Shreveport daily news., 1861-08-10
Selected Expressly for the Ne,cs
sJnar1 Wrtaz,

"a
|9OME Spaniar,ls taken prisoners
We're condemned to die by the In
dians
'',juan Ortiz, a lad scarcely
y eighteen wears old, and of a noble
family, was the fourth victim. As
they were leading him forth, his ex-
tremc youth touched with compassion
the hearts Of the wife and DAUGHTERS
Of the Cacique, who interceded in
his favor.
Hi1rihigun listened to their inpor-
tunlties, and for the present, granted
the life Of Ortiz but it proved TO be
Il most wrctchcd boon. From morn
ing until evening he was employed in
carrying wood and water, being al
lowed but little sleep, and less food.
Not Il day passed that he was not
beaten. On festivals he was an act
tot barbarOus amusement to the Ca
Clique, who would obliye him to run
from sunrise to sunset, in the public
square OF the village, where hiscotn-
panions had been so barbarouslv sac
riticcd, Upon those occasions a
number Of Indians We're stationed Al
different parts Of the quadrangle with
bows and arrows, to shoot him should
he halt one moment. When the dav
was spent, the unfortunate youth Law
stretched on the hard floor OF his
hut, more dead than alive. At such
times, the Chiefs wife and daughters
would come to him privately with
TODD and clothing, and by their kind
treatment his life was preserved.
At length the Cacique being de-
termin"d to put an end to his vie
TINS existence, ordered that ne should
be bound upon wooden frame, in
the form OF a huge @ridiron, placed
over Il bed OF burning Goals and roast
cd alive.
The cries and Sirieks Of the mise
rabie sufferer reached the ears OF his
female protectors, and their entreatics
wel" once more successful with the
Caciqne. They unbound Ortiz, drag
gcd him from the fire, and took him
to their dwelling, where they bathed
his wounds with the juice of herbs.
and tended him with asSiduous care.
After many days he recovered, though
his body was marked with many a
deep scar.
His employment was now to guard
the village cemetry. it was IN q lovely
field IN the bosom OF forest. The
bodies OF the dead were deposited
in wooded boxes, covered with wood
en- boards, without amy fasteMin" ex-
cept i stone on log Of wood laid upon
the top: 50 that yhc bodies were Of
ten carried away by wild beasts.
In this cemetrv Ortiz WIS station
ed, with a bow and arrows, to watch
day and night, and was told, that
should a single body be carried away,
he would he burned alive. He re-
turned thanks to God having freed
him from the dreaded presence Of
tiirrihtg1a, hoping 10 lead a better
life with the dead than he had lately
done with the living.
Upon one occasion, while h was
towards murningsieero over
powered him. Being awakened by
the lid Of one Of the chests suddenly
falling, upon examination he found
that the body had disappeared. The
chest had contained the corpse Of m
infant recently dcccased,-the child
Of an Indian OF note.
Ortiz surprising some animal had
dragged II away, Immediately SET our
IN pursuit. After wandering for
some tin.e, at IL short distance within
the woods. he heard u noise like that
Of Il dog gnHwing bones. nr1wing
near 10 III" spot with i >tealthy step,
he dimly perceived Il living ohicct
lmoug tho bushes, and invoking aid
from Oh high. discharged I'm arrow At
IT, The thick and tanglad under