The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-01-27
TWICE SCALPED.
Terrible Adventure OF a Party Of
Tourists.
One of their Number Shot and Scalped and
Left for Dead-A Second Ordeal and Won
derfai Recovery.

Your correspondent has recently come
into possession OF the following re-
Ilarkable facts concerning an adven-
tuie which, though it happened in this
Territory some years ago. is still fresh
N the minds of the settlers as being
one OF the most miraculous events ever
known. On July 1. 1877. near Lower
~Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National
Park. there occurred what is considered
one of the most extraordinary and Won
derful escapes from death by Indians
ever known in the West. During the
evening preceding the national holiday
:. party OF tourists, on their return from
q two-weeks' trip of sightseeing in
wonderland. halted in this pictur-
!.e>que little valley and pitched their
tents preparatory TO camping through
tie night The spot selected was in s.
most inviting locality, on 4 lovely
grassy knoll overlooking those curious
formations of nature. the soda lakes.
as also the gey>er fountains. Hardly i
more Interesting camp-grcund could
be found in all the wide universe.
The deposits of soda gave to the
lakes and pools a brilliant whiteness.
and from among the same reservoirs
there shot upward at irregular inter-
va huge columns OF no: water. bear
ing close resemblance to real artif-
-cial fountains. The deep rich growth
OF native ever-reens along their mar
gins formed :; very handsome border
and gave to the picture Al aristocratic
appearance. a. would indicate that it
formed ~ essential part of some
wealthy lords country estate.
The happy group consisted of eight
Attorney Cowan. of Raiders
burg. Mont. his wife and her sister.
zand five other residents of that Terri
tory. 1t was their, first visit to the
park. and they were now or their way
,homeward. full OF vivaci:y and enjoy
ment One story quickly followed an
other around the camp-tires, and peais
of laughter and g.ee ring out with joy
through the wild surroundings. At
length some one of 4 more solemn turn
OF thought suggested that it would be
appropriate TO sing that Oil familiar
song, Home, Sweet Home" and the
entire group united their voices with
a hearty good will that fairly rlade the
trees pause to listen.
Il was no doubt the first time Howard
Fayne's gem was ever heard in that
secluded wilderness. and its beautiful
echoes sounded very strange indeed.
far up in that remote mountainous re-
gion- Yet no one of that group APP
peared TO have any present:ment that
1t foreboded danger.
The song was finished but its sweet.
inspiring strains had scarcely died
away in that urc:viIiZed atmosphere
when. 10 the awful horror of that conn
panv. their joy was is suddenly con-
verted into thrills OF intense despair
and misery as their happiness had been
complete. Two dozen or more naked
=savages, covered with war pain: and
armed TO the teeth with gu and
knives. spraag out from the thick fol-
age of the evergreen forests. and with
hideous warwhoops struck the tourists
Stpmb with amazellent and terror at
ab-ing made prisoners.
Their captors were a portion of Chief
-Joseph's band Of the Nez Perces tribe.
who had gone on their reservation in
Idaho. and were fleeing from General
Howard : troops As soon as the In
dians were in possession of the tour
lists. they snatched up the camp equip
age and made signs for the prisoners
TO move on All night long they were
compelled to tramp by the side Of
the sarages. and morning found them
worn OFT and quite exhausted from IA
tigue. Fortunately, however. three of
the prisoners escaped in the darkness.
but their sufferings before reaching the
settlements were intense. Chief Joseph