TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
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a party of Indians came into the valley of the Leon within sight of my residence ·about 4 miles above Gatesville and drove off a number of my horses, and many of those of my neighbors be- fore the eyes of myself and family. The Indians having my horses I could not follow. A traveler passing immediately af- terwards on horseback I procured him to return to Gatesville and communicate the intelligence. A · company was hastily collected a part of which pushed on in the direction it was thought the Indians would take and another part camped on their trail at dark near my residence. Our citizens pursued them beyond Stephenville in Erath Co and have returned being unsuccessful in overtaking them. The number of horses taken is variously estimated I sup- pose about 130 most of them very fine and valuable ones After leaving my house they met and killed 2 excellent young men from whom they obtained by estimation about $4000.00 in gold, further on but still in this county they met two Bap- tist Clergymen, Griffin and White, on their way to an appoint- ment to preach, and wounded them so badly that their lives are dispaired of- They also captured two young ladies whom they treated in the most bruhl manner, and then left them entirely denuded in the prairie! Must we abandon our homes, or will the state protect us? We have been battling here nearly 7 years, and a few sleepy regulars at posts so far from the neighborhoods infested by Indians that they knew and could know nothing of their being in the settlements till they had consummated their mischief and fled have been almost our only protectors. Gov. Runnels was applied to. His friends say he did all that a wise and pa- triotic Governor could do to protect us. Enough of us "Knew better," to elect a tried friend of the frontier in his stead. We promised largely, probabiy too largely in our enthusiasm for your success in the canvass-They, (your enemies and Runnel's friends and that party generally) now tauntingly ask us "where is the protection to our property and the safety of our families you promised us if Houston was elected"? Our reply is, wait till the facts get properly before him and if he does not sta- tion Rangers among us we will "Knock Under." Express runners with affidavits of some of the facts above detailed have been sent to Austin but I have concluded to make this private statement myself. Twenty man of the right stamp commanded by one of our own county men who knows the coun-
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