Searching for Matthew Starr

Searching for Matthew Starr

“Mary” Jack bellowed: “The Comanches are a comin. I can see their dust risin. Take Matt and Sarah, go hide in the brush, I’ll come get the three of you when it is safe.” Mary grabbed Matt’s hand, she carried Sarah in her arms. Jack, quickly ran into the log cabin, slammed the door shut, then did the same to the window. He knew he would have to break the window to fire at the Comanches as they rode by. Suddenly, he began to smell smoke, the roof was on fire. He was going to have to make a choice, either stay in the cabin and be burned alive or taken prisoner and burned at the stake. He decided he would rather die in the cabin, he continued firing at the Comanches. He saw one of the chiefs, his feather bonnet askew, as he pointed to the brush. The last thing Jack heard was Mary’s tortured scream. A Comanche came out of the brush with a blond scalp, wiping the blade of his knife on his buckskin clout as he dragged Matt and Sarah Starr out of the brush. Jack let out a yell of terror as the flames engulfed his body. Lone Wolf, held Sarah, as his horse moved swiftly away from the carnage. Matthew found himself atop a large brown and white pinto, Man Free to Walk, a minor chief of the Comanche held him. Man Free to Walk made note that the little white eyes did not struggle to escape, he would make a warrior one day. Captain Leland Forest noted the smoke rising, he motioned his patrol forward, however it was to late for Mary and Jack Starr. The captain noted a rag doll and unshod hoof prints, he then ordered his men to bury the Jack and Mary. He determined that the Comanche had taken at least two children on this raid. The acrid smell of a burning body was present even in the night air. The soldiers placed the bodies into a grave, then put up two wooden crosses. The soldiers remounted their horses, the captain sent for Eyes Seeing, an expert Indian scout, whom he trusted implicitly: “Comanche here one two hour ago. We ride now, hoof prints still can see.” The captain motioned his patrol forward. He hoped to find the children, he also knew from past experience that the children had a better chance to live than did their parents. The patrol returned to the fort, the captain made his report, their job was done. Man Free to Walk, smiled as his wife Deer Woman raced toward him, then she noticed the boy child, dark hair and dark brown eyes: “Man Free to Walk, why have you brought this child here, he is boy of white eyes.” Man Free to Walk smiled: “We raise him, he will be great warrior one day. He make us proud.” Deer Woman was not impressed, she longed for a child of her own. Deer Woman reached up as Man Free to Walk, lowered Matt Star to the ground: “we name him Little Man Free to Walk or maybe Deer Walker.” Deer Woman and Man Free to Walk strode toward their tepee. Man Free to Walk was pleased that he had a son, a warrior and friend. Deer Walker is name I give you now, it is good Comanche name.” Deer Walker, proudly became a warrior, leading raids on white settlements. Soldiers began calling him brown ghost, he would appear suddenly, then vanish behind crags and rocks. General William T. Sherman, issued a warrant for his arrest, and subsequent hanging. Deer Walker was inclined to laugh at the empty threats, the sun dance he knew would give him strength. Man Free to Walk, took his son aside: “Deer Walker, you have been on many raids, maybe time you find wife.” Deer Walker, was not ready to take a wife, there was more fighting to be done first. The white eyes must be expelled from Indian land! Little Wolf, knew Deer Walker was different, his skin was not as brown as his own, but that made no difference, Deer Walker one day would be chief, and lead his people to victory against the white eyes. Singing Grass stood silently, watching for the trader who purportedly said he was her uncle. He recognized Sarah when he was trading trinkets to the Indians. He paid Chief Big Wolf, in Winchester rifles, hoping he had removed all the firing pins except for the one the chief took. “Chief Big Wolf I hope these rifles are enough for Singing Grass.” The chief stared momentarily at stared at the trader then at Singing Grass. The trader rode out of the Indian camp with Singing Grass, once they were far enough away, the trade stopped his large pinto: “Singing Grass, do you remember me? I am your uncle Sam Starr. I have searched for you and Matt for so long.” Sarah, did remember him: “Where is Matt uncle?” Sam did not have the heart to inform her that Matt was the chief of a Comanche tribe, he was on wanted posters and if he were caught; he’d hang. Together, Sam and Sarah rode toward the north of Texas, hoping to find Matt, talk some sense into him, at least that was the plan. Each was caught up in their own thoughts about Matt. Sam thought of the dark haired, dark eyed boy, the smile that always played on his mouth. Sarah, thought about the brother she had lost, then found. Suddenly Deer Walker heard the sound of the bugle, he yelled a command. The Indians fought bravely, but Deer Walker was captured. The captain of the cavalry had Deer Walker bound, placed upon a large pinto stallion. They rode toward Fort Apache, Deer Walker sensed that his time was running out, unless his braves moved quickly to help him escape. Sam and Sarah, rode into the Comanche camp: “I seek a young man, the squaw is his sister Singing Grass.” Man Free to Walk heard the man, he strode out of his tepee: “I am Deer Walker’s father, you seek my son? My son has been captured by the white eyes, they will hang him in two days time. Is there way you can help him?” Sam’s eyebrows shot up, Sarah felt tears welling in her eyes. Sam thought for several moments before answering: “Yes, I may be able to help, I know General Sherman, served with him during war. I will get word to him. I can’t promise anything but I will try.” Sam turned his horse toward Fort Apache: “I will telegraph General Sherman at Fort Apache. The only other plan is to break him out, with a few braves.” Sarah and Sam rode the horses hard, they arrived at Fort Apache at sunset. The scaffold was being put up as they rode in. Sam asked where the telegraph office was on post. They strode into the telegraph office, Sam wrote a message to General Sherman, handed it to the corporal: “This has to go to General Sherman immediately, a man’s life depends on it.” The corporal tapped out the message as they waited. Fear gripped Sarah and Sam, what if General William T. Sherman declined to help? Sam thought about Man Free to Walk and hoped he sent about ten braves, just in case it came down to that. Sam and Sarah, then went to the jail, there in a cell sat a very dejected Matt. He looked up when he heard the voices, he stared at Sam, then realized the young squaw was his sister Sarah: “Sarah, is that you? Is it really you?” he cried. Matt began to cry: “Uncle Sam they are going to hang me tomorrow morning.” Sam hushed him: “Matt, your time ain’t run out yet, I sent a telegraph to General Sherman, he is an old friend of mine from the war, I am hoping he will pardon you. It has been a long search for you but thank God, both you and Sarah are alive.” That made Matt feel better, at least for the moment. The following morning, the telegraph operator came running: “The man has received a pardon from General Sherman, don’t hang him!” Matt Starr would always be Deer Walker, son of Man Free to Walk.