The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-01-21

FOUR YEARS WITH sAVAGEs
A Texas Youths Adventures With
the COmanches,

A Texas Youths Adventures With
the COmanches.
lSan Antonio ExpressI
A few days ago a man about twenty.
one years OF age called at the Express
office, and stated that he had but recently
escaped from four years captivity
among the Apache and c manche In
dians, and was on his way to bis home in
Fannin County. Tex where he had par.
ents living. He was about six feet in
height, we'll proportioned. had an intelli-
gent countenance and easy, lfposses
sed manner, although for years under not
the most refining Influences. His garb
was Enthusiastically frontier in its charac-
ter. IS
He gave his nama as s. NJ. Wills, and
SAID that four ,esrs ago, when about
seventeen ears Of ag", hearing glowing
accounts of frontier life, he became one
OF party of buffalo hunters on the
Staked Plains. Game was plenty, and
they were making money fast slaughter.
'"y The bison for | hide. This was in
1874 the seas n so mau, thousands of
buffalo we're killed. Becoming more ven.
luresome, the party penetrated to the
heart of the plains and in close proxi.
mitv to the Iniiars engaged 10 the same
business. One day, four of the party,
among VIII m was young Wills, gave
chase to verv fine herd of buffalo, and
followed them long distance, and many
a fine bull tell q victim to their unerring
r'flAs On II sudden thew came on par
ty Of Apache Indians in the same busi-
ness, who, upon seeing their natural foe,
left the chase and attacked the white men.
Wills was away from the other men, and
seeing them shot and scalped, surren
iered at discretion, without resistance
His youth saved him from immediate
death. and he was taken TO camp. He
heing fine looking boy, it was decld. d
to give him chance for life by allowing
him the doubsfulprivilege of running the
gahtlet.
The savages arraved themselves in two
long lines, armed with arrows, spears,
knives. tomahawks and clubs. Willis was
stripped Of his clothing. and, being
placed at the head OF this almost certain
avenue of death, started on bis terrible
race for life. Each savage, yelling at the
top of bis voice made deadly pass with
bis weapon as the poor boy fairly few
along the bloodthirsty pathway. The
one who succeeded in hitting the prison
er was to have the disposition of his fate,
which is usually that OF death BY the most
horrible slow torture that could be con
ceived in the breast ofthe brutal Ameri
can savage. On, on sped the fated youth.
and hundred deaths had already been
passed, while the end ofthe terrible lane
was rapidly approaching, When, his
strength failing and pace slackening. a
tomahawk buried Itself in his leg, and be
fell victim TO savage bsrbarity.
Demoniacal wells illed the air as the
"noble red men" surrounded their fallen
prey, eager to finish their helish work
fortunately the lucky captor conceived
an admiration tor the brave white boy,
and resolved to spare his lite. at the sam.
time claiming him IS his especial proper
tv. H. was attired in IDdian grab, nm
derwent the ceremony of invitation as O
''brave," wsrpaint was applied, and be
was now cheap big warrior" AL
though ostensibly one Of the tribe, never.
theless he was prisoner, and the
strictest guard over his movements wa.
never ilhdrawn. He was privileged tc
hunt and fight, but always acknow ledged
ownership TO the warrior who tonahawk
ed him in bis race for life. They were
always on the move, and they Travelled
hundreds Of miles up and down the plains
in the Rocky Mountains. Apaches and
Comsnches at this time were at war, and
his hand meeting party OF e. '-manches q
battle ensued' He entered fully into the
fight with his Apache "friends," and
having his pony shot was captured by the
Cumanches.
4 Being already considered virtually an
Indian, be was spared the terrible expert
ence of his first capture, aud was wihou,
I further cermonv admitted into the band
as Comanche warrior, and soon be be-
came great favorite.
He had now been among the Indians
over year, and had been Injured in the
hardships of Indian life. His was band
of what is usually termed among front.
iersmen "Dog Soldiers" being composed
principally of young men who refuse TO
come under restriction, and consequently
are outlaws before the law, and are &c
treated by the military authorities. Con.
seqaentlY they must be constantly on the
move, and the band with whom was the
hero: of this sketch, in the three years
that be was with them, travelled from
Texas to the British Possessions. His
varied experiences, privalions and hard
ships, would fill volume. and are alto
gether too long TO embodv here.
Last summer the band got back to the
Indian Territory and on the Texas Dor.
der, and the hope Of seeing bis home
again took strong hold oftis mind. and
he determined TO make an effort to es
cape. Were it not for again meeting
father, mother, brothers and sisters, be
would never have entered civilization
again, as be had become perfectly conten-
ted with life among the Indians-In fact,
rather preferred it. Some time in August
the band was on q buffalo hunt in north.
western Texas. and, becoming separated
from them 10 pursuit OF fine herd, be
continued his way south, riding until bis
holse fell under him dead.
He knew that if he rested the Indians
discovering his absence. would probably
over,ake him, and, therefore,. he put as
great distance as possible between him
self and pursuers in the early stage OF tbe
pursuit, which he knew would be sure to
follow, and that his recapture would bt
horribly fatal. His plans were laid, and
after'the death of bis horse, he continued
!, his journey, living on prairie dogs apd
such other small game as was proourable
MANY times aim rst diving of thirst and
starvation. Finally, in the latter part O
, August he reached Fort Griffin, the frs
settlement he had been in for four years
Being entirely destitute, be engaged nj
teamster, and as such has since been EN-
ployed. A couple Of days ago he arrived
at San Antonio, having earned suficien
money TO take him comfortably home.
. MARRIED -On December Goth, 1878
r nv ALEx RUcpANAN Eso. of Summi