Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-27
A MAN WHO Ran TIE GAUNTLET.
How Sebastian Beck Took the Hot
Lash Of the Sioux and Became n Saw.
age in Name.

From the Denver News
The pages Of fiction scarcely contain so strange
and thrilling story as that narrated to Ne,cs
reporter last evening by Sebastian Beck He is
a plain. honest-looking German. probably fifty
years OF age, and lays claim to being considera-
bic of a linguist and capable of speaking seven
languages in addition to Sioux Indian, which he
speaks with great fuency. apparently. During
nearly ten years Beck was member of the Sioux
tribe. His story OF how he ran the gauntlet is
thus told: "We did not know what fate awaited
US. But we had scarcely arrived at the Indian
camp than we We're given to understand that
we would have to run the gauntlet. This con-
sisted in running between two lines OF braves.
five hundred in each line. and taking all the
blows that these could give us while we made
the run. which was twice up and twice down
the line. The lines We're Just far enough apart
to give us room to run a line of guns being
placed along on each side between US and the
Indians. which could not be crossed by either US
or the Indians. We We're compelled to keep
within this line, and the Indians were not al
lowed to leave their positions in the line. but
could inflict all the punishment possible while
We were within reach of each of them in turn.
The Indians were armed with sticks. moccasins.
and every thing that could be used to strike
with of nature that would infct pain without
doing great bodily in Jury, but chiefly with kind
of cato -Gine-tails used by the Indians in riding
their ponies. This is q terrible weapon, having
large number Of strings, on the end of each OF
which is a chunk of lead. There were a large
number of squaws in the lines in addition to the
braves. vino appeared to take as strong an in
terest in the matter as the latter.
eve were stripped naked with the exception
of breech-ClOuts which were given US. l was
placed first in the line of twenty-five. the run
being made by all together in single file. This
was decided advantage to me. as could go as
fast as liked not having to depend upon the
speed of Others. A friendly Indian. the one
who had encouraged me at first si%naled me.
giving me to understand that was to run as
fast as could. l did not need the advice after
got well started, but it served me until got
past the first dozen. as | started while they
were chatting among themselves. But the rest
of the way | got it, tell you. / just ran for
dear lfe taking the blows as they came. l could
not repress some Explanations Of pain as the
whips cut into nv flesh. but l managed to keep
from disgracing myself in the minds OF the
Indians although suffering terribly at every
blow received"
Did many of them miss yOu:"
after the first dozen none that know of.
They laid Cd the blows as hard as they could.
but cOnforlned strictly to their law, which is not
to leave their place in the line to intlct further
punishment.
when l reached the end of the line the first
time was covered with blood and thoroughly
winded, being scarcely able to stand. We man.
aged to get through with our lives, not one of
the twenty-five falling or giving up. We were
then admitted to membership in the tribe"
Beck is now travelling among the Indians
looking for his wife and children, whom he lost
when captured years ago.