The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-01-07
the FTENDTsH sioux.
The Terrible Hammer IN Waish : staI.
Wsgt Soldier was TertErod by
indiana.


The chief sent for me and gave me Il
understand that might go and tall
with the prisoner. st the time ] tool
it as gracious favor, but later on saw
that it was only the first step on the
programme of torture. They wanted t.
torture the poor fellow mentally as wei
as physically. I at once went over t.
him. He was dust-covered and blood
stained. and evidently half-dead o
thirst Before speaking TO him brough
him q gourd of water. The vessel held
a full quart, and he drained il to the
last drop before he looked up.
'.Afy GodI You are white manr' he
exclaimed. as he saw my face.
eyes, but prisoner, like yourself -
'HOhi you will save me, won't youi
These internal devils are going to tor
ture meF'
promised to interfere for his life
though holding out no hope that could
save It, and then asked:
What command do you belong top
''Gen. Sully's."
''Where is ita''
'I was captured about twenty miles
from here. and we broke camp this
morning."
! ''Who was your captaine''
S&pG. OmlIn.
''What is your nameP"
He promptly replied to the query, but
cannot now recall the name; It was
like Salisbury or Slaterly. He had the
most direful forebodings of the imme-
date future, and anxiety and ill-usage
had almost driven him crazy. He was
a large, stout man, with black hair and
deep-black eyes, and had evidently been
in the service for years. He might have
been termed game man, but the fear
of torture had made child of him. AT
his earnest solicitation I went to seek
the chief, but before reached the tent a
crowd of warriors seized the prisoner
and hurried him to stake driven in
the clear space in the center of the vii
lage.
I saw that was too late, and started
for my lodge, but before reached it
was seized by two bucks and hurried to
the stake and made to sit down on the
grass beside sub-chief The head chief
had a seat a few feet away, and his
countenance expressed the great salts
faction he anticipated. The soldiers
arms were tied behind him to the stake,
while his legs were left free. Such ter
Tor and anguish never saw in q hui
man before or since. He entreated me
he begged the chief-he appealed to
the Indians to save him. He offered to
be slave-a dog-to join them and
fight the whites-to do anything on
earth to preserve his life. I was half
wild, but dared not even reply to him,
while the chief and spectators Knocked
him.
At sign from the chief the torture
began. The soldier, as had neglected
to state, was striped stark naked. The
first move was to cut a great slice from
his left arm just above the elbow. The
piece was held up to view and then
thrown to the dogs. The man shrieked
and shouted, and tagged at his bonds,
but while So doing slice was cut from
the calf of his right leg. Blood flowed
SO freely that believed he would be a
dead man in five minutes. Then his
other arm and leg were sliced, and his
calls for mercy were answered by sneers
and laughter.
Then, at brief intervals, the prisoners
ears, nose and chin were cut off, his
body cut and slashed, his toes severed
from the foot, and brands of fire held
against his legs and body that the
braves might see him squirm and dance.
Even now, fifteen years after, I grow
= anu at the tnOught, ana ShuQdeF as
recall his groans and shrieks. AS sat
there before him 1 neither turned my
eyes away nor tainted. There was hor-
rible fascination which 1 could not
shake off. and the feeling was strong
upon me that would be the next vic
tim.
The torture continued for full hour,
during which time the man never faint
ed once, and there was scarcely an In
slant when he was not pleading and
begging for mercy. He was dyed in
blood after the first five minutes, and il
ran down until the ground was satu-
rated. but it was certainly whole hour
before he gave up. Along towards the
last, when he showed signs of fainting,
the knives were applied to fresh part
and the fire-brands thrust again him,
when he would at once revive. At
length he fell forward, almost gone, and
warrior stepped up and scalped him.
This was signal to about twenty boys
in waiting, and they at once rushed in,
each armed with knife, and cut and
slashed and stabbed, until what was
left of the poor body resembled piece
of bloody beef.-CdptiUe Physician tn
NeHO York San.