The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-12-11

The 1UKA DEvIL.-On the reservation there once
lived Indian who was so thoroughly Bad in every
respect that be generally known by the sobIique
Of The Yuka Devil. He committed all the seven
deadly sins auda good many more, if not every day
of his life, at least often he could. One day he
wandered of a considerable way from the reserve,
accompanied by three Of his tribal brethren and
they fell upon and wantonly murdered three squaws
without any known provocation whatever. They
were pursued by detachment of the garrison, over
taken, captured, carried back manacled hand and
foot and consigned 10 the guard-house In some in
applicable The Devil contrived to break his
fetters ssuuder and then tied them on again with
Irvine 10 such manner that when the turnkey came
along on tour ofinspection, he perceived nothing
Being taken out for some purpose soon afteward he
seized the opportunity to wrench of his manacles
and escape. But be was speedily oyertaken and
brought down with q bullet, which wounded him
Slightly, taken back TO the guard-house heavily
irOned, and cast into a dungeon Here he feigned
death. For four days he never swallowed a crumb
of nutriment, tasted no water, breathed no breath
that could be discovered, and lay with every muscle
relaxed like 4 corpse. To all human perception he
was dead, except that his body did become rigid
or cold. At last vessel Of water was placed on a
table hard by; information Of the fact was casually
impaired to him in his native speech; all the at
PENDANTS withdrew, the dungeon reapsed into ST.
lence, and he was secretly watched. After long
time, when profound stillnnss prevailed and when
the watchers had begun to believe he was in a
trance, at least, be cautiously lifted up his head,
gazed stealthiy all around him, scrutinzed every
Granny aud creyiee of light, then softly crawled on
ali-fours TO the table, taxing not to clank his
chains the while, took down the pitcher and drank
deep and long. They rushed in upon him, but on
the lnsiant-so fatuous was the obstnacy of the
savage-he dropped as if he had been shot, and
again simulated death But he was now informed |
that his play was quite too shallow for any further
purposes, and as soon the gallows could be put
In order, the executioners entered and told him 1
plainly that the preparations were fully completed |
for his taking-of. He made no sign. Then, half
dragging, half carrying the miserable wretch they
conducted him forth to The scaffold. All limp and
faced and uerveess as he is they lift him upon the
platform; but still be makes not the least notion
and exhibits no consciousness of all these stern and
grim preparations. He is supported in an upright
position between two soldiers, hanging a lifeless
burden their shoulders; his head is lifted up
from his breast, where it droops in heavy helpless
ness; tue new-bought rope, cold and hard and
pricky, is cooled about his neck and the huge knot
properly adjusted at the side; the merciful cap,
which shut of these heart-sickening preparations
from the eyes OF the faint and shudderng criminal
is dispensed WITH and everything in perfect read
ness The solemn stiffness BETTING the awful spec
tacIe about to be enacted falls upon the few speca-
tors; the fatal signal is given; the drop swiftly de-
sends; the supporting soldiers sink with it, as if
they were about to vanish into the earth and hide
heir eyes from the tragedy; With dead, dull thud
he Tightening rope wreuehes the poor savage from
heir up6earing shoulders into the pitiless mid-ar
md The Yuka Devil, hanging there without a twitch
IT SILVER, quickly passes from simulated to nnequiv-
'cal and unmistakable death.-OuerlaHd Nold6lx