While preparing and gathering the data for the present work, the
author exerted every atom of energy to present each story as accurately
as possible. In doing so, he used a checking system for the purpose
of eliminating some differences, that necessarily arise from those
interviewed, and did so in this case.
For it is sometimes surprising to see and hear the number of surviving
old settlers who seem to think their own versions of the early history
of the frontier are correct, and others wrong.
Alf Lane had been a member of Company G of the Frontier Regiment.
This company was stationed at Fort Belknap, and was commanded by Capt.
Newt. White. Some of his comrades in the above company, who still
alive, are and were under the impression that Alf was going home from
Fort Belknap on a furlough, at the time he was assaulted by Indians.
But Martin Lane, a son, and several other early frontiersmen, contended
he was not going home from Belknap, on a furlough, but had been helping
Charles Goodnight, his brother-in-law, move a herd of cattle to Elm
Creek, near the line of Young and Throckmorton Counties. Alf Lane,
however, only went as far as old Fort Belknap. After hearing the evidence
of both sides, the author became thoroughly satisfied that Martin
Lane, and those who held his view, were correct. We did not stop there.
The matter was presented to Chas. Goodnight himself, a brother-in-law
of Alf Lane, and we have his written statement, corroborating the
contentions of Martin Lane and others.
Alf Lane, a brother of James Lane who was mortally wounded in the
Wolf Creek Fight, moved to Palo Pinto County in 1855. He settled near
Keechi, about two miles southwest of Black Springs, and numbered among
the very early settlers of that section. He later moved to the Salt
Hill community, in Jack County. During the War, cowhands were exceedingly
hard to get, so Alf Lane voluntarily assisted Chas. Goodnight, his
brother-in-law, to move cattle being moved to the territory bordering
on Elm Creek, near the Young and Throckmorton County line. Concerning
the movement of these cattle, Col. Chas. Goodnight said:
"The War had hemmed our cattle in, until our herds on the
Keechi, in Palo Alto and Jack County were suffering for grass. I
was moving my third herd, about 100 head, to the Upper Elm. Being
war time, help was almost impossible to get. Mr. Lane, knowing this,
and that I was scarce-handed, overtook me just before we got to
Rock Creek, going west, saying he would help me through. When we
got to Fort Belknap, we camped for the night, just west of the town.
Alf Lane went to stay all night with old friends, the Mills, who
used to live in the Keechi Valley, in Palo Pinto County. That night
the Indians came in and stole all of the horses, excepting those
that we had on guard. When daylight came, and we discovered that
our horses were gone, I went over to Mill's home, and told my brother-in-law
to wait a day until I got the herd to the ranch, and I would go
home with him. He said it was not necessary and he would go back
that day."
Alf Lane took breakfast that morning with Uncle Dinney Murphey, at
Old Murphey Station. After breakfast, he started on toward his home,
and went down the old Fort Belknap and Ft. Worth military road. Mr.
Lane, no doubt, felt secure, for he was riding an exceptionally good
horse. This was the morning of July 15, 1864.
During the preceding night, Alf Lane had dreamed the Indians massacred
some of his own people, so he drove rapidly on his fleet horse named
"Driver." It was, no doubt, due to this dream that this
frontiersman turned back at Belknap. If so, it ensnared him into his
own grave. For when he reached the Cement Mountain, about eleven miles
east of old Fort Belknap. Alf Lane was ambushed and killed by Indians.
He wrapped his bridle reins around the horn of his saddle, ran five
or six hundred yards, and fell from his horse, which was later found
by the mail carrier. W.J. Wilson delivered this horse, and the sad
news to Mrs. Lane and her children. A searching party soon found Mr.
Lane where he fell, and where he was temporarily buried. But Alf Lane
was later removed to the Thurman Graveyard about two miles west of
old Black Springs.
Note: Author personally interviewed Martin Lane, son of Alf Lane;
A.M. Lasater; James Wood; B.L. Ham; F.M. Peveler; A.C., Geo. and
L.L. Tackett; W.A. Ribble; Mann Johnson; Henry Williams; Babe Williams;
Mrs. H.G. Taylor; Mrs. Jerry Hart; Mrs. Huse Bevers; Mrs. Ed. Wholforth;
and others who were living in Palo Pinto, Jack, Young, and adjoining
counties at the time. Also corresponded with Charles Goodnight.
