Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-07-23
HOW IT FEELS 70 Be SCALpEO.

y
hope have acquired some sense, but
in 1872 | was Tattle.brained, reck-
less, daredevil young fellow of 2S
My home was at Defiance, o., and
| learned the carpenter trade; but
that place got too small for me, and
| dritted East, and eventually got
to San Francisco. There | fell in
with q man named John Mcdonald,
who had come to the coast from
Muscatine, Iowa, where he had been
engaged in the lumber business
He had made trip along the south
line of the Colorado river the year
before, and had a great idea that
there were big gold deposits some
where in that part of the country. |
was ready enough to believe any
fairy story and we made prepare
tons for q prospecting tour. In the
early spring of 1872 we started,
going down as far as San Diego,
and from thence striking southwest
across the country. | was green to
the business, but strong and hearty,
and took a liking to the life. Well,
we finally struck the Colorado riy-
er, prospected down it little, and
then, hearing some big stories from
other prospectors, headed for Cen
trail Arizona, as near as | can judge,
a little south of TT. Mcdowell. We
had heard good deal about trouble
from the Indians, but didn't pay
much attention to it. In fact, we
were captured before we were fully
aware that we were IN hostile
country. 1t happened this way {:
We had gone into camp in a little
ravine, and early in the morning
we're feeling our way out of it when
six bucks rose up from behind a
pile of boulders and covered us
with their rifles. There was only
one thing to do, surrender, and we
did it. The whole thing happened
so quickly that it took our breath
away. When | gathered my senses
together we had our hands bound
behind our backs, and we're beng
hurried due east across an open
mesa.
"For half a day we we're kept on
a sort of drog trOt. | was ready to
drop with fatigue, but at the least
tagging we were whipped forward
like sheep at shamble. To add
to my agony | had not the least
doubt but that they were taking us
to some convenient spot TO submit
Ms to torture. At about noon Nc.
Donald 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 a club. He plunged for
ward on all tours and gave fear
full 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 | af-
terward heard from soldiers who
found the body, that before death
they had submitted him to bar
barity too horrible to describe.
"After that | gave up all hope,
but in an hour or two they slack.
ened their gait and rested until
nightfall. When it grew quite
dark they gushed on four or five
miles more and there we stayed I'M
til morning, the bucks alternately
sleeping and watching. No man
on earth has the language to de-
scribe how ! felt that night. My
legs were tound, and | was thrown
to one side like a sack Of neal
The savages had some food, but
they offered me none, and no wa
ter. That satisfied me was elect.
ed to death. During all this time
not a word OF English was spoken,
and they pretended not to under
stand my repeated appeals that
/ came to their country for no
harm. In the morning we resumed
our march. / was so weary and
footsore / thought each moment !
would faint. TO add to the torment
the Indians subjected me to all
kinds of indignities, splitting in my
face, striking me with their guns
and prodding me with their knives.
BY noon my legs were dripping
with blood.
"It was destined that the journey
should he abruptly broken. In the
early afternoon a detachment OF
United States cavalry out on a
scout sighted us at quite assistance,
and started forward on a dead
gallon. The Indians tried to fall
back to a sort of little gulley, urg-
ing me in front OF them, but they
we're pressed too hard and scatter
ed. Before they did so one of them
jerked me over backwards and
struck at my face with a tomahawk.
mi. lIoIo L;t 49,, oollor hona and
splinteredit. Iwasinstantly 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. | re-
allied what was coming, and tried
to scream, but could not. He
seized me by tuft of hair a little
in front of the crown, and wrench