The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1915-04-09

reached the outer cabins on the Colorado of
Jacob lIarrel and Reuben llornsby. She was
SO torn with thorns and briers, 50 nearly with
out rament and so bruised about the face
that her condition was pitiable. Providen-
tially (as every old pioneer untalnted with
heathenism believed) eighteen rangers, the
first ever raised under the revolutionary gov
eminent of Texas, and commanded by Cap
tain John j. Tumlinson, had arrived two
days before and were encamped at the cab
in of Homsby. To this warm-hearted and
gallant officer Mrs llibbns was personally
known and to him she hastily narrated her
sad story.
Tumlinson knew the country somewhat and
felt sure he could find the Indians at given
point further up the country lie Travelled
nearly all night, halting only short whlle
before day to rest his horses, resuming the
march at runrise, and about 9 o'clock came
upon the Indians encamped, but on the eve
of departure. / have the privilege ms to what
followed of quoting the exact language Of
Captain Tumlinson, written for me forty
years ago as follows;
"Tho Indians discovered us just rs we dis
covered them. but had not time TO get their
horses. so they commenced running ON foot
toward the mountain thickets. threw Lieu
tenant Joseph Rogers, with eight men, below
them and with the others ! dashed past and
took possession of their route above them.
The Indians saw that the route above and
below them was in our possession and struck
off for the mountain thicket nearest the side
of the trail | ordered Lieutenant Rogers to
charge. and fell upon them simultaneously.
| saw an Indian aiming his rifle at me- but
knew that he must be a better marksman
than | had seen among them TO Int me gong
at nv horses speed, and did not heed him
until got among them Then eaped from
nv horse and turned toward him; at the
same instant he fired, the ball passed through
the bosom of my shirt and struck my horse
in the neck, killing him Immediately. |
aimed deliberately and fired. The Indian
sprang few feet into the air, gave one whoop
and fell dead within twenty-five feet of me.
The fight now became general The Indians,
thirteen in number, armed with bows and
rifles, were endeavoring TO make good their
retreat toward the thicket. Several of them
fell, and two of my men were wounded when
finally they effected an entrance into the
thicket which was so dense that it would have
been madness to have attempted to penetrate
il. and we were forced to cease the pursuit
dispatched Rogers after the child, the
horses and mules of the Indians, while | re-
NAMED watching the thicket to guard against
surprise. He found the child in the Indian
camp tied on the back Of wild mule, with
his robe and equipments about him fixed on
for the days march, and had to shoot the
mule in order TO get the child. He also sue
ceeded in getting hold of all the animals of
the Indians and those they had stolen My
men Immediately selected the best horse in
the lot, which they presented to me in place
Of the one that was killed
eve watched for the Indians a while long
or, and in the meantime sent runner for
the doctor TO see to the wounded. | sent
portion of the men under the command of
Rogers with the child, and the wounded men
and | brought up the rear. The wounded
were Elijah, shot in the arm, the ball rang
ing upward TO the shoulder; also Hugh NJ
Childers, shot through the leg. OF the In
dians,. four we're killed We arrived that
night at Mr.. Harrell's where we found Mrs
Hibbins, the mother Of the child. Lieutenant
Rogers presented the child TO its mother, and
the scene that ensued beggars description.
Not an eye was dry. She called us brothers
and every other endearing name, and would
have fallen on her knees to worship us. She
Rugged her child 10 her bosom as IL fearful
that ahn rvould aUain oao him -