Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-05
A MAN WHO Ran THE GAUNT-
LET.
How Sebastian Beck Took the Hot Las

How Sebastian Beck Took the Hot Lash
of the Sioux and Became a Savage in
Name.
The pages of fiction scarcely contain so
strange and thrilling story as that mar
rated to a Denver, Col, Netrs reporter
last evening by Sebastian Beck. He is
plain, honest looking German, probably
80 years Of age, and lays claim to being
considerable of a linguist and capable Of
speaking seven languages in addition to
Sioux Indian, which he SPEAKS with great
fiuency, apparently. During nearly ten
years Beck was a member of the Sioux
tribe. His story Of how he ran the gaunt-
let is thus told:
eve did not know what fate awaited
us. But we had scarcely arrived at the
Indian camp than we were given to I'M
dersuand that we would have to run the
gauntlet. This consisted in running be-
tween two lines Of braves, 500 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 were just far enough
apart to give US room to run, a line of
guns being placed along on each side, be-
tween US and the Indians, which could
not be crossed by either US or the indians.
We were compelled to keep within
this line, and the Indians were not al
lowed to leave their positions in the line,
but could infiict all the punishment posi-
bic while we were within reach Of them
in turn. The Indians were armed with
sticks, mOccasins and everything that
could be used TO strike with of nature
that would inflict pain without doing
great bodily injury, but chiefly with
kind of cat-O'-nine-tails used by the In
dams in riding their ponies. This is
terrible weapon, having a 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, who appeared to take as
strong an interest in the matter as the lat
ter.
1--WE were stripped naked with the ex-
ception of breech-clOuts which were given
us. l was placed first in the line Of
twenty five, the run being made by all to-
gether in single file. This was a decided
advantage to me- | could go as fast as
liked, mot having to depend upon the speed
of others. A friendly Indian, the one
who had encouraged me at first, signaled
me, giving me to understand that 1 was
to run as fast as l could. I did not need
the advice after l gotw started, but it
served me until l got past the first dozen,
as / started while they were chatting
among themselves. But the rest OF the
way got it, 1 tell you. I just ran for
dear life, taking the blows as they came.
l could not repress some EXPLANATIONS OF
pain as the whips cut into my flesh, but 1
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?'
CATER the fisrt dozen none that l know
of. They laid on the blows as hard as
they could, bnt cOnformed strictly to their
law, which is not to leave their place in
the line to inf1ict 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 managed to get through with
our lives, not one of the twenty-five fall
ing or giving up. We were then admitted
to membership lie the tribe"
Beck is now travelling among the In
dams looking for his wife and children,
whom he lost when captured years ago.