Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-16
SCALPED BY INDIANS.
A HAIR-RAIsLNG STORY TOLD BY
AN OLD MINER.
"Reminiscences ofan Expedi-
tion Into the Country Invaded by
the Apaches-Norman Fried
lander's Narrow Escape
from Death.
Lst. Louis GIohe.pemncrnt ]

struggling locks across their craniums,
under the delusion that they conceal
the shining pats beneath. Mr.. Nor
man l.. Friedlander pursues this custom
NOT to conceal badness, hut the pain
ful fact that section of his scalp about
the size ofa sauce-plate is missing. 1t
was removed by the Apaches in 1872.
The story, coming from Friedlander's
own lips, is invested with peculiar
and thrilling interest. He narrated it
to a reporter about as follows:
. am forty-two years old now," he
said, "and, hope, have acquired some
sense, but in 1872 was rattle-brained,
reckless, daredevil young fellow of
twenty-eight. My home was at Def
ance, o., and l learned the carpenter
trade; but that place got too small for
me and | drifted East, and eventually
got to San Francisco by way of the
cape. There fell in with man
named John Mcdonald, who had come
to the coast from Muscatine, la, where
he had been engaged in the lumber
business. He had made a trip along
the Colorado river the year before, and
had great idea that there We're big
gold deposits somewhere in that part of
the country. l was ready enough to
believe any fairy story, and we made
preparations for prospecting tour. Tn
the early spring of 1872 we started, 60
ing down asSfar as San Diego, and from
thence striking southwest across the
country. [ was green to the business,
but strong and hearty, and took a lik-
ing to the life. Well, we finally struck
the Colorado river, prospected down it
a little, and then, hearing some big
stories from other prospectors, headed
for Central Arizona, as near as | can
judge little south of Fort Mcdowell.
We had heard good deal about trouble
from the Indians, but didn't pay much
attention to it. In fact, we were cap-
tured before we were really aware that
we were in hostile country. It hap
pened this way: We had gone into
camp in little ravine, and early in the
morning were feeling our way out of it
when six bucks rose up from behind
pile of powders and covered us with
their rifles. There was only one thing
to do, that to surrender, and we did it.
For half a day we were kept on sort of
dog trot. l was ready to drop with
fatigue, but at the least sign of tagging
we were whipped forward like sheep at
a shamble. To add to my agony had
not the least doubt but that they were
taking US to some convenient, spot to-
submit us to torture. At about noon
Mcdonald caught his foot in q gopher
hole and sprained his ankle. 1t was
impossible for him to keep up then and
he fell dozen times in fifty feet. The
last time he fell one of the savages
struck him on the head with club.
He plunged forward on all foups and
gavea fearful shrek. That was the
last ever saw of him, but about fifty
yards on heard him yell again. They
killed him then and there, but after
ward heard from soldiers who found
the body that before death they had
submitted him to barbarity too horri-
BILE to describe.
AFTER that gave up all hope. but in
an hour or two they slackened their
gait and rested until nightfall. When
1T grew quite dark they pushed on four
or nve miles more and there we staid
until morning, the bucks alternately
sleeping and watching. No man on
earth has the language to describe how
felt that night. My legs were bound,
and was thrown to one side like o
sack of meal. The savages had some
food, but they offered me none, and no
water. That satisfied me was elected
to death. During all this time not a
word OF English was spoken, and they
pretended not to understand nv re-
peated appeals and protestations that
| came to their country for no harm.
In the morning we resumed our march.
was 80 weary and fOotsore [ thought
each moment would faint.
| ut was destined that the Journey
should be abruptly broken. In early
afternoon O detachment of United
States cavalry out on scout sighted us
at quite distance, and started forward
on a dead gallop. The Indians tried to
fall back to a sort of little gully, urging
me in front of them, but they were
pressed too hard and scattered. Before
they did so one of them jerked me over
backwards and struck at my face with
tomahawk. The blade hit nv collar
bone and splintered it. was instant-
ly deluged with blood, and suppose
the wretch thought he had killed me.
for he did not strike again but knelt
quickly and drew his knife. 1 realized
what was coming, and tried to scream
but could not. He seized me by tuft
of hair little in front of the crown,
and wrenching it up drew the point of
the knife across one side of it. The next
instant it seemed to me that thous-
and lights were flashing before my ewes.
and all the agony of the universe con-
centrated in the top of my head. He
had torn loose a piece of scalp. Then
he slashed it off, leaped up and fled like
deer. was picked up about ten
minutes later, and came to with the
soldiers all around me. One of them
now Lieutenant at Camp Douglass,
Salt Lake tore his shirt to pieces and
bound up my head and breast. They
thought every minute would die, but
/ fooled them, and they finally steadied
me on horse and got me into camp
six miles away. There the surgeon
took me in charge. The wound healed
ON what they call the first Intention
and much to every body's surprise, the
doctor included, was up and about in
less than a month. / never had any
trouble with it until about two years
ago, when running sore formed there,
but speedily yielded under treatment.
OF course, the place is tender, and do
nothing to irritate it. / forgot to say
that in the skirmish when / was recap
.tured three of the Indians were killed
and the other three, among them the
fellow who had nay scalp, got away. I
suppose If he's alive he has it yet.