Dan Roberts Shoots Indian Chief |
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During November of 1874, while Scott Cooley and Wm. Treweck were
hunting a beef in Menard County for the rangers, they discovered about
eleven Indians. Major John B. Jones, who was moving southward, was
at a camp about six miles away. Treweck was told by Scott Cooley he
could "loose-heard" the Indians while the former went to
camp for reinforcements. Finally, however, Scott Cooley's horse was
wounded in the knee, so he, too, went to the camp. Treweck had already
gone with a part of the command, and Cooley took another. Among those
that went along were Capt. Dan Roberts, B. Cowen, W.W. Lewis, Henry
Sackett and seven or eight others. The Indians' trail was found where
Cooley left them and followed to where the savages killed a beef.
The rangers encountered the Indians about fifteen miles south of Menard.
The warriors threw themselves in battle formation, and Captain Dan
Roberts, who was then Lieutenant, killed a chief. Another Indian was
also killed. So the remaining savages became demoralized and began
to run. After they were followed two or three miles farther, a third
Indian was killed and one captured. The savages were then followed
considerably farther, and two more of their number murdered. So five
Indians were killed and one captured.
Note: Author interviewed: Captain Dan W. Roberts, W.W. Lewis and
Henry Sackett, who took part in this engagement.
The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by
Joseph Carroll McConnell. |
