Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-06-11

gave Indian poison, much poison, make
Indian sick, but Indian got well to take
vengeance on the white man. Rolling
Thunder has spoken; let the white man
hear"
Having said this. the Chief command
ed that we should be placed on horse
back, and this having been accomplished,
the whole band mounted and struck out
over the plains, taking us with them.
Not once did they halt until they reached
point about ten miles west Of our home.
Here the whole band dismounted and
turned their horses loose on the prairie
| knew that they meant to have some
fun out of me, and that, if left to them
selves, terrible fate Of some kind would
be allotted to me, but | dreaded still
more the fate of my darling wife. Mean
while some of the Indians had proceeded
to a small belt of timber, near where we
had halted, and soon returned bearing
with them a lot of dry wood, which they
threw on the ground. That they meant
to torture me was apparent at a glance,
but | knew not at first what deviltry
they had in mind ] soon found, how
ever that they meant to pursue method
not at all compatible with my view.
They first drove a long stake into the
ground, and having done this they
brought forward very spirited horse,
battered it with long, heavy rope, and
tied the rope to the stake. Then | was
put on the horse, and my feet tied to-
gether underneath him.
This having been done the Indians
began to whip the horse around the
stake, shouting and making all manner
of hideous noises to Brighten him. The
poor animal Feared and plunged with all
his might, trying to get away, but the
rope held him so that he could do moth
ing but gallop around the stake. Some
of the Indians lighted torches and bran
dished them at him, and so terribly was
he frightened that his shrill snorting
could have been heard a quarter of a
mile. rs for me, was erked from
side to side until l was nothing but a
mass of bruises, and almost unconscious
The Indians threw sticks and tomahawks
at me as the horse passed them in his
wild galloping, some of the latter coming
dangerously near.
At last, however, the horse was
stopped, and | was taken from his back
in half dead condition, and laid upon
the ground. After the villains had tor
tured me, in various ways, or, at least
until they were tired looking at me, they
dug deep hole in the ground, and hlving
tied my feet together, planted me like a
post. When they had completed their
work | was in the ground up to my
waist, and unable to move. The scoun-
drels then tied my hands behind my
back, and, having caught their horses,
they departed, taking my wife with
them. | struggled to release myself,
shouting with all my might, but it did
no good / was Enthusiastically there
In short time after the Indians had
left me, | saw light to the southwark
which appeared to reach the sky. 1t
seemed to be coming toward me, and to
increase in size and brilliancy every mo-
ment, watched it curiou4ly for the first
time, being unable to make out what
caused it. Presently | could sec that a
great fire was sweeping over the plains
with the speed of race horse. com
pretended all in an instant; the Indians
had fred the long dry prairic-grass with
the intention of burning me to death.
just then ] discovered something else
which, until then, / had not noticed
The savages had placed a powdcr-horn
near me in such manner that if the APP
preaching flames reached it, it would cx-
plode and blow me to atoms.
| could not cast this deadly agent
from me, nor could avert the coming
Of the flames which were to ignite it,
gazed at the fire like one stupeiod
great drops of sweat rolled from my face
and fell upon the ground, whilst my
heart stood still with apprehension
And all this while the flames were com.
ing nearer and nearer. They we're now
not more than quarter Of mile dis
tant, and coming on with increasing fury
Unless some one came to my rescue
: should certainly perish. What could
r do, alone and helpless, upon the grea
prairie, with perfect lake of fire sweep
7 ing on to my destruction
] "My God" cried aloud, evil NJ
Q one save me from horrible death p
Il am here for that purpose" said !
t familiar voice close behind me. / turn
: ed my head and beheld my nearest neigh
T Dor, Henry Thompson, in the act of dis
mounting from his horse.
/, "This is ticklisb situation, Ward,
! said he, as he FASTENED to me and begat
to help me out of the ground
! "What angel of mercy sent you t.
! me at this critical moment ?" said ], al
most crying with joy.
"The same angel that watches tn
: welfare Of every human being must hay
: guided me to you" said Thompson
working away to get me out of th
e ground "My wife and | were expect
I ing you at the house tonight and afte
t supper we just walked out in the pleas
! ant moonlight to meet you We sa'
] you coming when you were some dis
r lance from us, and we also saw the II
e dams when they surrounded and car
i tured you and your wife. We waited
: the shadow Of some bushes until the II
: dams had gone, and then | took my vii
G back to the house and followed the II
: dams to see what they were going TO d
}. with you. At some distance from th
place witnessed all that the Indian
J. did to you, and when they left came o
e -