The Washington times., 1906-01-25
FAMOUS INDIAN
REGAINS HEALTH
Chief Quanah Parker Active
Once Again.
SON OF CAPTIVE WHITE GIRL
Story of His Mothers Life Among
the Romanees of the
Southwest.
SON OF CAPTIVE WHITE GIRL

LAWTON, Okla. Jan 25.-Chief QUA
nah Parke~, OF the Comanches. barely
escaped passing TO the happy hunting
grounds during his recent attack Of in
fiammat0ry rheumatism. Fer two weeks
he lay FRUSTRATED upon his bed. making
and taking his own medicine and re-
ceiving the kind ministrations of Too
Nicey, his most favorite squaw.
Several times the pains reached his
heart and NJ feared the end was near
but his recovery has been complete and
he goes out cheerfully determined in
his declining years 10 avoid exposure
and other ways of contracting disease.
He now makes his regular trips into the
pasture reservation. TO the Indian agency
and travels along with his fellow-men.
a strong. athletic type OF his hardy
race.
Chief Parler's mother was white
girl who was captured in the massacre
of a Texas settlement by the Conan
ches. The story of her life of twenty
three years among one of the fiercest
tribes OF the Southwest as the only
wife of a great chief is one of the ro-
mantle stories of the early days in
Texas.
Massacre Of Fort Parker
Because O periodical depredations by
the Wild ard blOOdthirsty Comanches,
who We're the last tribe of the South
west 10 make terms of peace with the
whites. Captain Parker erected "a strong
stockade, into which the little settlement
would gather al the signal of danger.
One night in the carly autumn of 1897
while scurrying gulf clouds Obscured The
fun moon. suddenly, without warning
and before the signal could be given.
the Comanches swooped down upon the
little settlement. It was fierce strug-
Ele. bat not for long, as the odds were
overwhelmingly in favor of the Indians
The garrison fought desperately and
III" battle was a bloody one. all the
whites being killed except the little son
and daughter Of Captain Parker. Fort
Parker was at the foot of the Tehuucana
hills. where two years later the Yoa-
kums settled ana where i'm 1850 was born
Col. B. F. Yoakum. now head Of the
Rock Island-Frisco railroads.
Little Cynthia Ann. the DAUGHTER of
Capt. George Parker. has been described
as wiasome and bright child and very
precoCious. She was nine years old at the
time of the massacre and was taken cap
tive by the Indians with her brother.
He escaped the second night and lived
several years after the capture OF his
sister.
Among the warriors who captured her
was Nacona. young buck. who was
considered a leader and promising
among them as future chief He
claimed her, and she was brought up Tor
him by the sQUaWs and when she was
lGIIf rif~.er1 ID
near that age as she could tell in late
years she became his wife
Expedition after expedition was organ
lzei ana sent out 10 search for the miss
ing girl by several of her relatives who
lived in Anderson county. Texas where
many Of them still reside.
Eacona Slain in Battle.
Twenty-three years slipped 10y and the
Comanches continued to make their in
cursinns into Texas. going as far down
as Austin, until just before the breaking
out Of the civil war. 1t was in 1850 that
news came Of a large body OF COmanches
deprcdating settlements on the Bosque.
above Waco. Capt. L. sullivan Ross.
afterward the gallant Confederate brig
adler general and later governor of
Texas, was ordered 10 take troops and
70 eXterminate the marauding savases.
II possible he started at tile head of a
good body OF men and in a few DAYS
surprised the Indians
The COmanches, who were under the
leadership OF their young chief, Nacona,
saw that 4 was to be a fight 10 the
finish No quarter was asked or given
The Texans soon gained the day, bar
not until after they had killed nearly
all the Indians. including Nacoua
The remainder began a wild flight
with the Texans I'm hot pursuit. deter
mined 70 obey the orders TO eXtermiuate
them IL they could One young Indian
who had been always near the chief as
long as he was alive, was the most des-
perate fighter among them He seemed
10 bear a charmed life. for several shots
aimed at him pOiut-blank failed 10 hit
him
Sew raj Texans pursued him. among
then Captain Ross himself. just as a
Texas Ranger had gotten within pistol
shot ri the young savage and leveIed
his pistol TO shoot the warrior turned
quickly, pointed a pistol at the Texans
head and fired The Ranger rolled from
his horse and Captain Ross rode for
ward, reached the side OF The Indians
horse and was preparing TO shoot when
the young Comanche suddenly cried out
IN broken English:
warrior" Was a Woman.
NO shoot! Me paleface Me pale
face squaw!" cried the fugitive, at the