During 1863, Henry Arhelger and a companion were scouting near Fredericksburg in Gillespie County. Henry Arhelger was riding a mule, which can never run so fast, and his companion who was riding a fleet horse, when the two were attacked by a large band of Indians. The companion made his escape, but Arhelger was soon overtaken and compelled to sell his life dearly. During the fight, at least one Indian was killed and signs seemed to indicate that others were wounded. The savages saw the citizens were so scared they pursued the whites with the utmost bravery. Two men ordinarily could whip a dozen Indians if they stood their ground. In fact, it seems that Arhelger, himself, after he left his mule, successfully fought the savages away. But in doing so, was wounded with thirteen arrows. After the Indians left, he, no doubt, wandered a considerable distance in search of water, for his body was found several hundred feet from the battlefield. Ref.: German Pioneers in Texas, by Don H. Biggers and surviving old settlers of that section. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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