About 1861, the above gentlemen stopped for the night, a few miles northwest of the present city of Strawn, in an old log house, built and formerly occupied by Dicky Lloyd. In the mid-hours of night, the peculiar action of the cattle caused them to believe Indians were near, and in a short time they discovered their horses, which had been hitched near the house, were gone. Elic Hestlow who was barefooted and some distance from the old log house, saw an Indian riding a painted pony. He fired and when he did the Indian not only threw away considerable meat strung on a rawhide string, but also fell over on his horse, and appeared to be wounded. Hestelow then returned to the house. But the next morning the citizens followed the Indian trail for about one-half mile, where they found the painted horse the Indian was riding. Apparently a buck shot had passed through the Indian's thigh, and on into the animal's backbone. They also found a place where the wounded Indian had wallowed in the grass, and had attempted to plug his wound with twisted grass. Shortly afterwards, a posse of citizens followed the Indians' trail to Gonzales creek in Stephens County, where a considerable fight followed. Note: Personally interviewed J.A. Hestalow, son of Elic Hestalow The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
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