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


the west side Of the Guadalupe, near little
creek, with a spring some 200 yards in front
OF the cabin they erected This was in the
lower edge Of DeWitt's colony, as it is now
in the lower edge of Dewitt county. Their
nearest neighb0r was Andrew Lockhart, ten
miles up the river, and one of large fam
lily OF sterling pioneers on the Guadalupe
bearing that name. Mrs. McSherry was a
beautiful blonde, an excellent type of the
country girls of the West in that day. very
handsome in person, graceful in manner and
pure Of heart, Mr.. McSherry was an honest
industrious man of nerve and will. They
were happily devoted 10 each other
Early in 1929 their first child, John, was
born in that isolated cabin in one of the
most lovely spots Of the Southwest.
Later in the same year, about noon on a
pleasant day, Mr. McShery went to the
spring for bucket of water. AS he rose
from the bank bucket in hand, a party of
Indians with wild yells sprang from the
bushes and in moment he was liieless and
scalped corpse. His wife, hearing the yells,
ran 10 the door and realizing the peril of
herself and infant, barred the door, seized
the gun and resolved to defend herself and
baby until death. The savages surveyed the
situation and Unanswered to and fro, but
failed to attack the cabin and soon disap-
peared. Thus she was left alone, ten miles
from the nearest habitation and without
road to that or any other place.
About dark John McCrabb, fearless and
excellent man, well armed and mounted, but
wholly unaware of the sad condition Of mat
tiers, rode up to the cabin to pass the night.
Hearing the recital from the young wife of
the particulars of her husbands death, his
90 do ctr nd
heart beat in sympathy as became whole
souled lrishman.
Very soon he placed the young mother and
babe ON his horse, and by the light of the
stars. started on foot, through the wilderness,
for the house of Andrew Lockhart, reaching
it before daylight where warm hearts be-
slowed all possible care and kindness on
chose so ruthlessly stricken in the wilderness
and so remote from all kindred ties.
Mrs. McSherry for considerable time
found "A home and friends with the Lock
harts but a few years later married John
Hibbins, Il worthy man, who settled on the
east side of the Guadalupe in the vicinity OF
where the town of Concrete now stands IN De
Witt county.
In the summer Of 1885, with her little boy,
John McShcrry, and an infant by Mr. hlb-
bins she revisited her kindred in Illinois.
She returned via New Orleans in the winter
nf 1e35.36 accompanied by her brother,
George breath, Il single man, and landed at
Columbia on the Brazos, where early IN Feb
ruary. 1888, Mr. Ilbbins met them with an
OK cart in which they began the journey
home They crossed the Colorado at Bea.
sons and fell into the ancient La Bahia ROAD
ON the upper Navidad. In due time they ar
rived and were about encampng on Rock
II. tl.. mt
of Sweet Home in Lavaca county, and with
in fifteen or sixteen miles Of their home,
when they were suddenly attacked by thlr-
teen Indian warriors who Immediately killed
Ilibbins and breath, made captives Mrs.
Hibbins and her two children, took posses
sion of all the effects and at leisure moved
off up the country with perfect unconcern.
They Travelled slowly up through the timbered
country the Peach creek region between the
Guadalupe and the Colorado, securely tying
Mrs. Hibbins at night and lying encircled
around her. About the second day, at one of
their camps, the baby cried with pain for
some time, when one Of the Indians seized il
by the feet and dashed ont its brains against
tree, all in the presence of its helpless
mother.
For two or three DAYS at this time Mrs
Hibbins distinctly heard tine guns in the siege
of the Alamo, ut least sixty miles 10 the west.
That she did so was made certain little
later by her imparting the news TO others
till then unaware Of that world-renowned
struggle.
In due time her captors crossed the Colo
RADIO al the mouth of Shoal creek, now IN
the city of Austin. They moved on three or
four miles and encamped On the south edge
of A cedar brake, where severe norther
came mn and caused them to remain three
nights and two days. On the third night the
Indians were engaged in a game till late and
then slept soundly. Mrs Hibbins determined
10 escape, if possible. Cautiously she freed
herself of the cords about her wrists and an
Lies and stepping over the bodies Of her UNI