The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1874-05-29

toned by father and mother to guart
against danger, | mounted my horse
we'll armed of course, and set out t,
visit Nellie Martin, who, I may a.
well state here, was to me the mos
charming object to be found in thu
West. About half way betweei
Nellie's house and mine, was thicl
belt of timber through which I hat
to pass. AS I entered this timber
spoke to Duke, and he kuickened his
gate to q lope, We were about the
middle of the timber when my horse
suddenly stopped, shifted the air and
attempted to turn back. Before
could command him or even compre-
hend his actions, there arose, as il
by magic, almost q multitude OF 1.-the
Shabby figures, heterogeneously made
up of eesh and dirt, skins, featheres,
tomahawks, scalping- knives, and
rifles. Almost before 1 was aware OF
it, I was prisoner, with a lot OF
dirty demons branding tomahawks
over my head and threatening to
scalp me. Presently one of the In
dians who was taller and uglier than
any Of the rest, came forward and
spoke as follows: Me great chief.
White man kill great chiefs brother;
great chief hill white man. Then
he drew aside and conferred with
some Of his braves in q tone so low
that I could only make out word
now and then. However, I compre-
hended enough to understand that
they thought I deserved horrid and
lingering death to atone for the blood
Of the dead brave.
"Whateyer their programme was,
they soon determined what to do.
Then they tied me on a bare-backed
horse, and the whole band, of whom
there were about thirty in number,
mounted and struck out over the
plains taking me with them. We
had ridden about forty miles, and
was beginning to think that I had
already suffered enough to pay for
the blood Of the entire tribe, when
the whole band suddenly came to
standstill. Before us stood two
trees, each about foot in diameter,
and between the two there was a
space of about eight feet. scanned
these trees narrowly, for as there
were no other trees in sight, I knew
that the noble red men contempoldt-
ed mischief,
presently they all dismounted,
and then 1 was united and made to
stand betwee the two trees. Then an
Indian produced some strong cord,
and proceeded to tie one around each
of my wrists. Having done This, an
Indian was sent up each Of the trees,
one having hold of the cord on my
right wrist, the other having the cord
that was attached to my left wrist.
They proceeded to the hight of about
twelve feet, and than commenced
drawing me up in the air between
the trees. l yelled with pain, but it
did no good. The Indians continued
to hoist me up, until my feet were
nearly two yards from the ground
Then they made the cords fast to the
two trees, and I was swinging in the
air with my arms stretched at full
length. Not satisfied with this, how
ever, they tied two other cords
around my ankles, and my feet were
drawn apart in the same manner,
There l was suspended in the air
like big letter X, with all those red |
liyils ieering and laughing at me,
The villains next proceeded to build
! fire on the ground beneath me, and |
FOR an hour at least l was smoked |
md singed until I was almost
cat last, the fire having burned
tself out, these children of nature
oegan to study up some other mode
If pastime. Four of the scoundrels
having rifles walked away a short
distance and amused themselves fir
il, y at me, to see how close they
oulo come without actually hitting
oe Tho bullets whistled past me,
hev tore through my clothes, and
-razed my flesh, while the blood
rickled down upon the ground be-
Ieath me.
"I thought of Nellie, my own lit
lie bright eyed Nellie, and then l
determined that. if ever my limbs
we're free again 1 would escape or ole.
Presently the four Indians raiseo
heir rifles and aimed them with
nore car than usual. J. thought they
nent to kill me, but when they fired
dropped to 5he ground so suddenly
hat thought 1 was making my exes
rom the world. As soon as 1 could
ollect my scattered senses / found
hat the Indians had shot the cords
n two, as a specimen of their skill,
nd hence my sudden descent to
IRA tirma.
"For a minute my limbs were 50
umb that I could not use them;
hen again vision of Nellie, of home
nd friends came into my mind, and
resolved more firmly than ever to
scape. Like a fash of light an
xpedition occurred to me, and if l
ould only carry it out successfully l
7ould be free, Calling the chief, to
ie l informen him that If he would
IT me live a day longer 1 would
earn him a secret that would make
is tribe one of the greatest and
lost wealthy tribes on the face Of
le earth. At first he appeared to i
ouBt, but thinking that no harm
-ould come Of it, he acquiescel, and
my secret. / produced a
int bottle from my pocket filed
ith liquid. All the Indians were
lrious to hear what it was, and
rowded close around me. Great
lief, said !, form line with your
oble braves and you shall have the
,crot Tn on iue4apt tbat, ,,-era ~