The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-28
THE FIENDISH SIOUX.
The Terrible Manner ia which a Stall
wart soldier Was Tortured by
IniianS.

"afI SOIuieT was tortured DN
Iniians.
The chief sent for me and gave me 10
understand that | might 30 and talk
with the prisoner. At the time | took
it a. 4 gracious favor, bui later on saw
that ii was only the first step on the
programme of torture. They wanted 10
torture the poor fellow mentally as well
aS physically. AT once went over TO
him. lie was duSt-cOverci and blood
stained. and evidently half-iead OF
thirst. Before speaking 10 him brought
him gourd nf wafer. The vessel held
a full quart. and he drained it to the
last drop before Ia. hooked uy.
MY God! Non are i white manr' he
exclaimed, rs he saw my face.
Yes. but prisoner, like yourself"
oh Won will save me, won't YOU?
These internal devils are going to tor
ture me-
1 promised IL interfere for his life,
though holding out no hope that could
save it, and then asked
What command DO YOU belong to-"
"Gen. Sully's."
"WheTe is it?''
q was captured about twenty miles
from here, and we broke camp this
morning"
Who was your captain"
Capt Smith"
What is your name?"
He promptly replied to the query. but
l cannot now recall the name; it was
, like salisbury or Slaterly. He had the
most direfnl forebodings of the imme-
date future, and anxiety and ill-usage
/ had almost driven him crazy. He was
large, stout man, with black hair and
deep-black eyes, and had evidently been
i'll the service for years. He might have
been termed game man. but the fear
OF torture had made a child of him. At
his earnest solicitation L 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.
saw that l was too late. and started
for my lodge, but before | reached il |
was seized by two bucks and hurried to
the stake and made TO sit down ON the,
grass beside Il sub-chief The head chief
had Il seat 4 few feet away. and his
countenance expressed the great salts
faction he anticipated. The soldiers
while his legs were left free. Such ter
ror and anguish never saw in hu-
man before or since. He entreated me
he begged the chief-he appealed to
the Indians TO save him. He offered 10
be slave-a dog-to Join them and
fight the whites-to do ANYTHING on
earth to preserve his life. | was half
wild. but dared not even reply to him.
while the chief and spectators Knocked
. him.
AT a sign from the chief the torture
began. The soldier, as had neglected
to state. was striped stark naked The
first move was 10 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 tugged at his bonds,
the calf of his right leg. Blood flowed
SO freely that believed he would be
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 of. his
body cut and Slashed. his toes severed
lIolll lllC 1OOl, anu DFdltlS OI IRE nclu
against his legs and body that the
braves might see him sqrIirm and dance.
Even now, fifteen years after. | grow
faint at the thought, and i shudder rs
recall his groans and shrieks. As sat
there before him I neither turned nv
eyes away nor tainted. There was hor-
rible fascination which | could not
shake oil. 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
ah once. and there was scarcely an in
stant when he was not pleading and
begging for mercy. He was dyed in
blood after the first five minutes, and it
ran down until the ground was satu-
rated, but it was certainly a whole hour
before he gave up. Along towards the
last, when he showed signs Of fainting,
the knives were applied to a fresh part
and the tire-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 a signal to about twenty boys
III 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 a piece
Of bloody beef.-Cdptfre Physician al
Nea0 York San.