Eastland County, Texas - Chapter 9, 1904

-Futile efforts were made to secure a description of this fight, which gave a name to the creek. It cannot be stated definitely whether the attacking party were Rangers, soldiers, or a scout.

"Why, husband, think what goodly company we'll have if we starve ! Bait we have beans yet - a bucket full, and whoever comes to stay with us through the night brings something for you. Your fever did not run so high to-day, either. There now," she added, patting up his pillow, "isn't that better?"

"The grass is so much better there. Besides, don't you see I am buckling on your six shooter, and here's 'old trusty,' " taking up a gun. "Why, husband, I could fight a dozen Indians !"

But the woman could not deceive her husband. He well knew she did not possess the courage she feigned. It frightened her even to handle a gun. How could she defend herself if attacked !

"Just the sight of that wood terrifies mie," she whispered to herself, pausing half way between the house and the gate. "I've a good notion not to go after nil - but - oh, I guess there's no Indian hiding," and nerving herself for the dreaded ordeal, she ran quickly down to where the young mure was "lariated out," and waf stooping to untie hej- when two Indian? arose from the

The hissing arrows, the sight of the "red demons/' their own\\ard rush so paralyzed her that she dropped her gun, and a ntoment later fell dead with an arrow in her heart.

The man on the bed with the baby playing by hi.s side, listened with bated breath for the first sound of his wife's voice. He heard the sharp, quick yell of the Indians, then caught the sound of her cry. With one effort, he leaped from the bed - and fell. He forgot that he was sick, forgot that he had not stood on his feet for weeks.

He raised himself on his elbow, but could see nothing. He listened for the sound of his wife's running feet, but all was still. Again he listened. He heard the gallop of the mare he had raised from a colt, and he knew the Indians had scalped and probably killed the mother of his baby. He raised his voice and called -

"She's dead ! Dear Lord, she's dead ! But the dead could have heard that call. T\Tiere's the baby?" - feeling around him. "Is she dead, too? I'll call her. Su - ISTo! ISTo! I'm afraid. Why, how warm it is! I was cold a moment ago. Bow strong I feel! Martha, the fire's made. I'll go feed the filly, I hear her nickering. The dawn is breaking."

The neighbor gave liim a drink of water and put a wet cloth on his head ; then finding the woman lying dead, mounted his horse and rode rapidly to the nearest house to give the alarm.

For many days the sick man's life hung in the balance, and it was not until the green grass covered her grave that he ventured to ask where his wife lay.

Mir. Keith and Mr. McGough are the authority for the above incident. Their recollection of details differed slightly, but the result was the same.

One day, early in 1869, Mts. Blair took her small children, leaving Delphia and Charlsie at hom,e to do the family wash, and went to see a sick married daughter living near. She left a pot of peas and bacon on the hearth, with some fried eggs and bread in a skillet all ready for the girls' dinner.

There was small danger of Indians at that time, yet the instinct to watchfulness had been well trained, and the frontiersman was ever on the alert.

'IWell, I'm going to eat the best first," laughed Charlsie, "and then I'll know that I have it." A noise at the gate aroused the girls and Charlsie, aged thirteen, went to the door.

Mercy, me! Delphia, it's a big negro man." Her sister came to look and cried out, "Charlsie! it's au Indian !" The younger girl darted under the foot curtain of her mother's bedstead, while Delphia hurriedly hid herself between the two feather beds.

The Indian came on, opened the door, looked around, (Charlsie watching him through the curtains), went to the glass, combed his hair, turned to the fire-place and discovered Delphia's eggs as well as Charlie's peas. These he quickly dispatched, Scooping up the peas witli his hand.

Mrs. Blair had sent hei little boy, Dave, and a smaller girl, Adeline, across the field to her home for some medicine. When the bov stepped in at the door, the Indian looked up and said, "Come in," but the little ten year old lad turned, and catching his sister by the hand, made his way back to his mother as fast as hi;i legs could carry him, coaxing his sister, when she stumbled or fell behind, "Run, Sissie, run, or the Indian will catch you."

As the children did not see the girls, the miothei naturally supposed they had. been murdered, and she started home, screaming. She was cautioned to so by a neighbor's, and not expose herself to a like fate. This E.he did, and she and Mr. Bell cautiously appr;ached the house, the mother not being able to restrain hei grief, as no sign of life appeared about the place. When they entered, the Indian rose, held out his hand ajid said, "Howdy." ("bobsheely.") Mr. Bell shook hands with him. "I don't want to shake hands with yu," s.iid Mrs. Blair. "Tell me what you have done with my children."

"Why, Ma, here we are !" cried out Charlsie, coming out from under the bed, while Delphia at the same tine tumbled out from her snug hiding place. The uiother, clasping her children to her breast, began shcui;- iug. When her Joy had somewhat subsided, she wont up rn the Indian and said, "Now, I'll shake handi^ with yc-v, I've found my children."

In the meantime Mr. Blair and M't. Whatley, who had been out after board timber, came in. The Indian m..de them to understand that believing the whitt; man :\oald not kill the red man if he gave himself i-p, he had waited several days for an opportune time. He wa.^ guarded closely over night and sent to Dublin next morning, from which place the soldiers carried hiin !>:iek to ihe * Comanche?.

*Mr. Keith and Mr. Smith say he was sent to the Comanches. Mr. Keith says the Tonkawiays wanted him, but the soldiers would not give him up. Mr. Sam Allen has always understood he was given to the "Tonks," who madf; him "run the gauntlet" - covering a given space and not being hit by the squaws and children lined up. As he wa<i hit, they killed and scalped him.

in Mr. Bob l^arton. The Indian told him his squaw had been in a raid some \\-i'elvs bi'fore and as she had never returned, he had come to hunt for her.