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The Story Continues... During this super-charged era and time of great conflict, the ever encroaching "THAW KOY" (White People) versus CAUIGU, a U.S. Calvary detail of 10-15 mounted men had him manacled to the boards of an ambulance (old-time U.S. Calvary wagons ). In the wagon with him was a sack of corn and two other guards. the plan was to take him to prison in Texas. with old established cunning of a man of his "Rank" he had secreted a knife on himself. In the wagon, he was later described as "Turning to the left (south)"; He began the slow cadence of what would be his Death Song. He lifted his cuffed hand and pointed to a yonder tree, vowing that He would not be taken alive beyond it....The cadence of his very spine-chilling death song was now faster and higher pitched. He slashed the neck of one of the seated guards, then came a veritable very murderous fusillade...volley. so savage was the onslaught at point-blank range, forty-six holes in his body were counted by the kindred who came for him to be prepared for burial. As noted, S E TAGAI was my Great Great Grandfather. this very bloody, cowardly act was just one more of the many inhuman that members of our tribe had to endure, while slowly being decimated; until finally unfairly defeated and subdued.

Is the KIOWA word that best fits our survival through those horrors. Or, one could read the book of Job from the Holy Bible and better understand what our KIOWA tribe of Indians withstood, and , are today, still here.
CHAL AN AUN and His band of warriors were returning home from "The Country of The Tehanas,"Texas. They were driving a number of stolen mules and horses, including a strong-willed looking stallion. The stock numbered perhaps forty. A "Remuda" of this size is impossible to hide anywhere out on the vast open plains. The movement was making dust that could be seen for miles. As this was a retaliatory strike for the uncalled for killing of KIOWA antelope hunters, they killed all of the settlers that they came into contact with. The KIOWA hunters had been killed without provocation, and all of the settlers were in a territory that they knew was forbidden to them; so the killing of these settlers was more than justified and even out of somewhat balance some of the unwarranted and totally unnecessary killing of KIOWA Indians. They were in no hurry as they kept the herd going in a NorthEasterly direction. They let them graze and drink as they came to streams; at times they put them at a trot or lope; no sense in running a nine looking small herd to death. And besides, who could give chase; seeing that all of the mule and horse flesh was here? Captured and being driven away.
KIOWA outriders, rear guards and sentries being used as scouts on this expedition let CHAL AN AUN and his raiding party know that the were being followed. This information came to them the next day. KIOWA warriors were very adept in the use of hand signals and motions, though bereft of anything so sophisticated as a telegraph. Promontories and very high mountain peaks easily allowed a sentry or scout see activities in all directions for many miles. Often times , the "Wobbly Horse" walk or "Dizzy Horse" signals would be used, and relayed as the situation called for. Hand flashes were commonly used; the use of smoke columns ere very limited in use, but the use of mirrors were very popular. Every KIOWA warrior who took of the spoils after a successful raid always searched settler women's bags for these. CHAL AN AUN came to the back of the moving remuda to talk to the rear guard and outriders.
He told them, "about ten or twelve horsemen are following us; they are a few hours behind us, but for sure, are coming our way. We will keep the herd going straight ahead. Up ahead of us is a stream. We will let the herd drink. Then the horse tenders will keep on. As for the test of us, we should be able to kill all of them in the first rush of an ambush."

TSATOKE (Hunting Horse) a teller of KIOWA Indian stories of battle, related that an ambush, using "The spent horse decoy" was used. He passed away July 1, 1953 at 107 years of age. According to him, they were going to spring one of the "Easiest Cheats" that KIOWAS used on mounted men following too closely. All that was needed was big boulders, trees or a stream for hiding the ambushers. In one of the old photographs that I have of this old scout - taken in 1942 - He is seen pointing to the exact spot along The Brazos River, where this took place. He stated that on this particular raid, "I just took care of the horses." The spent or tired horse ruse was one of the simplest to use; it can be quickly executed with little danger, and in almost all cases which it was used, it worked. The simple maneuver was designed to put an enemy horseman in a position from which he could not extricate himself alive. "Just let them fool themselves by coming way too far out in the open," was the way it was supposed to work. They now knew that they were being followed by Texas Rangers, and the count given by the scouts appeared to be about right. The horses were easy to recognize by their identical chest harness straps that went to the saddle circingle; and who could miss the distinctive "Cowboy" hats? The last time that CHAL AN AUN looked their way, they were coming at a measured lope, now about a mile away. He showed his warriors where to best position themselves; for their best possible angle. They went up behind a high growth of cattails and brush. The brush and thick greenery was sufficiently high and thick to easily hide many warriors on horseback.

