The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-04-24


captured by Mcxi,an Rurales after a
desperate battle few days since on
the Rio Grande is none other than Il
noted adventures and all round bad
woman who is well known in the In
dian territory and Texas as Zalla,
"Thc Devils Ace She is now con
fined in military hospital in Monte
rcy. and her physicians say that she
has performed her last daring exploit
and fought her last battle.
This strange character who has ex-
pcricnced ,icissi,udcs Of fortune in
her short career without a parallel
outside of the widest dreams of fc
ton, was born in an Indian village on
the western plains. Her father was a
mysterious Frcnchman who lived with
the Comanches for moro than half a
century. He married the daughter Of
Iron jacket and raised large family
of children. After the G ranches
settled on their present reservation
this Frenchman, whom the Indians
called Heap Write, from the fec. that
he spent great deal of his time in
writing, built home of no small pro
portions and devoted all Of his really
Gnc abilities to the education of his
family. II was said that he was
man of profound erudition aud an ao-
complished linguist Some of his
children showed their Indian blood in
their form, complexion and every mo-
tion, while others were far and Of
such fine address that strangers would
never have suspected that their moth
or Was a Comanche.
Zallas eyes were blue, like her
fathers when she was not atlamo with
anger, but when she was mad her eyes
were any and all colors, seemingly
capable of emitting rays Of terror.
The Ilurales Who captured her say
that she has hccn well numc. for she
certainly fought as if she were the ace
of al outlaws inspired with the fury
of devil
Surprised by shower of carbinc
balls while her long train Of burros
bearing packs Of contraband goods was
just entering the waters Of the Rio
Grande, she rode straight toward the
soldiers lying in ambush, pouring q
blaze Of FIRE from her Winchester as
she advanced. While her horse had
been shot from under her and one arm
was hanging shattered by her side, she
urged her confederates forward.
Swinging her revolver over her head
and shrieking like wounded panther,
she continued to advance until the
last cartridge Of tho smugglers had
been fired, and then, drawing stiletto,
she ordered her poems to assault the
Rurales with the bowie knives. A
soldier who seized her by the should
ers lost one of his fingers. She Bit it
off and spat it in his face. While
Capt. Horan was attempting to stanch
the blood flowing from her wounded
arm she attacked him with her finger
nails.
1t would doubtless be difficult to
make these Rural Guards believe that
not many years have passed since this
same incarnate fury who fought them
with such desperation was greatly
admired belle of the border, who sang
the sweetest songs and was as gentle
as cooing dove.
Zalla was the beauty Of the family,
and no one ever suspected her when
abe was young girl of possessing the
terrible traits Of character which she
afterwards displayed She spent one
year at school, either at Jacksonville,
ILL.,, or place of the same name in
some other State, and when she re-
turned to the territory it was ca:y to
see that she had mastered many little
arts that gave her considerable advan-
tage over her sisters.
Few young giris were ever SO great
ly admired as this same Ralla. Army
officers on duty ct the frontier forts
declared that she was strangely beau
tiful creature, and there we're plenty
Of young men, rich in cattle and lands,
who we're ready TO lay their fortunes
NJ her foot Moupted IN n moopifcop
black horse, caparisoned with glitter
ing trappings, she often dashed
through the streets of Chickasha. fol-
lowed by ten or fif,eea young warriors
riding white ponies and carrying long
bright lanccs and FURNISHED shields.
Alter the death OF her father she be-
gan to extend her excursions to the
frontier forts. where she was always Il