Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1889-09-27


later l was surrounded by dozen war;
riors, who were evidently astonished at
my foolhardiness, l could speak their
lingo fairly well, and told them what
had come for, and asked to be taken to
the nearest village. This request was
sul1ily complied with, and at the end of
two hours found myself in the village of
Red Moon, Chief of all the Comanches.
The village was scattered along the river
for mile or more, and numbered at least
thousand souls. My advent was hailed
with whoops and yells and other tokens
of satisfaction, and even when it was
known that had voluntarily come into
camp on an crrand of mercy it was hard
to restrain some of the young bucks from
doing me injury. I was taken directly to
Red Moons tent, and my reception there
was anything but cordial. He was any
thing but noble in speech and look. He
was dirty, unkcmpt and out of sorts, and
had no sooner set eyes on him than l
knew my mission would be a failure.
"Why does the dog of white man
como to my camp3" was his salutation.
"Four days ago some of your warriors
captured white hunter suns journey
ot the west" replied.
"They did, and tomorrow he shall
die"
81 have come from his friends to buy
his liberty. They will give Red Moon
more silver than he ever had before"
II spit upon the white mans money !"
he retorted. "Thc white man has killed
my young men, built his forts on my
land, and would drive us away if he were
strong enough. l would not take food
from his hand if was starving"
I named the price which we would pay
for the Doctor, and tried to make him un-
derstand how many guns and blankets
and other things the amount would pur-
chase, but he grew more and more ex-
cited, and finally shouted:
'Does the white man regard the Co.
manches as squaws that their heads can
be turned by soft talk2 Only the Dog
Indian begs for mercy from foe or takes
presents from an enemy. Were you to
offer all you had would not give him
up. lie shall die. have said it!'
Finding him so obstinate and deter
mined, mentioned that l had come
alone and placed myself in his power,
trusting to his honor to be permitted to
return in safety.
"Did Task you to Gomez" he thundered.
care you not here to insult me! You
shall see the other prisoner die, and then
you shall suffer the same fate!'
] began to protest, but was hurried
away to lodge, disarmcd, searched, and
very roughly used. Before being left
alone. my hands and feet were
tied, and the buck who did
this gave me a good-day in the shape of
slap in the face which made my teeth
rattle. was left alone until Just at dark,
when n boy brought me gourd of water,
and helped it to my lips while l drank.
thanked him, and inquired where the
Doctor was. He replied that he was con-
fined in a lodge about two hundred feet
away, and that he would be put to the
torture next day. All the tribe within
call had been notified to be present
asked him about my own fate, and he
said it was understood that was to die
the day after. If there was any doubt
about this it was soon dispelled The
boy had scarcely disappeared when old
Red Moon appeared. He was now fully
dressed as chief, and had on all his
dignity. l was lying ON my back, and
he stood over me far moment, glover
ing down upon me with savage expression
! before he said:
'Does the white man think the Co.
manche dog that he can come into his
village and insult him?"
son the contrary, the white man
knows the Comanches to be brave" re-
piled, and no chief is greater OF Drawer
than Red Moon"
''But you come to buy us off.
The white man captured by your
brave warrior is neither soldier, hunter
nor scout. He is man of peace, living
far away. He has never harmed you.
He is great medicine man among his
people. For these reasons his friends
hopeds the great chief would spare his
life. We wished to make you pres
ent"
white dog, you lie!" shouted the
or xp;eh t, IN. ~