The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-06-19

the charm young Black Cloud had given
me the old man pretended to believe that
it was sign the boy was dead, and
he ordered my immediate torture. l
was jerl<ed to sitting position, my boots
cut off, and the devils were about to use
their knives on my feet when the old man
changed his mind and restrained them.
The sight of me before them was the same
as a pail of fresh blood placed before
ravenous wolves, and I expected to be
knitted or tomahawked every moment for
the first half hour. When they had
cooled down a little Black Cloud de-
manded the particulars of his boys cap
ture. / saw that he felt degraded over
the event, and was ready to disown the
youth, and l made out a strong defence
for the little chap to save my own scalp.
1t was finally decided to spare my life
for few days, and I was conducted to a
camp in the foothills between the two
forts. Here council was held, and / had a
close shave Of it. While Black Cloud
wanted his son back, some of his advisers
contended that he should wait until Sc
curing some cheaper prisoner. They in
sisted on making me out very import
ant parsonage, and it was well known
that | had killed or wounded several of
the tribe in different scrimmages. An
other thing that bothered them was how
to make the exchange and not get
beaten. Treacherous and deceitful to
the last degree themselves, they would not
credit the whites with having any honor.
1t was argued, too, that the commander
of the fort would exchange the boy for a
private soldier or any sort of prisoner,
and that had done them too much dam
age to be set at liberty. There were
three days in which my fate was unde
cided, and during the last day stake
was driven and fagots collected for fire
to torture me. had no voice
in the council, being bound and
under guard but it was at length
decided to make the exchange. So eau
tious and fearful were the Indians that 1t
took a week to effect what might have
been done in a day. / wrote a note to
the commandant explaining the situation.
This was carried in by a squaw, who was
permitted to see and converse with young
Black Cloud. He replied that he would
exchange. The Apaches then wanted
the boy turned loose before they released
me, but this would not hear to, know
ing they would murder me. It was finally
arranged that he was TO be escorted n
mile outside the fort and turned loose ON
his horse. / was to be taken to within
mile of the fort, and turned loose on foot.
The parties were to occupy eminences
half a mile apart, and the hour was to be
8 o'clock in the morning. This plan was
carried out Twenty soldiers came out
with the boy, and about the same num-
Der of Apaches escorted me. The treach-
cry Of the copper-faced fiends was soon
eXemplified. They had posted five war
riors in dry run to shoot me down as l
made for the fort. The boy doubtless
suspected some such move, for as soon as
released he came galloping straight for
me, and after chow how" and hand
shake he insisted that walk beside his
pony until we reached the gate of the
fort When / was safe he waved his
hand and rode away to be received with
yells and cheers, and it was then we saw
the treacherous rascals creeping out of
the cover where they had been stationed.
A year later, after fight in which over
forty of the bravest Apache warriors had
gone to earth, found young Black Cloud
among the dead, having been hit four
times. He had Winchester and a re-
volver from which every cartridge mad
been fircd.-Nei0 York Sun.