TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
364
No. 228 LETTER FROM F. A. BLAKE TOE. J. DAVIS
Sherman Texas October 23d 1873
To his Excellency E. J. Davis Gov State of Texas. Sir:
I have just returned from a trip to Wichita Country, and as some trouble occurred with Indians during my visit to that section of the State I concluded to report the facts to your Ex- cellency. On the 15th a large party of Indians attacked three men while herding Cattle about two miles west of the head of Gil- berts Creek in Wichita Co but they succeeded in beating them off after a severe fight in which Gabriel Hemminger was badly wounded in the shoulder. On the 16th three men herding Cat- tle for Mr Scott, at the upper ranch on the big Wichita were attacked and Preston Ellison was killed and scalped. On the 18th Mr Ingalls, myself and four others started on a scout in the direction of the place where the men employed on Williams :ranch had been attacked and when within about a mile of it encountered two parties of Indians ; one party number- ing about ten men, a little to our left, and another large party appeared on the high ground to our right. After a careful scru- tiny of their position we concluded it prudent to retire in the direction of Scotts ranch, which we did without being molested. On our return we came by Jacksboro and reported the above facts to Col Wood. Mr Ingalls and myself were looking at the country with the view of selecting a location where a colony of Emigrants from the North-western States might be located. We found the coun- try very desirable, and if this Indian trouble was permanently settled, we are strongly inclined to locate in that section of the State and use our exertions to induce many of our friends and acquaintances to do the same. I am from Iowa, was a mem- ber of the 14th General Assembly of that State; have been in Texas since last December, I would be pleased to refer you to Gen'I Dodge, Gov Carpenter of Iowa, U. S. Senator Allison or
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