Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-07-13

off the trail were made, but they were
not successful.
THE most difficult time to follow an
Indian or Mexican trail is in extreme
ly dry weather when hoof prints Of
horses or shoe prints Of man cannot
be discerned on the rocky ground. The
only guidance then Is to watch for
overturned stones and broken grass.
If the stones show a fresh side know
that the trail Is not more than a few
hours old. If the sun has commenced
to 'sun-burn' the stone know that the
trail is from two to five days old. 1t is
also comparatively easy to determine
the age Of the trail at river crossings.
The condition Of the footprints in the
mud or sand Is a sure guidance. It
frequently happened that the trail dis
appeared when a stream Of running
water was reached. This was due to
the fugitives going either up or down
the stream. We usually knew the rem
devious Of the Indians or outlaws we
were pursuing, and this ruse seldom
succeeded in keeping us off the trail
for any great length Of time.
II have frequently trailed Indians
from Central Texas to the Mexican
border. In those stirring days little
was thought Of such trips. We almost
lived in the saddle and were prepared
to leave on long chase at a moments
notice. 1t was this etetrnal vigilance
that finally suppressed the indian dep
relations in west Texas and broke up
the many bands of outlaws that infest-
ed the Rio Grande border in the '7Os
and early 'S0s. The Rangers gave no
quarter; and many battles occurred
which were never heard Of by the gene
raj public. The Rio Grande was no
barrier when the Rangers were hot on
a chase for Indians or outlaws. Many
instances occurred where the pusuit
was continued far into Mexico and des-
perate fights occurred on Mexican soil.
1t was only by going into their
own territory in Mexico that the rang
ers were able to put stop to the raids
that these Indians were constantly
making on this side Of the border.
Captain L. H. McNelly and his COM
pany Of rangers were the terror Of the
Mexican cattle and horse thieves who
infested the border. This brave band
Of men performed some wonderful feats
Of endurance and bravery. Nothing
seemed too desperate for them to un-
dertake. Hardly a day passed that
they did not have fight. I remember
one chase which Captain McNelly and
his man had after a band Of Mexican
cattle thieves. The outlaws had stolen
q herd Of ESQ head Of cattle and driven
them into Mexico. McNelly and his
company struck the trail in November,
1875. After a chase Of several days the
thieves were overtaken at Las Cuevas,
Mexico. In the fight that took place
five Mexicans were killed and one was
wounded. The cattle were recovered.
The rangers remained in the vicinity
Of Las Cuevas for several weeks scout
ing for members Of the band Of out
laws who had escaped. They came
across a slaughter house for stolen cat
tie, about 40 miles north Of Las Cuevas
A Mexican ranchero was in charge Of
the place and he was killed. Three
months later Captain McNelly and his
company struck a party Of Mex
leans crossing stolen cattle at a point
below Rio Grande City. The rangers
fired on the Mexicans. killing two and
badly wounding another. The cattle
were recovered. These are only few
Of many deeds of daring performed on
the frontier by the rangers during those
early days Of lawlessness. New York
Sun.