Massacre of the Hunter Family, Fannin County, Texas
By Judge J. P. Simpson Mr. George Dameron was the
first settler on Caney Creek, six miles west of where the city of
Bonham now stands. He settled there in, 1838, but owing to the
danger from the Indians, had to leave his home and move off. In
1842, he proposed to Dr. Hunter, then at Fort Inglish, that if he
would settle on Caney, he (Dameron) would also go back there, and
the two families would form a nucleus for protection and build up a
settlement. The matter was arranged and the two families accordingly
moved and settled there. Dr. Hunter built a house for his family,
and he and his two sons left on business. His wife, two daughters,
and a Negro woman were occupying the house. That day, at about 11
o'clock, one of the daughters went about fifty steps from the house,
to get some water, and was attacked, killed and scalped by the
Indians, who were laying in ambush at the spring. The Indians then
charged upon the house, killed Mrs. Hunter and the Negro woman and
took the little girl prisoner. The Negro woman had probably fought
like a heroine, for she was found dead with a stick in her hand,
with marks on it, as if it had been used on the Indians' heads. They
were scalped and tomahawked, and the bodies mangled in a most
barbarous manner. The Indians ripped open the beds and emptied the
feathers on the dead and bloody bodies, which adhered to them and
made a most appalling sight. They then took as much bed clothes and
clothing as they could carry, and having lariated a wild mule, took
the little girl and started for their homes. The little girl stated,
after her return from captivity, that they halted on the high point
where E now live, as from this point they had an extensive view of
the surroundings and could see if any danger was approaching. One
Indian attempted to ride the wild mule while here, but the mule
threw him and dragged him some distance. The Indian lost his
tomahawk and scalping knife, which were afterwards found. They then
traveled with the little girl, treating her well. When tired of
walking they carried her on their backs (for captives are worth more
than scalps) until they reach their village. In about eight months
she was purchased by some Indian traders, and brought home and
ransomed by the government for $300, grew to womanhood, married a
Mr. Jeffrey and became the head of a family. |
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