Navarro Express [Corsicana, TX], December 21, 1860
We make the following extract from a letter received by Maj. W. P. Darling from Parker county. It speaks for itself. They need assistance. Will our citizens, who are beyond danger, extend it to them?
Dec. 2nd, 1860
Maj. H. P. Darling,
Sir: —Our country is in a great state of commotion at this time. The Indians have made a descent upon us; have killed one man in about ten miles of this place, and most inhumanely shot and abused a woman. After beating her with rawhides and shooting her, they scalped her and left her to die. Her corpse was brought to town yesterday, for burial, and I heard a gentleman who saw it, say that it was a most heart rending spectacle. They also took about four hundred head of horses in the county.
They are now trying to make up a company to protect our frontier; and also want men to pursue and chastise them. We want men, arms and means to assist us, and, we do hope our sister counties who have peace within their borders will come to our aid. Their depredations in Jack county have been terrible—murdering and stealing as they go. The men here are enlisting generally, and I fear the women and children will be left to their cruelties. Any assistance from your county will be thankfully received by all here, and especially by us weak women. Please let our condition be known around you; and if none will come to help us fight, if they will help us with means to support those who are fighting we will be thankful.
We have this minute heard that we are surrounded by them, and the people are about to fly to some place for protection.
If any one about you is disposed to help us with means, they can correspond with John Prince, county clerk, at Weatherford.
I am too much excited to add more.
Yours respectfully,
Fannie S. Davidson.