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Indians Surround G.K. Elkins, and Others in Coleman County

Michael has a BA in History & American Studies and an MSc in American History from the University of Edinburgh. He comes from a proud military family and has spent most of his career as an educator in the Middle East and Asia. His passion is travel, and he seizes any opportunity to share his experiences in the most immersive way possible, whether at sea or on the land.

Coleman County, Texas

    About 1871, G.K. Elkins, John Hart, James Way, Andy Pruett (African), and perhaps one other, were hunting bear in Coleman County on the head of Jim Ned, and near Tecumseh Peak when about sixteen Indians surrounded them in a thicket. The whites could have escaped but the African was mounted on a slow steed, so they ran into the brush on his account. The Indians surrounded them, repeatedly tried to dislodge the citizens, but each time were repulsed. After remaining until nearly night, the Indians went away, and the bear hunters returned to their homes.

    Note: Author personally interviewed: J.F. Hart, brother of John Henry Sackett, who was on another bear hunt, a few miles away, and could hear them firing when the Indians had them surrounded.

The above story is from the book, The West Texas Frontier, by Joseph Carroll McConnell.

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