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onasmInv-r*e r titsIAMAKGOSA INDIAN FIGHT—Map show-inx approximate l«fation of runniitf fight bfwren Texas Rangers and Comanche Indians In present and north Jim Wells Conn ty area.LLANOS MESTENAS NO. 1Roque Mauricio Strikes BackBy AGNES ( . GRIMMAbout 1825. Roque Mauricio |Was a Mexican boy of four, (living in the vicinity of Camar-•go. Mexico. His parents lived ion a small ranch and owned |a few sheep and other livestock. !Early one morning, the Conmn-ches swooped out of the moun-lo tains and across the valley and■ed down the river plundering and 12,1 killing Roques parents were le killed and then home left a re- shambles But when Roque ts. fought back like a little demon the Indian leadei decided to keep him. He would make a fine brave one day.from Fort Merrill. About tentthe beast's nature, but thought oelock, they came across ajhe could handle him. Just as he fresh Indian trail. Roque and I was pulling the trigger of hia another man were sent ahead Colt revolver to finish a wound-ez.asheheitsas spies, with the others follow* mg at a more leisurely pace. Soon the Indians were sighted camped in a mesqulte motte on an elevation along the north bank of Amargosa Creek.Roque signaled the Rangers. They raced toward the Indians, but were seen before they came within rifle range The Indiansid.d not stfr.d to receive thecharge, but galloped hastily out of camp, heading north east-td Indian, his horse shied caus-ing his bullet to miss Its mark. The Comanche reacted instantly. hitting him in the side with an arrow.Several Indians were killedand wounded. The Chief and a young warrior dismounted and gave their horses to some injured Indians. Another horse bt cameavailable and the Chief quickly mounted him. riding like mad to join his warriorsward toward Agua Dulce Creek who had suddenly deserted theRoque remained with the Indians who took him some distance away He was intelligentThe Rangers were coming in jirom the north, following the Indian trail.Captain Ford asked Roquete and daring By the time he was iwhat t|ie comanches meant bythe signals they were making when they passed over highabout twtnty years old. he was bp made Comancht War CaptainasScon he was notorious through out South Texas and NorthernMexicobattlefield. David Steele, one of the Rangers, pursued and. at 125 yards, shot him behind the ear with a rifle ball. The dead chief was Otto Cuero.The young warrior who had dismounted, failed to get anoth-rground. Roque replied that the er horse and hid in a nearby jlndians had men waiting ahead iclump of brush on the calicheIia-peOn April 21. 1849, Roque led agroup of Comanches into R l o n-; Grande City They quickly made then way into the stables of Ringgold Barracks and rode off with all the horses belonging to the infantry companies stationed thereSeveral Mexican living In the vicinity formed a posse and managed to recover some of theland were telling them to come *11111 that was their battlefieldHe had been fired upon by theRangers and was wounded inforward This meant trouble jfor the Rangers' rear guardaxSiFord sent Roque to have the rear guard move forward as quickly as possible Seeing Roque dash off at full speed towardthe rear, the Indian assumed that the Rangers were panicking. so they held their ground.the groin. Roque spotted the young warrior, spoke to him in his native Comache language, and persuaded him to surrender. assuring him that his Ilfwould be r.pared.He was ‘Carne Muerto'. theie^ horses for the Armytn:oItgoA week later. Lieutenant Hamilton P Bee of the Texas Rangers with a few of his men, saw some Indians riding near Laredo and attempted to reach them, but were unable to get within rifle range A party of men under H Cli y Davis was a few miles away and managed to kill two of the Indians and capture several of the | horses and mulescne of the dead Indians was wearing clothes that belonged tc a Mexican enrtman of Mier 1 named Welch A week or so earlier Welch and his familyhad been found on the prairiemurdered, his oxen killed, and his goods scattered Several bolts of cloth were caught on bushes or blowing freely aboutAs Clay Davies and his party maied the town, they spotted an Indian lurking nearby. When he realized he had been seen, he ran into the town, hoping to escape identity However, the men managed to capture the Mexican Indian, who turned outto be Roque MauricioThe Rangers were able to persuade Roqre to leave the Comanches and avoid punishment by Joining them. He proved invaluable many times.Early In the morning of May 29, 1850, a group of Rangers un-ier Captain Rip Ford, along with half a-dozen men sent toCorpus Christl to transport 100 lragoon pistols and boxes of : a i t ridges by pack mules w ho nad joined the Rangers at Fort Merrill, were returning to theirriamp at San Antonio Viejo.Suddenly, the Indians found jreputed 18-year-old son of thecelebrated Comanche chieftan. Santana. Roque treated h 1 s wound and he was able to ride with the Rangers as they continued their trip to camp.iNcil week: Mope about Carne Muerto).themselves crowded. The rear guard came up and hit them in the flank . . Only one Ranger. William Gillespie, received mortal Injuries and these were due to the ill-natured horse he wasriding He had been warned ofSuccessful Secretaries PreferMultikopy DurametricCarbon Papers byWEBSTERMulfikopy Duramelric• Saves Time• Saves Temper• Saves MoneyDesigned for Faster, Easier Typinlt;“ On Carbon PaperFor the BestCome and See UsAtECHOTIONERY405 MainMO 4-6581
Newspaper Details
Alice Daily Echo
Alice, Texas, US
Mon, Mar 13, 1967
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Emilie G.
WA, USA 19 Nov 2018
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