The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-14
The LEONA HERWIT
WILD LIFE IN VEST TEXAS IN
CHE EARLY DAYS. q n n 4

hle The hat, the ton form, long gun ana
all were very faithfully portrayed, conSd-
crlng the material, red paint ON finger or
stick and traced by savage hund West
fall was six feet three and threc-fourths
inches I'm height slim build blue eyes, nut
brown hair, strong and active.
no show the reader TO what dangers he
WIS constantly exposed when alone we Will
give an instance: ON one occasion he went
on foot TO take n short hunt and the In
dams came In his absence aud laid an
ambush for him. They saw his trail whore
he had left the cabiu and crossed the small
river on a foot log, having fellcd = tan tree
for that purpose when having occasion TO
pass to the other side. Here at this log
baud Of Indians concealed themselves
and awaited his return
lust before shutdown they saw him COM
ing, hut his keen eye discovered nm Indian
who had exposed soue portion uf his body
In trying to get n good view for shot at
him He Instantly turned hack, knowing
an ambush was there, and the Indians foi,
lowed him, They came very cautiously.
dreading the long rifle, and hermit soon
lay down on his stomach SO that he could
better conceal his person and look below the
under5rqsh TO catch slght 9t the Indians
should they follow. In this manner he
awaited developments,
~
Soon the Indians commenced a great
yelling all on one side OF the thickct as II
they In n body were going to rush his posi-.
ton Westfall was not disturbed Mt this
lie was used to yelling Indians. He only
turned his head n little and listened, won
dering what kind OF a trick they were goiul
10 try 10 play on him. soon, however q
stick cracked In the other direction and hi
| Eyes and attention were directed there
| With his face almost to the ground and hi
rifle ready he waited.
! a bush moved and dnally q dark object
which developed into the red face an,
| black head Of an Indian, was seen as he
! slowly inch at a time, came into view
| looking for the white man At this tim,
the Indians We're yelling terribly and rat
! ting the brush at the other side OF the
/ thicket. For only II few moments did tn,
| face Of the Indian remain In view, whet
| the crack Of a ride was heard ana the
| brush around where Mestfall lay was en-
! He remained quiet aud commenced reload
| ing his gun AS he lay. The yelling Of III,
| other Indians ceased at once. Instead OF
the exultant yell Of their companion in tn,
| brush announcing his victory and that h,
had driven an arrow deep into the body o
his foe, the rifle Of the white man had beer
heard.
When the smoke cleared away westfal
saw that he had got the Indian. His Ions
hair could be plainly seen spread out OF
the outside and the white man hnall,
crawled TO where the dead Indian lay, III,
had been Killed instantly shot between
the eyes. His bow was strung and au ar
row was in his hand ready to shoot
4 The plan OF the Indians was TO attract thu
WINE man ny the yelllhg III that direction
while this Indian was 70 crawl upon HIN
from the other side and drive an arrow
through his body. Luck favored the pail
face this time by the breaking OF the stick
When the slain Indian did not return AN,
nothing could be heard from him the other
knew he was a victim Of the shot tho,
heard ana took their departure without an.
further investigation,
When night came Westfall cautiously lef
the thickct and returned 10 his cabin hu
not by way Of the foot log He ayoide,
that and crossed lower down
On this occasion Westfall not wishing hl
dogs to follow had left them IN the cahlu
and although the Indians had heen nj
around they did not approach within gun
shot of the place. An open space had bee
cleared an around the house.
\
In San Antonio westfall succeeded In gel
ang three young men to come cut and shar