The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-29
SEVEN TRANSFERS KILLED.
Scalping, Cutting Out Tongues and
Sitting Ears.
Two Captives Burned at the
Stake.
ESCAPE OF THREE OTHERS DURING A STORM.


sivey that our policy towards the 'saple savage"
OF the Indian Territory is not productive OF peace
but on The contrary, only aggravates them and
leads them TO the commission OF acts or brutality at
the mere mention Of which civilization shudders
There mas just arrived in this city overland VIII
liam MacMoore, whose appearance and references
entitle his story to credence His narrative OF his
experiences are Of
THE MOST NARROWING KIND.
He states that some weeks ago he left Elizabeth
town, Kentucky, IN the service Of government
contractor named j. O. ID. Blackburn, under agree
ment 10 drive team OF government supplies TO
Fort Sill Indian Territory. Blackburns train, con
sisting offourteen wagons with fourteen drivers but
no escort, left South Paw Valley about the middle OF
June for Fort Sill and proceeded without any inter-
rupton until sunday evening the 25th Of June,
when they came TO a small stream skirted by woods
on either side, about thirty miles east of the
fort here they experienced some difficulty IN
crossing After some OF the teams had reached
the west side the drivers dlsmounIed and
returned to the east side 10 assist MacMoore and
another teamster in getting their wagons OF the
mud. Not suspectlng any enemy near they had not
taken the precautlon 10 retain their arms and while
iabOrlng to extract the teams from the mire they
were suddenly startled by the savage war. wnoop,
and in moment were
SURROUNDED BY $50 CHEYENNE INDIANS,
who poured out OF the timber and made q sudden
attack upon them. Huddled together as they were
about the wagon they were well situated to receive
the fire of the savages, and al the first voey, fired
at distance Of fifty yards,
NUMBER WERE KILLED AND WOUNDED
The few who retained their small arms, seeing
the scalpng knives and tomahawks glistenlng in
The light, returned the fire, and for few moments
sold their lives dearly. The contest was over,
however, for the gallant little party with reviewers
were no match for the savages who were armed
with rifles, and OF the fourteen,
SEVEN FELL DEAD BY THEIR WAGONS.
Another was badly wounded and fell powerless for
defence. The Indians then closed IN upon the men
and captured the remaining seven. The wounded
teamster was SO badly wounded that he could not
live, and the nends al once proceeded TO
SCALP AND ToMAHAwK HIM.
The captves, six IN number, were Immediately
securely bound and removed under guard OF a por-
lion OF the savages, while the main body took charge
OF the train. Morse is consequently unable TO say
what disposition was made OF the train, but il Is
believed that after securing the booty the mules
were run OF and the wagons burned. Later In the
day the savages took up the line OF march
in nortnery direction, and, after proceeding about
ten miles, halted for the night and went into camp.
The next morning the march resumed In a
Dortheasterly direction. About ten O'Clock In the
morning one OF the captives whose name Is
MacMoore, was forgotten. Seeing chance for
escape, he made
RUN FOR LIFE;
but bullet directed by the unerring aim of one OF
his guard brought him down, MORALLY wounded.
The nenos stopped long enough to lake his scalp
aud pitched the body into hole, and then resumed
the march.
ON the following Friday the brutes held council
and decided TO torture two OF the capuves. Select
ing Jack Jones and Thomas HAYWARD, about FIVE
O'Clock IN the evening they proceeded TO CRAFTY their
love for vengeance and fendish cruelty Jones and
Hayward we're brought out, securely bound hand
and foot 10 stake one Oh either side, and the
faggots collected beneath them. Before firing the
faggots MacMoore declares, 10 the presence OF the
other captives the monsters deliberately un-
sheathed their knives and
CUT THEIR TONGUES OUT,
IL n supposed TO prevent them from making the
night hideous with their screams Of agony. They
also cut the ears of Jones and Hayward, and one
Of them deposited them in his pouch as trophies OF
war. The faggots, a foot so high, were 80
arranged as to burn slowly. The entire band then
formed In circle and INDUCED In the most nhu.
man torture OF the Victims such as
STRIKING THEIR BODIES WITH KNIVES.
piercing their eyes, cutting Sits in their bodies, &c.
Ait hese 6endish crueties the other captives were
forced 70 witness, not knowing how soon their turn
would come. Gradually the fire worked up through
the faggots and reached the bodies OF the men,
whose contortons were sickening indeed. While
they were undergoing thus excruciating cruelty the
captors laughed, jeered and danced about tnem
and seemed to take
DEvIIIsH DELIGHT IN THEIR PAIN.
Hayward died abou: half an hour after the faggots
were nred jones' agonies were sooner over
as the faggots under HIM were dryer. MacMoore
shuddered when mentioning the bloody scene OF
fn1er1ng. and had such an yectu
and ms companions that they resolved TO make
rush for liberty II
THEY FELL DEAD IN THEIR TRACES.
The Indians, however, were on the alert, and Mac.
Moore ana his compensatory Brown OF New
York, and Harvey Jackson OF 0hio--were prevented
for some days IRON making even an attempt. The
Indians still kept moving In a Dortherly direction,
making occasional hats for rest. But Providence
had not deserted them In their misfortune. On the
night OF the 9th instant heavy rain poured down
npon their encampment and the savages gave
themselves upt
A FREE USE OF FIRE WATER.
The men saw That tuis their chance, and
while cogltaung upon the means 10 be employed,
about eleven at night MaeMoore discovered that the
rain had stretched the thongs with when he was
bound Hope sustained him. and with desperate
effort he succeeded In freeing his hands but his feet
were as fast az ever henry Brown, however sue
recueo ln freeing nlinseU enurely, and, surveying
The sleeping Indian guard discovered That they were
sieepng drunken snmber. Cautiously approach
ing one OF them he drew the knife from his belt and
cut the bonds OF his companions. who stealthuy
crept ont or The encampment and were lost In
The darkness SATISFIED that the 6ends would give
pursuit IN the morning, the men marched rapidly
througn the woods for an hour and then separated
the better 10 avoid capture. They determined 10
direct
THEIR COURSE TO FORT Riley.
That point was reached on the following wednes.
day by MacMore, who had marched l26 miles In
two and O half days. on ms arrival az the fort he
Dressna<d pltiigl APPEARANCE, having nothing On