The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-02
TIE VAN monk EIGHT


There are many historic places along the
route where the old-time Rangers, before
our time, fought desperate battles with
the Comanche Indians. The FIRST one Of
which was the Wichita River, where Ma
jor Earl Van Dorm. on the LIST day of Oc-
tOher 1895 fought his great battle with
the ComanChe Indians This was far out
beyond the line of frontier ana Van Dorm
had hunted them to their stronghold. The
white force consisted Of between 100 and
800 men, regulars, Rangers and friendly
Delaware and CaddO Indians The Co
mauches numbered 4Ol warriors, as near
as could be estimated. The place where
they fought was called the Wichita village
but the exact SPOT can not be located by
the writer
The Indians met Van Dorn's charge with
great bravery and Il WAS more than IN
hour before they could be routed. many
hand 90 hand combats taking place. They
finally lcd and scattered. leaving ifty-slN
of their braves dead on the field and many
more wounded. most Of the latter escaping
ON their horses MANY were supposed to
have died Of those wounded In the sur
rounding hills and rayines Some gallant
men among the whites we're killed and
wounded, among the latter being Major
Van Dorm and Captuin Sui. Ross both Sc
yerclY. Captain Ross led the friendly In
dams IN the light and was wounded In a
hand to hand combat. The white men on
this occasion were sixteen hours in the sad
DIE without hating, including the charge,
fight and pursuit.
In the Vicinity Of Wichita Falls Is a fine
farming country and from the numerous
straw stacks In sight. from the train.
small grain Is one of the chief products.
SIS far as the farming interest Is concerned,
but raising stock must be the chief indus
try.
In Goodnights pasture few buffalo can
be seen which he Is raising and In other
places along the route Wild antelope,
prairie chickens and coyotes occasionally
come Into view The prairie dogs sim
a ha Hn4-f1o
10 destroy them which have been tried
by farmers and stOckmen to save their
grass and crops. Thousands can be seen
on both sides Of the track, as saucy as
ever, standing on their hind feet on the
little mounds around their holes and chlrp-
ing kind Of squirrel bark, accompanied
tails ms the monster engine goes putting
by them II they had been called prairie
SQUIRRELS Instead Of dogs their numbers
for they are fat and well tasting. nearly
II not as good as a fox squirrel which
they resemble only they are larger They
live on grass weeds, 'oots, etc. The Ran
gers often eat them when short Of pro-
visions on u scout.
The next place Of interest to old.tlme
rangers was Pease river.
In 1850 Governor Sam Houston commits
stoned Captain Sal. Ross to raise com
pany Of sixty men to operate against the
Comanehes. who, .notwithstandlng their
terrible defeat by Major Van Dorm. stlll
raided the exposed settlements. having
their stronghold now further west on
Pease river. 10 December Captain Ross
set ont with his command from Fort Be!k
nap to find the Conianches His force
besides the Rangers, was twenty regulars
from Camp Cooper and some volunteers
from Bosque county.
INDIANS AT PEASE RIVER.
On the 18th day OF December 1860,
while the command was marching M
Pease river Captain Ross was Of the
opinion that Indians were in the vicinity
on account OF the great number ~ bufal0
that came running from the north towards
them. The Indians were soon discerucd
IN large force on small creek near the
river and fierce battle was fought. The
Indians We're surprised By the rangers
whose presence In the vicinity was not dis
covered on account Of a sand storm which
hid them from view until they were close
on them, The Comanche chief peta Ma
coma, when the battle went against him
tried to make HIS escape with his sauaw
and four children across the prairie Cap
range hred with his pistol and Killed rs
year-old girl who was riding behind the
chief. Ross thought she was q man; she
tode IKE q man and only the. top Of her
which she had around her When she fsli
she pulled the chief on with her. but he
lit on his feet and commenced a battle
with Captain Ross, using his bow. while
the captain defended himself with a navy
revolver. IL was a close fight but the
chief was killed, but not before ne had
wounded the captain and his horse An
other ranger came up and captured the
squaw and another little girl
As soon as Captain Ross saw the captive
he said she was not an Indian as he
never saw one that had blue eyes. This
prisoner was the famous Cynthia Ann
Parker. captured when. little Girl at the
massacre Of Fort Parker In 1886 Now.
after an association OF twenty-five wears
with the Indians and wife OF the chief.
she was 70 all intents and purposes an
Indian. She had two sons. both az whom
escaped the battle Quanah. the Oldest
hid himself in the tall grass while the
ngnt was going on ana witnessed the ter
rible slaughter Of his people (alonr the
banks q Pease .riverl IN which Bis father
WAS Killed and his mother, Prcioch, as sbe
was called by the Indians. was captured.