Although this incident occurred perhaps in 1874, it will be related at this time, inasmuch as it follows as a sequel to the preceding story. The Indians made a raid in Coleman County, and after stealing horses from the G.K. (Ken) Elkins, a few miles from old Camp Colorado, Bill Williams, Jno. M. Elkins, Lt. Best, John St. Clair, Henry Delaney, Bill Lawrence, and a man named Ray, took the Indians' trail and followed them for several days. They finally came upon the natives gathering pecans, perhaps in Nolan County. When the six or seven Indians were charged, they scattered like quail. Lt. Best took after a savage, and after running for six or eight miles, this Indian's horse became jaded, and as the Lieutenant rode up, the Indian threw up a hand, and said, "Me Squaw." So he took her back. When she reached the remaining whites, she passed around some pecans she had tied in an apron, and Wm. Williams began to cry. Someone asked him what was the matter, and he said, the apron the Indian squaw was wearing, had been carried away when the savages killed his wife. The next morning Jno. M. Elkins said, "We are going to leave the squaw here, and anybody that wants to stay with her may." Wm. Williams and Ray remained, and the others rode on out of sight. According to reports, after they had gone about one-half mile, they heard two guns fire, and in a short time, Wm. Williams and Ray came riding up. Note: Author interviewed: W.W. Hunter, mentioned in the preceding section. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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