During 1872, Dr. Bartley of Erath County, bought 1000 yearlings from Raybourne O'Neill. Matt Tucker also had about 1500 head. So the two started with their cattle to Colorado, or elsewhere. July 4, 1872, Dr. Bartley and his men were moving their herd toward the falls of the Pecos, where they intended to water the cattle and get breakfast. The doctor was in the lead, but before he reached the river was killed by Indians. The savages then charged the cowhands in the rear. After a long drawn out battle, the Indians left with the stock. But the assistance of soldiers later recovered a part of the herd. About one day's journey behind were Taylor and Charlie Vandeveer, and Bill Miller, with about twenty-five men moving another herd. They were in the Dagger Bend of the Pecos. But after the Indians had charged the Bartley and Tucker oufit, the second herd was protected by negro soldiers from Ft. Stockton. Note: Author personally interviewed: Taylor Vandeveer, mentioned above. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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