Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-09-22
ADVENTURES OF A ROUsTABOUT.
He 10 Shot and Beaten by the Mate
Left 0n a Sand Bar near Fort BufOrd
Captured and Tortured by Indians.


He 10 Shot and Beeten by the Mate
Left ON a Sand Bar near Fort Buford
Captured and Tortured by Indians.
From the st. Louis Democrat, Sept 9th.
A FrenchmAn named Frank Moonie wont
before Justice Jeeko on Saturday for the
purpose of suing the owners of steam
bont for his wages. He made the following
statement, which appears TO be Incredible,
az there is no man on the river who would
treat fellow-being in such cruel manner.
We give the Frenchman's story for what it
is worth, and with the explanation that it
sounds like fiction:
Moonie stated that on the 7th of last
April he shipped as deck hand OF roust-
about on the steamer Fliit. bound for the
Rocky Mountains About 30 miles below
Fort Buford the boat landed, and he was
sent ashore to make the line fast to o tree.
He did the work bunglingly, and the mate
flew into q passion, knocked him down,
kicked and beat him, and shot him In the
mouth, knocking out three of his teeth.
He was then put on shore on sand bar,
without food, in strange country, and
with prospect of starvation staring him
in the face. He was suffering terribly from
his wounds, and never thought he would
live to reach civilized country He re-
manned on the sand bar twenty-eight hours,
when log came drifting along, and he
seized it and hoated down the river fol
several hours. As he was about reaching
dry land party of Indians came along,
and, seizing the white man as their cap
tive, they took him several miles from the
river to their camp. There they stripped
him of oil his clothing, and with strips of
bark tied his hands together, and suspend
ed him, with his toes just touching the
ground, within few feet of q hot fire.
Their intention was to roast him. During
the night, half-breed squaw, taking pity
on him, cut his thongs, but he was unable
to leave his captors on account OF his
wounds. The squaw gave him small
buckskin apron, which he put on and
calmly waited the pleasure of the savages.
The next morning the Indians drove him
from their camp, and he dragged himself
along, and after most painful walk reach
ed the Missouri River.
Here he sat down on the river bank, and
prayed for death to relieve him OF his suff-
erings For two days he remained on the
river bank, and the steamer Tacony from
ST. LouishOve in sight. He hailed her and
learned that Fort Bufort was ninety miles
above. He was left at this fort and fur
nished with clothing by the officer in com
mand. He remained in The hospital at the
fort seven days and was then put on the
steamer La Barge and sent to Sioux City.
The Mayor of Sioux City furnished him
with clothing, and sent him to Omaha on
the steamer st. John He was sent from
Omaha to St Louis, and arrived two OF
three days ago.
His objectin visiting Justice Jecko was to
sue the owners of the Flirt Geo. j. and H.
X. Hazlett and +. ". Bedard) for the
amount of wages due him for the round
trip, amounting to $196. If 1t shall appear
on the trial that his statement is true, the
officers of the boat will undoubtedly be
prosecuted before the United States Com
missioner '"