FIGHTING-FIGHTING SQUAWS. 391 



under such circumstances by any soldier of the regular 

 service. The dress and mode of riding of bucks and 

 squaws are so entirely similar, that in conflicts and pur- 

 suits on horseback squaws are not unfrequently killed. 

 Many of them, particularly the middle-aged and old 

 women, handle arms with great facility and address, and 

 are fully as dangerous in fight as their husbands and 

 sons. Many a man has received his death wound from 

 a fighting squaw; and if any man finds himself the target 

 for flying bullets or arrows, I think he deserves all he 

 gets should he allow a sentimental squeamishness to 

 prevent his putting an end to the annoyance and the cause 

 of it, whether woman or man. 



Few persons visited San Antonio, Texas, between the 

 years 1845 and 1850 who did not know and like jolly 

 ' Tom Howard,' whose rotund person and jovial 

 countenance little indicated the fighting dare-devil that 

 he was. Tom was an ' Old Texan,' whose creed was to 

 hate, and whose first duty was to exterminate, 'Greasers' 1 

 and Indians at all times and under all circumstances. 

 One day, riding out from San Antonio with a friend, they 

 came upon two Indians, and without a moment's 

 hesitation charged them. One of the Indians was soon 

 disposed of. The other kept on at full speed, sending 

 arrow after arrow at the pursuers, until a shot from one 

 of them brought down his horse. Eecovering his feet in 

 an instant the Indian sent an arrow into the head of the 

 horse of Tom's friend, which fell dead on a leg of the 

 rider, pinning him to the ground. Another was sent full 

 into Tom's stomach, dropping him from his horse. All 

 his arrows being expended, the Indian rushed at Tom and 

 seized his rifle, when the friend, raising himself on his 

 elbow, fired his pistol with so true an aim that the Indian 

 fell dead. After some time and with great difficulty 



1 A term of contempt applied by Americans to the lower class of 

 Mexicans. 



