FREDERICKSBURG, TEXAS - When
he had become a Texas Ranger he’d been sure that he would have
stories to tell his grandchildren. As he spurred his horse on yet
again, and felt the animal fight for purchase on the hard ground
he realized that if he didn’t act quickly there would be no
children or grandchildren to thrill with his adventures.
ENCHANTED ROCK |
Looking for a pair of
well-known cattle rustlers he had accidentally stumbled upon a
group of Comanche; they were young, angry and restless, clearly
not interested in hearing his reasons for being on what they
considered to be their land. Outnumbered he had no choice now,
but to urge his tiring horse faster and faster toward the setting
sun.
In the dimness of the
approaching dusk he could make out what looked like a rocky hill.
Horse and rider changed direction and headed straight for the huge
dark shape as if they were of one mind. The Ranger marveled as
his well-trained horse managed the incredible steep climb straight
up, even as he realized that the hill was not so much rocky, as it
was in fact one giant rock. Seeing a depression he dove off into
it, and turned taking aim with his rifle.
The Comanche had stopped at
the bottom of the rock hill and now he could almost feel them
staring at him. Straining his eyes, as the light grew even more
faint he watched as his pursuers seemed to engage in a brief
discussion and then departed back in the direction they had come.
The Ranger’s heart leaped
into his throat. Dare he believe his good luck? He sat, resting
his rifle against his knee. If he ventured from in his current
position then his new acquaintances might be able to way-lay him in
the darkness. They were undoubtedly very familiar with this area
and that would work to their advantage. He resolved to wait where he
was until sunup figuring the light gave him a better chance to
fight, rather than trying to flee in the murky twilight.
His jet-black horse stood
almost invisible next to him in what was now total darkness. The
sun had set, and the moon had yet to rise. He gave his remarkable
animal a compassionate pat then searched his pockets for his rolling
tobacco. Hopefully a smoke would keep him awake if had enough
tender to start a small fire.
Suddenly from behind there came
a loud popping sound which startled him so badly he forgot to breath
as once again he raised his rifle and prepared to shoot at…nothing.
Nothing was behind him. Reminded to breath by a burning pain in his
chest, the Ranger tried to search the gloom, sure now that the young
men had not actually abandoned their chase, but had simply gone
around the hill and were now climbing the ridge behind him. His
horse shifted his hoofs restlessly and he tried to sooth the uneasy
creature with softly spoken words. His eyes scanned the rock ridge
above him as he waited for any further signs of his enemies.
A blaze of blue light leapt
from the ground directly above him and seemed to shoot upward toward
the darkened sky. The Ranger lowered his rifle and rubbed his eyes.
What had he seen? Again he heard a sudden loud popping sound
directly in front of him. He stared into the gloom and again saw
nothing. By the time the sun re-appeared the Comanche had not
returned and the Texas Ranger had a story that no one would ever
forget.
Large Rocks at the Enchanted Rock State Park |
What the indigence people of
the area knew about the huge mass of Rock located 18 miles outside
of Fredericksburg was simply to stay away from the stone hill. The
Native Americans had heard the same popping and booming sounds that
the Ranger had, they also had seen the flashes of light and had an
explanation. A story was past down through their generations of a
Chief who had defied the spirits and attempted to harm his own
people. The spirits living in the rock had drawn the misguided
leader into the hillside, leaving in the stony earth an imprint of
one moccasin clad foot.
A plaque detailing the story of
the Ranger whose horse made the remarkable climb is now affixed
roughly halfway up the 425-foot hill now known as Enchanted Rock.
Today we know that Enchanted Rock is composed mainly of granite. In
the heat of a sunny Texas day this rock will expand, at night as the
massive formation cools the granite contracts causing a popping
sound and occasionally strange flashes of light. This explanation,
that you will hear if you ever tour the area located in the
beautiful hill county, enlightens us about what the poor Texas
Ranger experienced so long ago. Of course this clarification does
not tell us how that very clear footprint came to be set in the
solid rock. Got any ideas?
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