing from
his forehead, kissed him and for
moment rested her head upon bis
manly breast: and then rising, pale
and calm, exclaimed in loud,
clear voice: "His father and brother
died in defense of their country and
now he is dead-my only living pro-
tector. But # [ had thousand cons,
and my country needed them, would
give them ups Her husband was
killed at the battle of San Jacinto,
and her other son was killed in a
battle with the Indians.
A similar incident is recorded during