The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-11-07

The little thing went to sleep in a moment
Dawson thus made his escape and when the
Indians left he went back, got the babe and
carried il TO its almost frenzied mother. After
the people left Elmore's house the Indians
plundered it, took what they wanted and set
fire to it. The people forted up at Captain
Potter's soon saw the flames of Elmore's
house and knew that the Indians were com
ing on in their direction. About a mile and
a half south of Captain Potter's lived the fam
lilies Of Ephraim Clark and Harrison Lander.
These families contrary to their usual Gus
tom, failed to go TO Captain Potter's, as their
neighbors had done when they received the
report Of the raid. When the people at Pot
ter's saw Elmore's house burning they knew
il was too late to get Clark and Lander's
families To Potter's. Hence they concluded
il was best to 20 to Clark's or Lander's, as
they lived very near together About the
time they were leaving the house, James Nc
Nabb, who had left early that morning for
his home n mile away, came seurrying back,
holly pursued by a squad Of Indians who
were in advance of the main body McNabb
made n narrow escape. Before he dismount-
ed. the Indians surrounded the house and
tried TO cut him off from his horse, but he
escaped by making the horse jump the fence.
The people forted at Potter's, as well as his
own family, made hasty retreat to Lander's
house, stopping To get the Clarks. Many OF
the children were taken from bed, without
waiting to be dressed, hurried into wagon
and rapidly driven away. They had not
reached Lander's before they saw flames
bursting from the roof of Captain Potter's
house Mr.. Lander's house was situated on
a prairie knoll near very high and precipi-
tous bluff Here the frightened women and
children were gathered inside, while four men
and three boys, with poor and uncertain guns
in their hands. stood in the yard and about
outhouses ready TO protect as best thew could
all that was dear to them. Soon the Indians
came-not in a body, but in squads and
strings. They had bedecked their horses with
sheets, quilts, counterpanes, tabeclOths Ia
dies wearing apparel, etc
The women were frantic. They naturally
supposed everyone had been killed at FL
more s. because they had seen the house burn.
II was known that they had ms much or more
fighting force at Elmore's than they had at
Lander's and when the overwhelming force
of Indians came in sight. strung out for n con
siderable distance. with their yells and queer
decorations, all hope sank. Some women
prayed, some screamed and cried, while
others held their children 10 their bosoms in
mute despair Soon the Indians were around
the place and had driven off the loose horses
that had been herded along by the fleeing
people with the hope Of saving them. The
horses which had been ridden or driven we're
brought inside the yard fence and tied II
was some time before the Indians and as
they would come up they would stop near
the house. shoot arrows at the men in the
yard, occasionally fire a gun OF pistol. and
at times some daring fellow would come
within gun-shot but the citizens were too ex-
perienced in Indian warfare to fire until IL
had 70 be done in order TO save the dear ones
in the house. The Indians were 50 slow about
making an attack upon the house that Id was
thought the women and children might be
hurried over the steep bluff just north Of the
house and down this the Indians could not
follow them on horseback. and III the bluff
could be reached escape was certain for most
Of the party. A plan was soon arranged; the
Indians were south of the house and the main
body Of them 300 yards awav. The bluff was
$50 yards away. The men and hoye with
guns we're 10 mount their horses and form a