Two of CHAL AN AUN'S riders rode out a little ways on this side of where the horse herd had crossed. One of them was to later say, "It was not a wide or deep crossing." They bided their time and waited. They then dismounted and began to slowly put the "Tired Old Horse" routine into motion. Walking extra slow, with the heads of their horses slung real low, they walked toward the water. What CHAL AN AUN planned was now just about to start happening. Seeing the "Poor tired horses thirstily going for a drink" brought an extraordinarily lout shout or yell from the Rangers: "AHA! We Got 'Em." Their high pitched yell was way premature; they made it sound like a victory yell. That is precisely what CHAL AN AUN and his warriors wanted! The two warriors kept on walking by their horses until a couple of the Rangers' horses feet were in the water. Then they did a fast re-mount and quickly disappeared behind the brush ad cattails. The waiting mounted KIOWA warriors swiftly blind-sided the unsuspecting Rangers. Slashing their way forward, They killed most of the rangers on their first lance thrust. Then they turned around for the final run, heading straight for the middle of the remaining three Rangers.

CHAL AN AUN said that he saw one of the Rangers frantically trying to turn his horse. When all of a sudden he and his horse were squarely bumped by a KIOWA warrior. Both riders fell into the water. In this type of skirmish/blind-sided ambush, normally all enemy were killed, owing to their small numbers. For whatever reason, it did not happen in this one. As the two riders who fell into the water were getting up, another KIOWA "Thwacked" the brains out of the Texas Ranger, instantly killing him, the last one. Then this warrior turned his horse in the water; he reached to help his fellow warrior mount up behind him. They rode double to retrieve the fallen rider's horse.

What appears that took place, is reality. The Bows and Arrows were might "Punny" upside firearms. A spear (Lance) or Stone Battle Ax stands little chance when the enemy is armed with Carbines. The day that this short, deadly action took place could not be extended. It was, by all accounts, an absolute no second chance situation.

The KIOWA Indian warriors placed the bodies of The Texas Rangers out of the water in such a way that a wayfarer or someone searching, would easily find them.

Moving on a smooth lope to the NorthEast, they caught up to the Horse herd in a few hours. They related the incident in its entirety, using highly animated gestures and body movements to depict the scene.

CHAL AN AUN, recognized as a successful War Party Leader, and somewhat following in the footsteps of his father-in-law, brought everyone safely home. They had the far-away Speckled Blue-Faced Mountains in their sights now (These Mountains are today know as The Wichita Mountains). Arriving in camp, they dispensed with the booty under the care of warriors. CHAL AN AUN stood to address the camp members. He was very glad to tell them of their successful expedition and how they avenged the death of their kinsmen who were out hunting. Coming to the end of what he wanted to say, he embellished the act that had taken place on the river. Then he said, "We have a new best and brave warrior (Hero) who showed much courage in action. He earned a new KIOWA Indian name; from this day foreword, call him:

I am very proud to have been given his name. , you know, were eventually defeated in a most horrible and dishonorable way: Disease unknown to us; Starvation by the killing of over four million Buffalo, and guns and shells against the lance, bow and arrows. But ......Honor and valor made protecting our homeland so very worthwhile; THE spirit stands in the rushes of dignity yet today.

TOCAKUT PG1 | BRO LEE | ARLANZA ilovejesus.com This work is copyrighted