The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-04-24
Harrow Escape from tho savage.'
is A nKrA.xABLr xARRArivr.
From III. sprirsn.h (ui.) Republican.

r.H' A RExARKABLE NARRATIVE.
t.... FUHrI f.#
rva the sprirsnsh (ri) Republiesn-
Mr.. William Bailey, formerly Of Lynn
vile, Ogle county, in this state, called upoT
US and related the following thrilling ant
remarkable narrative. From his descrip
ton Of places and things which he saw, w
are perfectly sati,dcd that his statement Il
correct in every respect. A gentleman from
this city, who has travelled over the eountr,
hc describes, assured US that no person who
had not visited these places and witnessed
what no describes could ever have related
what he related. He converses In several
different Indian languages, and appears to
have paid close attention to what he saw
passing around him, during his so,ourn
among tho klvages. IIo looked well and
hearty, and ri,h tho exception Of his hand
being torn by some wounds from \ t. ma
hawk, ho seems to have suffered no damage
IIo left on the cars last evening for Logan
county, where his mother resides.
Mr.. Bailey left here some eighteen months
ago with party Of nine persons to engage
IN driving teams from tho Gulf Of Mexico to
the Rio Grandc. They landed ut Indiana.
Ia and hired to man by the name Of Ross
to drive team for him. They drove to Nuces
river, and camped there. While asleep
their mules were stolen by the Indians
They prepared the next day TO follow them,
and came up with them at sunset. They
saw six Indians, fred at and killed them all,
when they were attacked by about three
hundred, who were secreted in the woods,
and who Immediately fred on tho white
men, killing all but Mr.. Baiey,whom they
took prisoner. They then took him back e.
the wagons, which they plundered Of all thc
arms and ammunition in them. They took
two boxes OF government Colts revolver
and twenty kegs of powder. Tho prisoner
was stripped of all his clothing, and bound
hand and foot upon u pony. They then
started for their cncampinent in the Witcha'
taw mountains, which place they reached
after o'evcn days hard riding.
They remained in camp about week,
and then started on robbing expedition to
attack train on the Santc Fe road. They
remained about five days waiting when u
merchant train came along. They proceed.
ed to surprise the train, and killed every
person with it, took the goods and mules
belonging to the train and started for the
Klckapoo settlement, traded Of the mules
for ponies and returned to tho Wichataw
mountains.
Tho prisoner was kept strictly confined
during the day, and was tied up every night
with pieces OF raw hide, by the hands, to u
limb Of tree, Us high up us he could reach
and stand on the ground. During the day
no was allowed to lie down and sleep few
hours. During tho timo Mr.. Bailey wa
with them they went on Eve robbing cxre'
dltions, taking him always along with them.
Tho last merchant train they robbed they
took two men prisoners who had braycly de,
Tended themselves till their weapons were
all discharged, and who had killed twelve oi
tho red skins. These two were then taken
and tied to stake and skinned alive. Mr..
Bailey was placed close by them and com
PEELED to witness this horrible scene. Every
time ho would close his eyes they would
punch him with spears and bayonets until
hc would open them, aud look on this pic
turc of revolving horror. They then took
tho skin rccking with warm blood, and
slapped him around the face with it. cover
Ing him with blood, and telling him ifh,
tried to escape this should bc his iate.
One Of their excursions was against the
U. S. mail wagons. They killed the five
men with them, tore open the letters, got
out 10 money, and after cutting out th,
pictures Com TIC bank bills, threw then
away. They kept all the newspapers thai
had any pictures in them, throwing every
thing away that was not cmbellished.
For three nights after this they did no
tic him up, but kept guard over him. Th'
third night they had big war dance, ant
IL tho excitement forgot Mr.. Bailey. whil'
dancing around their fire in front Of the tent
hc crawlcd out under the back Of the tent
seized ono Of tho ponies and escaped. Ill
was soon missed, and was followed for fv'
days. At the expiration Of that time the.
came 80 close on him that they fired ut hlm
which obliged him to leave lis horse anc
take to the mountains. Fortunately. b,
found small cave just large enough t.
crawl into, In which place be remained io
u day and half, the Indians being SO near
him that hc could hear their footsteps n
they searched for him. @
lie remained in this position until he wa
assured his pursucrs had left, when h'
emerged fom his conccalmcnt, and made
straight shoot for the Kickapoo settlement