The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1875-07-14


Indian poison, much poison, make Indian
heap sick, but Indian got well to take
vengeance on the white man. Rolling
Thunder has spolSeiii let llie White man
hear'r
Having said this, the Chief commanded
that we should be placed or horseback,
and this having been accomplished, the
whole band mountedand struck out aver
the plains, tal;ing us with tlieni Not
once did they halt until they reached a
point about ten miles west Of our homes
Here the whole hanl dsniounted and
turned their horses loose on the prairie. l.
knew they meant to have some fun out bf
me, and that, II left to themselves terri
bile fate Gf some kind would be allotted me
but dreaded still more tile fate0fmy darl-
Ing wife. Meanwhile some Of tho indians
had proceeded toa small belt oftinlber,
near where we had halted, and soon re-
turned bearing lot ofdry wood, winch
they threw on the ground That they
meant TO torture me was apparen;at a
glance; but knew not at first, what
deviltry they had IN mind. ] soon found
however, that they meant 70 pursue
method not at all compatible with my
views. Theyiirsi drove long stake into
Tile ground. and having done this they
brought rortl, very spirited horse, hal
tered il with long. heavy rope, and tied
the rone Il, the stake. Then was put ON
the horse aud my feet tied together under
him.
This having been done, tile Indians be-
gan to whip the horse around the stake,
shouting. aud making all kinds Of hideous
noises 10 frighlen him. The poor animal
reared and plunged with al his might.
trying to gri away, but the rope held him
81 that lie could do nothing Dnt gailop
around the stake. Some Of the Indians
lighted torches and brandished taem ut
him. and so terribly frightened was he
that his shrill snortings could have been
heard a quarter ofa mile. As for me, l
was lerked from sideto sidenntil ] was
nothing but mass ~ bruises, and almost
uncnncinus. The Indians threw sticks
and tomal,awks 1T me i the horse passed
them III his wild galloping, some q The
latter coming dangerously near
Al last, however, the horse was stopped,
and | was taken from his back, in half
dead condition, aud laid upon the ground.
After the williams had tortured me IN
various ways until they were satisfied, or,
nj least. until they were tired OF looking
~ me, they dug hole IN the ground, ana
having tired my feet together, planted me
IKE i post. When they had completed
their work was III Tie ground upto my
waist. and unable 70 move. The scoutl-
drels then tied my hands behind my
back. aud having caught their horses,
they departed, taxing my Sife with them.
struggled to release myself shouting with
all my might, but i did no good. was
Enthusiastically there.
III short time after the Indians had
lert ne, ! saw light 10 the suuthward,
which appeared . reach The ssy. y
seemed 10 be cnming towanl me, and 70
increase III size and hrilliancy every mo-
men.. watched IL culiollsly for some
time, being unable TO make out what
caused Il. Presently | could see that a
great fire was sweeping over the plains
with the speed 81 a race horse. ! COM
pretended all IN M instant; the Indians
had fred tile long dry prairie grass With
tile intention % burning me 70 death.
.Iust then I discovered something else
which, until, then, had not noticed.
The sayages had placed pnwder horn
near M in such manner that u the al'-
proaching flames rcachedit IL would ex-
plodc aud blow me 10 atoms.
I could not cast ;lle deadly agent from
me. nor could avert ~ coming Of the
flames which were % igniteit. Igazed ~
Tie iire like one slnpciied, great drops q
swea, rolled from my face aud fell upon
the ground, while my heart stood slill
with apptehension. AL this while Tie
flames were coming nearer aud nearer!
They were not now more thai quarter
of mile distant. aud coming ON with in'
creaslng fury. Unless some one came 70
my rescue should certainly perish. what
could do. alone aud helpless, upon tie
great prairie, with perfect lake q iirc
sweeping Oh 70 ritydeslraclion
any God cried aloud, " willno one
save iIe from horrible death :"
"Iam here for that purpose, saida
familiar voice close behind mo- turned
my head and behcld my ncarest neigh6or,
Henry Thompson, In tho act Of d'smcun-
ting from his horse.
aThis isa tickllsh situation, ward
sa,d hc. as he hastened 20 me and began
tohclp me out u the ground.
"what augel 81 mercy sent You 70 me-
!, this critical momentg' said !, almost
crying with JOY.
The sameangel that watehedthew welfare
~ every human being must have guided
nae TO YOU, 'said'rhonlpson, workiHg away
i 81 me Of the ground. MY wife aud
/ were expecting you at our house 70
,.,,,t,t aud amer supper ejust walked out