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Indians Charge Peters, Kelley and an African

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.

Comanche County, Texas

    About 1869, Peters, Kelley and an African were driving three wagons drawn by oxen and mules. Peters and Kelley were each driving two yoke of steers and the African driving mules. The three lived somewhere in the eastern counties and when they reached African Hollow on the old Fort Concho road, about eight miles south of Comanche,the oxen and mules were turned loose for the night. For it was the dark of the moon and no Indians expected. A small pony, however, was kept staked to drive them up the next day.

    The campers had hitched up and ready to move just at sunrise when they discovered several Indians charging over the hills. Peters and Kelley jumped on the pony and ran east about seventy-five yards and hid in a little button-willow draw. The African was instructed to follow but he jumped in his wagon and attempted to go to the home of Mrs. Mary Jane Edwards, who lived about one-half mile away. He had only gone about one-fourth mile, however, when killed.

    Note: Author personally interviewed: Tom M. Edwards, who saw the African shortly after he was killed.

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

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