The next morning before the break of day, and after the fight at the Fuller Millsap place, mentioned in the preceding section, John B. Slaughter, son of Rev. Geo. W. Slaughter, who lived in the eastern edge of Palo Pinto, heard the dogs barking and the chickens making a strange noise, as if something unusual were around. The moon was shining bright, so John Slaughter stepped out in the yard to see what was causing the disturbance. When he looked around toward the chicken house, an Indian shot him in the side, and then hurriedly dashed away. The bullet seemed to have struck one of his ribs and ranged around to his back, where it lodged. Within thirty minutes Sam Conner and another citizen were flying toward Weatherford for a surgeon. The Indians struck the branch and followed this stream for a considerable distance, and later joined their companions. When Slaughter, first walked out, this savage had already removed two posts out of the fence, and was attempting to steal the horses. John Slaughter, when shot, did not fall, but started to the house for a gun. It was approximately two months before he recovered from his wound. This episode occurred on the south side of the branch coming out of McQueary Hollow, and about seventy-five yards northwest of the point where the highway crosses the stream. Note: - Author personally interviewed: W.B. Slaughter, brother of John B. Slaughter; Mrs. D.C. (Cook) Harris; and Mrs. R. Dalton, sister of John B. Slaughter; Jodie Corbin; Mrs. H.G. Taylor; and other early citizens of Palo Pinto. John Slaughter was buried in Fort Worth only a few days ago. The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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