TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1860-1916
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he may be able to give a good report of his successful pursuit to your Excellency. A Mr. Wood who accompanied the Keechi detachment returned to the Town of Palo Pinto on Thursday of court; and reported that the trail coursed w. of N. 150 miles he supposed, and that there it was obliterated by the thousands on thousands of buffalo grazing over the prairies as far as the eye could track. This detachment could proceed no farther. He entertains the belief that the command of Capt Ross being near upon the heels of the indians followed their trail thro. the buffalo beards or failing in that performed a cir- cle, in order to strike their trail behind these beards. Be that as it may Captain Ross had not returned, When we left and hopes are entertained for his success. So much for these indians in one body and the pur- suits after them. On Tuesday of Palo Pinto Court William Terrell and Mr. Dalton discovered an indian near Daltons ranch 8 miles north of the town; on Thursday a Mr. Patterson discovered an indian only five miles from town; on Friday evening a Mr. Chambers of Stephenville discovered three indians on Lake Creek; and on the following day two of the undersigned in com- pany with Mr. Gordon of Minden, and on our way from Palo Pinto to Comanche Court discovered an indian, and were suffi- ciently near to distinguish clearly his race. These facts inrlicate that there are indians in the County of Palo Pinto. If indians are in any of the other counties of the Ju- dicial district we have not heard of the fact. We respectfully submit the above statement without any suggestion as to the course your Excellency should pursue. We entertain the conviction, that depredations by large bodies of indians will have the effect, if repeated, to depopulate Palo Pinto County, & probably other sections of the frontier. The inhabitants are in a truly untended & deplorable condition. They are poor and helpless. and dependent on the interior Coun- ties for bread; it is fortunate for them that they yet have beef on which to subsist. The People will fully appreciate any protection that
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