The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-08-24
A Frontier Tragedy.

From the st, Joseph (Mo.1 Herald, July 2o.J
On Saturday evening there arrived in
st. Joseph q young man who gives his
name as William MacMoore, who relates
Il terrible story of life on the Texas from
tier. He says he left Elizabethtown, Ken
lucky. in the summer of 1869, and went
to Texas. Early in June last he engaged
with one j. G. ID. Blackburn, a Govern
mcnt contractor, to drive a team to Fort
Sill. Blackburns train consisted OF four
teen wagons. with fourteen persons as
drivers. and started from Smith Paw Val
ley for the fort On Sunday evening,
June p, the party had reached q small
stream, which was skirted with a strip of
timber, about thirty miles east of the
fort, when they were suddenly
ATTACKED BY $50 CHEYENNE INDIANS
Part of the teams had crossed the
stream; two Gone of them the team driv-
en- by Mr. MacMoore) had not yet came
up. and one had stuck fast in gully or
ditch. A number of the drivers had dis
mounted from their wagons. leaving their
arms in them, to assist in eXtricating the
latter No one for moment dreamed
that foe was near. The Indians had
posted themselves in the timber on both
Sides of the stream, and kept carefully
concealed until the party were completely
in their power. Then they came dashing
out, with horrid yells, and in a moments
time the unfortunate teamsters found
themselves completely surrounded. Re-
sistancc seemed hopeless, and yet to
Weld was almost certain death. few
OF these who were in their wagons fired
w yuifhp1t
effect.
KILLED, WOUNDED AND SCALPED.
The contest was speedily over. Seven
of the party were shot dead on the spot;
another was badly wounded, and then
scalped and tomahawkcd; and six, in
GLIDING MacMoore, taken prisoner.
MacMoorc is unable to tell what was
done with the train and stock, as imme-
diately after his capture he and his COM
panions We're securely bound and remov
ell from the spot. The savagcs moved in
a north-westerly direction, and after 60
ing some distance, camped for the night.
The next day after the capture one Of the
party, while attempting to escape, was
shot and killed.
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
On the following Friday the savages
came to the conclusion to torture two Of
the transfers, Jack Jones and Thomas
Hayward, and about five o'clock in the
evening proceeded to carry out their pur
pose The unfortunate men were brought
out and securely bound hand and foot to
a stake. Their tongues were then cut
OUTFIT is supposed to prevent them from
screaming while burning -and their ears
cut off. A pile of fagots foot or so high
was then placed around the stake, and so
arranged as to burn very slowly. The
entire band then formed in Il circle, and
INDUCED in the luxury of tormenting
their victims before the work of torture
commenced The other prisoners were
then brought out and forced to witness
the horrid spectacle. The fagots around
Jones were dry and burned more rapidly
than had been intended, and his sufferings
were speedily terminated, the stomach
and lower part ofthe body being first con-
sumed. Hayward died in about half an
hour, and his agony was terrible. Mac
Moore says the.remembrance of that fear
full scene will never be effaced from his
memory.
DETERMINED TO ESCAPE.
Satisfied that they would soon be call
ed upon to share the fearful fate of their
companions, the remaining prisoners
MacMoore, Henry Brown and Harvey
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS to make an effort to
escape at all hazards. They were closely
guarded, however, and for some days no
opportunity presented itself. On the
night of the 9th of July a heavy rain set
in, and the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. chance
came. The indians had INDUCED pretty
freely in -water'' during the after
noon and evening, and slept Iery sound.
About eleven o'clock MacMoore discover
ed that the buckskin thongs with which
he was tied, dampened by the ram, began
to ''give" considerably. With little ex-
ertion he succeeded in getting his hands
loose, but was unable to release his feet.
Henry Brown also discovered his bonds
"giving," and finally succeeded in releas-
ing himself entirely. He then quietly ap-
preached sleeping savage, drew knife
from his belt, cut the bonds of his COM
rades, and the three quietly fastened
away. After travelling some two miles
together, the three separated, for safety,
and started for Fort Riley. Moore reach
ed the latter place on Wednesday, having