Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-07-13

dian country, surrounded on every side
by danger in the.shape of Sioux, discov-
cry by whom is usually followed by in
! staut death or the more terrible trial of
captivity and torture until death relieves
their sufferings.
INDIAN ToRTUREs.
Among the tavori'e methods OF In
dian torture may be mentioned the ty>
ing of the unfortunate prisoners to
stakes in the ground, then having a
small pyrotochnical celebration by filing
his ears with powder and shooting it
off. They only do this when powder
is plenty. Another favorite amusement
is to build small fire of resinous pine
kindlings on the victims stomach and
let 1t burn slowly. They usually make
the fire small to prciong the effect or,
as they sometimes do, drive small pine
splinters into the flesh and ignite them
Some of the tribes south have very
ingenious ways of torturing. They take
the victim and gag him with his mouth
open, then tie him down by the side of
large ant hill, and you can imagine
the result. In scalping they do not all
ways confne themselves to the scalp
Should the capturing party be numer-
GUS and there be not sealps enough to
round they sometimes continue their
operations to the beard, moustache and
eyebrows. The above are the tortures
as practiced on the male prisoners.
What the female prisoners are subject
ed to the columns of newspaper will
not allow me to describe, but judging
from the other tortures you can readily
ina CINE that no feelings of mercy or
compassion. for the Indian is totally
devoid of these qualities, will Or can
prevent him from practlcing the most
horrible tortures on the females, to
whom death would be a thousand times
preferable.
SUICIDE PREFERABLE TO CAPTURE.
1t is quite common thing for the
trontiersman, during Indian raids and
when himself and family are attacked
and there is no hope of escape, to put
an end to his own life and that of his
family, in preference to capture and tor
ture.
QUAKER DOCTRINE NOT APPRECIATED By
THE FRoNTIERsMAN.
There is little use in talking to a
frontier settler who knows the Indian
nature, or who has lost, perhaps, wife
and children in the border warfare, a.
bout peace with the Sioux, or of civil
izing by the Quaker peace policy, un.
preceded by thorough subjugation by
military force For an answer you will
he apt to get look Of anger OF incred
Utility with the remark: stranger, amt
you tcnderfoot out here! Hev you ev-
er fit with the Injunss
There is a wide field for the mission
airy to test his Outstanding influence
on the poor heather, but would advise
him 10 follow the old maxim, and not
only put his trust in Providence, but
keep his powder dry.
TIE INDIANS
Have, to all appearances, disappeared
from this vicinity. was out with a
party fifteen miles from the post yester~
day, but there are no fresh trails They
have probably all gone north to join in
the fight, but about the time you see no
Indians is TIE very time to look tor
them.
A COURIER
Arrived here early yesterday morning.
He left Gen. Crooks command Satur>
day, and made 40 miles in four days
on one horse. He avoided the regular
trails, and by keeping along the foot Of
the hills, avoided the Sioux.
nE LEFT GEN. CROOK
At the permanent supply camp, which
is located about ITO miles west of north
from here, and about Is miles norths