Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-03-20
A Lively Chase for Chief Douglass.

A Lively Chase for Chief Douglass.
Whatever may have been said in solid
fact, regarding the nature of the Amer
ican Indian as to his pertinacity in try
ing to hold lands that in one sense be-
long to HIM, is in every case overshad-
owed by his bravery. Ee knows he is
fighting against &c a crowd" as white
people say. He feels that he is alone,
and that the most desperate measures
are necessary to counteract the schemes
brought to play against him. He is on
the defensive and watches with an eye,
eagle like, every movement made by
the offensive party. He knows the
combinations against him are strong
enough to make him 60, and he feels
it his bounden duty, as brave man.
with more rights, perhaps than some
dishonest enemies. to fight little if he
dies for it. He understands that the
Government in the main wishes to pro-
tect him; but he knows by experience
that the agents defraud him in many
instances, and he has learned to sus-
pect every officer of the Government
with whom he comes in contact. He
has in many cases resorted to violence,
and has perpetrated crimes which have
Justly deserved punishment, thinking
from his nature and habits war and
depreciation the only means of revenge
for the wrongs committed by designing
individuals. Chief Douglass, who has
been confined in the guard house at
Fort Leavenworth, for some time,
charged with being the ringleader of
the band of Utes who massacred the
Meeker family, thought the other after
noon that he would take the advice of
the white people and go.
The way he managed it was typical
of the Indian race.
When he was taken to Fort Leaven-
worth he was splaced in the guard house
where all prisoners are placed to await
trial, and under promise of good be-
havior, as nearly as can be learned, he
was not closely confined, and was given
| the privilege of walking out on the
| porch at the second story of the build
| ing for the purpose of getting air, he
having been wounded slightly. A day
| or two after, he walked out in the air
with more than his usual chief like dig
nifty. He gave swift glance over the
porch, and found the back of the guard
towards him. Quick as lightning he
made a survey of the garrison, and with
all the ardor of youthful warrior he
decided that the opportunity had ar
rived. s
Within a second he drew his blanket
to his shoulders and with one bound
reached the balustrade around the
porch. It required but moment, after
a hurried look behind him, to place his
hands on the railing and spring lightly
over and fall to the ground distance
of about twelve feet. His route had
evidently been planned beforehand,
for he darted westward on the road
leading from the guard house towards
the wooded hills near the National
Cemetery. ---...
While passing the hospital with the
feetness of deer, the hospital steward
saw him and at once gave the alarm.
The guards at once gave chase and
fired several shots after the retreatine
chief, who paying no attention to the
dread explosions of army rifles few or
with the speed of the wind, and having
nearly 200 yards the start was in fail
way to reach the hills, but fortune wal
against him. Sergeant Hubbard of the
provost guard, was on his way from thu
Fort to the city, and was mounted on {
} feet horse. Hearing the first shots, h
halted near the South gate, and finding
} the firing continued he made rapit
! detour, first west and then across lot
north until he discovered the fugitive
, and taking the situation at glance
gave chase, unarmed as he was. Whel
within few hundred feet of the fyin,
chief a fence appeared in the way o
the Sergeant, but a touch of the spu
, lifted horse and rider neatly over it
and it was but a few seconds until tn
, doughty Indian was commanded t.
halt! He paid no attention to the com
mand other than to look behind hin
and increase his speed. The Sergean
soon dashed up beside him and ordere
him to stop; the answer was an at
tempted blow, with heavy stone
Douglass having one in each hand. Ser
geant Hubbard, finding that force wa
> necessary, and being strong muscula
man, soon convinced the chief that h
would for yet awhile await the mere
!, of the Government. The prisoner wa
. taken back towards the guard house
. until the guards were met, placed agai
: in their care and heavily ironed.
: The attempt on the part of Douglas
! to escape was one of the boldest O
! record, as he certainly considered th
= difficulties he would meet in passin
. through SO large territory thickly SCI
tied by the whites, before he coul
q make his way to the mountains. Ha
: it not been for the vigilance and zeal {
= the Sergeant he would, however. hav
given the Government considerabl
: trouble to find him-alive.
. From a private note from the Fol
!. we learn that Chief Douglass has bee
u accustomed to sit outupon the varand
), at the guard house, and always SCENE
g to enjoy it and no idea entered tn
heads of the guard that he would a
0 tempt to escape, until he suddenl
e jumped off and started. He is ver
y sullen and nothing but careful Wig
lance will prevent him doing injury
r himself, if not to others. He attemp
e ed to shoot private of "B" Compar
q while on the cars a short time sine
8 and is no doubt dangerous characte
u -LeaUenaoorth Times.
t. SPAIN gives minister plenipotel
tiary $4,000 per year. while a favori
e bull Tighter receives $4,000; but the
'e we' d rather plenipotensh for that cou
/ try for dollar day and board tbs
1f fight bulls at any price.-Moder,l Arg