, 1872-12-21
THE YUKA DEVIL.


From the Overland Monthly.
On the reservation there once 1iTed an Indian
who was so thoroughly bad in every respect tlat
be was generally known by the soubriquet Of the
6; Yuka Devil" He committed all the seven
deadly sins and good many more, if not every
day Of his life, Ut least as often as he could.
One day he wandered off q considerable way
from the reserve, accompanied by two OF his
tribal brethren, and they fell upon and wan
ton1y murdered three s9uaws, without
any known Provocation whatever. They
Sg esson ova{en b{ canas sse
back manaeled hand and foot, and consigned to
the guard house. In some inexplcable manner
the devil contriyed to break his fetters asunder,
and then he tied them on again with twine, in
such q fashion that, when the turnkey came
along on tour Of inspection, he perceived moth
ing amiss.
Being taken out for some, purpose or other
soon afterTard, he seized the opportunity to
wrench off his naaracles and escape. But he vas
q bullet, which wounded him slightly, taken
back to the guard-house. heavily ironed, and
cast into 8 dungeon. Here he feigned death.
For four days lie never swallowed crln1b Of
nourishment, tasted no WATER. breathed no
breath that could be discovered, and lay with
every muscle relaxed like q corpse. To al hu-
man perception he WAS dead except that his
body did not become rigid or cold.
At last vessel Of water was plnced on e table
hard by Information Of that fact was casually
attendants withdrew, the dungeon relapsed into
silence, and he was secretly watched.
After long time, when profound stiffness
prevailed, and when the watchman had begun to
lifted up his head, gazed etea1thily all round
him, scrutinizing every Granny and crevlce OF
light, then softly crawled On all fours to the
table, taking care not to clank his chains the
while, took down the pitcher, and drank deep
and long.
They rushed in upon him, but upon the instant
80 fatuods was the obstinaey 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 fur-
ther purposes, and as soon as the gallows could
be put in order, the executioners entered and
plainly told him that the preparations we're
fully completed for his taking of.
He made no Sign. Then, half dragging, half
him forth to the acafold. All limp and aaccid
and nerveless, as he is, they lifted him upon the
platform; but still he makes not the least
motion, and exhibits no consciousness OF all
these stern and grim preparations.
tween two soldiers, hanging Hfeless burden on
their shoulders; his hend is lifted up from his
breast. where it doops in heavy helplessness;
the new-bought rope, cold, and hard, and
prickly, is cooled about his neck, and the huge
knot properly adjusted o. the side; the mercifal
cap, which shuts of these notwithstanding pre-
paIations from the eyes OF the faint and shud-
dering criminal, is dispensed with, and every
thing il in perfect readinesB.
The solemn stiffness befitting the awful spec
taole about to be enacted falls upon the few
spectators the fatal signal is given; the drop
swiftly descends; the supporting soldiers sink
with it a. II about to vanish into the earth and
dull thud the tightening rope wrenches the poor
savage from their upbearing shoulders into pitt
less midair and the Yuka Devil, hanging there
without twitch or shiyer, quickly passes from