RICHARD REUBEN REED'S JOURNEY THROUGH CAPTIVITY
(Story told by Lillie Mae Reed,Lawler,Fitts,Williams, Age 84 years old)
(Typed Sept.3 2000)

This is Lillie Mae Williams, Great grand daughter of Richard Reubenand Rachel Reed.I want to put on record about my grandfathers travels, his captivity and his adventures.When he was 7 years old, he and his father (father's name unknown)started out to California for gold.

Great grandfather took Richard Reuben and was going out to California to get some gold. They went in a covered wagon and they had traveled a few days, when two men came up to them in another wagon and asked if it was alright if they traveled with them so that they wouldn't haveto travel alone. Great grandfather said, it would be alright, so theywent. They had traveled several days. When they camped one night near a stream. And my great grandfather said that his dad told him tostay in the wagon. So while his dad went to get some wood. And one ofwent to water the horses. The other man was to go and kill some gamefor supper. Grandpa said he heard two gun shots. But he never saw his father again.

The man came back to the wagon, he was laying down and he watched them as they broke open his fathers cash box. And divided the money between themselves and when he tried to ask them where his dad was they told him to be quiet.

The next day they took him and traded him or sold him to someMexicans and he said that he then traveled with the Mexicans forseveral days.And then they came upon a tribe of Indians so they traded
him to the Indians for some trinkets or anyway for what ever. Hedidn't remember what.He was with the Indians. Next morning, after he was left with them,The Chief took him out to the band of horses, and tied him on one ofthe horses,and told him that he would have to work for his living, andwork for his eats, and they had him ride that horse and heard theother horses for them.This was his job, most of the time he was with them. If he failed ormissed one horse bringing them in he was beaten with a raw hide whip.He finally decided he had better just obey and try to get a long withthem. He had very cruel treatment when my Grandfather was talking tome, Great Grandfather, took off his shirt and showed me scars acrosshis back that you could bury your finger in. And he said that, itwasn't unusual for them to beat him whenever they would get angry.Looking at his locket and the time stamped on it. He was with themabout eight years.

When a Mr.Underwood, I forget his first name, and another man came by.And evidently they were in texas because, Mr Underwood and hiscompanion were going to Abilene, Texas to get supplies. They werefarmers, and they lived up in what is now Wheeler County.Going by the Indian Reservation or Indian camp they noticed this white boy. At the time he was about 15. And they noticed him herding the other horses for the Indians and realized he was not a Indian. So they managed to catch him when he went to water the horses. And talked with him, at first he was scared, just scared to death he wouldn't say anything and he'd hide when they'd try to get to him.But they kept on with him, finally he understood what they were saying. He had picked up the Indian language by then. And they asked him if he wanted to leave there, and go back with the white people? Of course he said yes. So they told him that they were going to Abilene for supplies. Theyhad pack horses. And that they would be back, within so many days. Somany moons is what they called it at that time. Any way they told him there will be a horse that will be tied at the watering place where you come to water your horses. And said, just leave your horses and climb on this horse that we will leave for you. And just give him his reins and he will bring you to us. And we will take you with us.

When the time was up, the day that they was suppose to come back. He went and watered all the horses but the main war horses. That the Chief thought more of. And when the Chief asked him if he'd watered all the horsed, he said," I've got to water the war horses." Then the Chief hit him with his whip and said, "you know better, you go water them horses." He took the horses and left. The watering place was about a mile from their camp. When he got there the horse from the men was standing tied to a tree or a sapling. He had to make about five starts before he had the nerve to leave the horses and get on this horse and go. And when he untied the horse and got on him, the horse broke into a run. And he ran for he thought it must have been about two or three miles over a hill. And there was Mr. Underwood and his companion waiting for him. So when he caught up with them, they all ran as fast as they could go. Apparently the Indians didn't miss him for a while. For oh several hours. But anyway when they missed him, well then they started trailing him. They started running after him.

Grandpa said that they traveled for about ten of fifteen days. That the Indians would be just far enough behind them and they managed to stay far enough away from them that they couldn't hit the with their arrows. Then they came to the Canadian River. When they got to the Canadian River it was in high tide, the water was almost up to the bank, it was flooding. When ever they got to the river instead of stopping, they just put their horses into the water and swam that river and came across on the other side. The Indians being superstitious wouldn't follow them in. So they were able to escape that way.

Grandpa would always break down and cry when he would talk about when they got to the other bank because the little ol horse that was so faithful to bring him across there, fell and Grandpa said that he didn't die but he had been winded, his health was broken. He had strained his heart and his lungs. So they just led him, to take him to Mr. Underwood's home.

Sometimes we don't understand why things happen but God had a purpose for this. I know that Grandpa was a wonderful little man.I remember he had kinda big ears. There's not too much I remember about him. I do remember him sitting me on his knee and telling me these stories. And that is it.