The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-09-19
his friends Thought 50 well Of him. and I

his sorrow that had brought misfortune
upon myself, and he seemed to have made
up his mind to die like n man. / knew
the Indians thoroughly, and told him
Whist the programme would be. After
running the gauntlet, he would be tied TO
a post and submitted to the powder tor
turc, which consists in shooting charges
of powder into the flesh, with the muzzle
of the gun only foot or two away.
After that would come cutting and mu-
tilating, and he would not be tied to the
fire stake until pretty thoroughly ex-
hausted. / advised him to do as / in
tended TO do-lcap upon some warrior as
he ran down the lines, grab his knife or
tomahawk, if possible, and then fight un-
Ill they would have to kill him then and
there. He calmly replied that he should
adopt the plan, shook me by the hand,
and all was ready.
AS we talked had been getting the
lay Of the village. 1t was only quarter
of mile 10 the foothills. / had made
up my mind to make break for liberty,
and l had my plans all laid before the
Doctor started. Red Moon commanded
me to tell him tina: he was to run straight
down the lane and back, and that If he
made a good run he would not be much
hurt. gave him the information, and
advised him to make his break about
two-thirds Of the way down, as he came
to the last of the warriors. When 1
stepped back my elbows touched guard
on either side and / saw that they were
deeply interested in the scene before
them. When i dropped my left hand
down it was close to the hilt of the war.
rior's knife, and then I was as ready as
could be. The Doctor was a powerful
big fellow and was entirely naked. lie
was to start at the report of a rifle fired
in the air, and when the signal came he
bounded away like q deer. The lines
closed up and every one tried to strike
at him, but the climax came when he
made his bolt. With leap to one side
he seized a tomahawk, and Mt that mo-
mcnt got hold of the knife without
being detected. A great cry arose and
one of my guards started forward Ibent
down aud cut my thongs at n single
sweep. and then by back hand blow,
drove the knife so far into the body OF
the other guard, who had given me no
attention, that il was wrcnchcd from my
grasp as he fell. Then | bounded away
down the river, and believe l had a
start Of twenty rods before pursuit began.
! II is not bragadocio to assert that in
those days had the speed and bottom OF
n thoroughbred. ] hadn't the least fear
of being ovcrtaken after got that start
by anyone on foot, and rs | at once made
| for tAe broken ground their ponies had
no advantage. looked back only once,
and that was as got clear of the village.
At least fifty Indians were pursuing inc
on foot, and few minutes later score
of others had mounted. The pursuers
were so strung out that no one dared
shoot, and when | got settled down to
the pace ran for my life. In five or six
minutes was in the foothills, and in ten
| | had gained the shelter of the scrub pine.
At that moment twenty rifles turned loose
on me. but none of the bullets came neal
enough to make me dodge, and l con
trivcd TO put in my best licks. They
followed me for about four miles, losing
REOuuu ull Nllt tllit, anu Nhcu dicM WI
| to return TO the Doctor. 1t was
five days before l got back tC
/ the fort, my clothes in tatters,
and my strength almost gone, and
it was two years before | learned
the particulars of the Doctors fate. lie
made gallant fight when he got posses
sion of the tomahawk, killing 4 warrior
and boy and wounding another warrior
and an old man, but he was overpowercd
and disarmed, and then the devils glutteC
/ their vengeance. Some idea of his suf
/ ferings can he imagined from the fact
/ that he was under some sort OF torture
/ for three days and nights, anc
and there was still life left in hin
when he was given up to the fangs o
the village dogs. The Comanche whC
gave me the particulars was then g;
ward Of the Government" drawing hi
rations, ammunition, and blankets from
the very men whose scalps he hungereC
for, and he could not be punished. lii
identified himself rs the warrior who wa
guarding me on the right when mad
my break, and for his carelessncss ol
that occasion the chief stripped him o
all his worldly possessions and gave tn
goods to the widow of the warrior | hsC
slain. -Nclo York Sun.