Citizens Encounter Indians Near Flat Top in Young Co.
During 1875, the Indians made a raid near the Wm. Metcalf and McKinney
place, on the Brazos, and on the two Keechis. These Indians were discovered
by Huse Bevers, not a great distance from the present town of Graford.
So in a short time, Huse Bevers, Will Bevers, Shafe Vaughan, Jepp
Crawford, and W.M. Hobbs, were on the Indians trail. After traveling
for a considerable distance, Houston Bevers turned back, for he was
mounted on an inferior pony. The others followed the Indians to Flat
Top Mountain, in Young County, about twelve miles northeast of Graham,
and near the old J.C. Loving ranch. Here they came upon six or seven
Indians around a butchered beef. The citizens returned the fire which
was started by the savages; and W.M. Hobb's horse was shot from under
him. In a short time, however, the Indians fled, and soon succeeded
in reaching the roughs. Will Bevers cut off one Indian from the others,
and chased this savage about one-half mile. It was highly probable
this Indian was wounded, but he escaped. The Indian's white horse,
however, was found dead sometime later. This was the last Indian raid
in Palo Pinto County. And the citizens recovered twenty-eight head
of stolen horses. They then spent the night at the Loving Ranch, in
Lost Valley.
The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier by
Joseph Carroll McConnell. |