The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1871-08-31

And, cen the all-dazzling crown
Hides his faint rays, and at her bidding
shrinks.
A Frontier Tragedy--A Thrill
ing Story from Texas.
From the St Joseph (Mo.) Herald, July rs
On Saturday evening there arrived
in st. Joseph young man who gives
his name as William MacMoore, who
relates a terrible story of life on the
Texas frontier. He says he left
Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in the
Summer of 1869, and went to Texas.
Early in June last ne engaged with
one J. G. D. Blackburn, a Govern
ment contractor, to drive team to
Fort Sill. Blackburn's train con-
sisted of fourteen wagons, with four
teen persons as drivers, and started
from Smith Paw Valley for the fort.
On Sunday evening, June 25, the
party had reached a small stream,
which was skirted with q 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 Zone of them, the team
driven by Mr.. MacMoore) had not
yet come up, and one had stuck fast
in gully or ditch. A number of
the drivers had dismounted from
their wagons, leaving their arms in
them, to assist in extricating the lat>
ter. 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 il a moments time the
unfortunate teamsters found them
selves completely surrounded. Re-
sistance seemed hopeless, and yet to
yield was almost certain death. A
few of those who were in their wag-
ons fred q dozen or so shots, but ap-
parently without 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 tomahawked;
and six, including MacMoore, taken
prisoners.
MacMoore is unable to tell what
was done with the train and stock,
as Immediately after his capture he
and his companions were securely
bound and removed from the spot.
The savages moved in a northwest
wardly direction, and after going
some distance, camped for the night.
The next day after the capture one
of the party, while attemp ting to
escape, was shot and killed.
BURNED AT THE STAKE.
On the following Friday the sava-
ges came to the conclusion to torture
two of the teamsters, Jack Jones and
Thomas Haywood, and about five
o'clock in the evening proceeded to
carry out their purpose. The unfor-
tunate men were brought out and Sc
curely bound hand and foot to a
stake. Their tongues were then cut
out lit is supposed to keep them
from screaming while burning) and
their ears cut off. A pile of fagots
a foot or so high was then placed
around the stake, and so arranged as
to burn very slowly. The entire
band then formed circle, and in
dulged in the luxury of tormenting
their victims before the work of tor
ture commenced. The other prison.
ers were then brought out and forced
to witness the horrible spectacle.
The faggots around Jones were dry
and burned more rapidly than had
been intended, and his suferings
were speedily terminated, the stom-
ach and lower part of the body being
first consumed. Haywood died in
about half an hour, and his agony
was terrible. MacMoore says the
remembrance of that fearful scene
will never be effaced from his mems
DRY.
DETERMINED TO ESCAPE.
Satisfied that they would soon be
called upon to share the fearful fate
of their companions, the remaining
prisoners-MacMoo Henry Brown
and Harvey ACKNOWLEDGMENT
to make an effort to escape at all
hazards. They were closely guarded
however, and for some days no oppor-
tunity presented itself. On the
night of the 9th of July heavy rain
set in, and the anxiously looked>for
chance came. The Indians had in
dulged pretty freely in "frewater"
during the afternoon and evening
and slept very sound. About eleven
o'clock MacMoore discovered that
the buckskin thongs with which he
was tied, dampened by the rain, be-
gan to ''giVe" considerably. With
a little exertion he succeeded in get
ting his hands loose, but was unable
to release his feet. Henry Brown
also discovered his bonds ''giving, "
and finally succeeded in releasing
himself entirely. He then quietly
approached sleeping savage, drew
a knife from his belt, cut the bonds
of his comrades, and the three qui-
city fastened away. After travelling
some two miles together the three
separated, for safety, and started for
Fort Riley. Moore reached the lat
ter place on Wednesday, having
walked one hundred and twenty-five
miles in two days and half. His
feet were terribly lacerated, and he