The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-07

men, so that the Great Spirit would give them
courage to bear their sufferings manfully. From
the top of the lodge hung number OF cords
which were held by men on the outside
Two salwart sayages took mp positions beneath
the cords. one with knife and the other hold
ing splints. The young braves appeared. They
were greatly emaclated by the fasting and thirst
ing to which they had subjected themselves
for four days Dropping on their hands and
feet the attendants took up between thumb and
finger an inch or more of flesh. The knife,
which had been notched so that il would make
the incision as painful as possible, was pushed
through and skewer was run through the quiv-
ering flesh. The cords hanging from the top of the
lodge were then fastened to the spiints,
and when the signal was given, the
victim was ierked into mid air.
Spints were then inserted in his shoulders,
thighs and legs, and upon these, while the body
braves shield, bow and culver. 1t was q
CHASTITY and sickenng sight The fortitude
with which the victims bore this torture sur
passes belief. AS the knife was thrust through
the flesh not muscle moved, and one or two
even called attention to their faces,
challenging the judges to detect any
symptom of weakness While the body
hung in the air, i: would be twirled and
swung upon the cords until the victims would
cry from pain, and appeal to the Great Spirit
not to forsake them in their hour of agony. Tho
torture continued until the victim became I'M
conscious, and his medicine bag, to which he
had chung throughout the trying ordeal. fell to
the ground. He was then lowered to the ground,
and left to recover. When consciousness re-
turned the poor savage crowded to a part OF the
lodge where an old Indian sat In silence awaiting
his coming. The sufferer. holding up the little
finger of his left hand, calls upon the Great
Spirit to witness his self sacrifice, and then
places it upon a skull, when it is Immediately
chopped off. No bandages were applied and no
arteries taken up, and yet they usually. heal
quite soon. The chiefs who witness
the tortures decide from the forti
tude by which 1t is borne by the different young
persons who are best fitted for the trials of war
aud hunting, and they accordingly selected
for the important work of Indian life.
1.-THE atrocty of the Apaehes is most ex-
treme. wounded captive is generally hung
by the heels over fire until life is extinct. and
the more agonizing the torture the greater is the
delight of the red demons. There is a small
gravestone out on the Arizona desert which
marks the burial place of DR.. Titus, who was
wounded in an encounter with the Apaches in
1882, and who Immediately shot himself through
the head rather than fall into their hands alive
"How did escape? With less difficulty than
I had anticipated. AS told you. the Indians did
not treat us as they usually do their captives
and, although we were closely watched, we were
not held in close confinement. On the night fol-
lowing the horrible festivities which / have de-
scribed, when they were nearly all unusually
tired and sleepy, we succeeded in escaping from
the camp, and after three days of rapid, but
cautious travel, we reached a Pimo village,
where we rested until we found an opportunity
for getting safely within the territory of civ
iiZed neop1a v