The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1880-04-15
Chief Douglas Attempt to Escape.

Chief Douglas Attempt to Escape.
Chief Douglas, confined in the guard
house at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
charged. with being the riugleader Of
the band OF Utes who massacred the
Mecker family. tried to escape. The
way he managed it was typical of the
Indian race. When he was taken to
Fort Leavenworth he was pla ed in the
guard. house, where all prisoners are
placed to await trial, and under promise
of good behavior his was not closely con-
fined, and was given the privilege OF
walking out on the porch at the second
story of the building for the purpose OF
getting air, he having been wounded
slightly. One afternoon at about half
past three o'clock, ne walked out in the
air with more than his usual chief-like
dignity. He gave swift glance over
the porch, and found the back of the
guard toward him. Quick as light
ming he made survey of the garrison,
and with all the ardor of a youthful
warrior he decided that the opportunity
had arrived to escape. " thin second
he drew his blanket to his shoulders
and with one bourd reached the balus-
trade around the porch. It require6
but moment, after hurried look be-
hind him, to place his hands on the rail
ing and spring lightly over and fall to
the ground, a distance of about twelve
feet. His route had evidently been
planned beforehand, for he darted west
ward ton the roai leading from the
guard-house toward the wooded bills
near the national cemetery. 2 .
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 retreating chief
who, paying no attention to the dread
explosion Of army rifles, flew on with
the speed ofthe wind, and, having nearly
two hundred yards the start, was In a
fair way to reach the hill, but fortune
was against him. ss' -
Sergeant Hubbard, of the provost
guard, was on his way from the fort to
the city, and was mounted on a fleet
horse. Hearing the first shots, he halted
near the south gate, and, finding the
firing continued, he made rapid detour,
frstTwe and then across lots north,
until he discovered the fugitive, and,
taking the situation at glance. gave
chase, tunarmed as he was. When
within few hundred feet of the flying
chief fence appeared in the way of the
sergeant, but touch of the spur lifted
horse and rider neatly over it, and it was
but q few seconds when the. doughty In
diarl was commanded to halt. He paid
no attention to the command other thal
to look behind him and increase bis
speed. The sergeant soon dashed up be-
side him and ordered him to stop; the
answer was IN attempted blow with a
heavy stone, Douglas having one in
each hand. Sergeant Hubbard finding
that force was necessary, being strong,
muscular man, soon convinced the chief
that he would for yet awhile await the
mercy of the government. The prisoner
was taken back toward the guard-house.
until the guards were met, placed again
in their care and heavily ironed.
The attempt on the part of Douglas to
escape was one of the bcldest on record,
as he certainly considered the difficulties
he would meet in passing through so
large a territory thickly settled by the
whites, before he could make his way
to the mountains. Had it not been for
the vigilance and zeal of the sergeant,
he would, however, have given the gov
ernment considerable trouble to fnd
him-alive.