Mrs. Margaret Pyett

The Exciting Experience of Mrs. Margaret Pyett

During 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Benton Pyett lived about eleven miles southeast of San Saba on Rough Creek, in San Saba County. Mr. Pyett was recovering their little log cabin so Mrs. Pyett and her little son, Billy, about ten years of age, went out to drive up a cow with a little calf. While they were a short distance from home, seven savages came charging toward them. Little Billy was on the better horse. Consequently when they started to run, his horse ran away from his mother. But when he passed the house, he could not stop. He yelled to his father, however, who was on the house, "Indians killing Ma." Mr. Pyett said that he never knew just how he managed to get off the house but the first thing he realized, he was running to meet his wife with a gun. Soon she arrived and her horse fell near the lot. When Mrs. Pyett was on her feet, an Indian threw a rope and attempted to rope her. But Mrs. Pyett raised her arm and caught the rope. The Indians laughed. They then attempted to shoot Mrs. Pyett, and the bullet or arrow passed through her bonnet. The Indians then turned and hurried away. They, no doubt, saw Mr. Pyett rapidly approaching.

Note: Author personally interviewed Mr. and Mrs. R. Kolb, who lived in the neighborhood at the time.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.