The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-09-19
Captured by Comanches.

had been scouting from Fort Bascom,
on the Canadian River. and carving de-
'patchcs between that point and Fort
Stanton, on the Rio PccOs. for six
months, before the Comanches called the
turn on me. ii is agreed that an Apache
is a iicnd incarnatc, but in the old DAYS
there wasn't much choice between the
tribes. All were bloodthirsty and re-
lcntlcss and it mattcred little into whose
hands a prisoner might fall Every tor
ture which ingenuity could suggest was
certain to be applied, and no ransom,
however great, could effect the release of
prisoner. II was while engaged in such
an effort that my first capture came
about
A party Of citizens from Santa Fe had
come out Fort Bascom for a hunt along
the Canadian River to the east. They
were all well-known men, and were out
fitted in the finest style, having the best
Of firearms, and being accompanied by
four hunters and guides of long exper.
ience. The Indians were bitterly hostile
at this time, and although seldom seen
near the fort, they were ever on the
watch for any one leaving its shelter.
This party numbered twenty, all told and
was strong enough to 90 anywhere, pro-
viding it was well handled. II left the
post one Sunday morning and was gone
three weeks, and, up to two days before
reaching the post, all went well. Then
a DIR. Albcrtson, Of Albuquerque, tarricd
behind one morning rs the party broke
camp, and three Comanchcs dashed in
and cut him off. They mounted him on
his own horse and had start of half a
mile before the mishap was discovered,
and, although pursuit was made, il was
/ useless. The Doctor was man of
| prominence, holding some position under
the Government, and having many
| friends, and the party no sooner reached
/ the post than 1t was determined 10 make
! every effort TO secure his release. II was
I idle to think of sending out an armed
force, and il, was finally decided that |
should go out as an cmisSary to treat for
| his ransom. II was agreed that should
promise the Indians rs high MS $40, 900
in cash for his release, and all were hope
Iul that this large sum would induce the
redskins TO give him up. / had been
told time and again that the Comanchcs
had never been known to give prisoner,
and | was therefore in state of doubt
as rode away on my crrand, I had got
10 put myself in their hands in order tc
negotiate, and if they refused to give NJ
the Doctor it was probable that they
would hang on to me.
| rode away to the east, knowing tha
Me prisoner had been conveyed to som,
hmp in the Wichita range. | left tn,
post in the morning and rode hard all da,
without sighting an Indian. At dark
went into camp and had no alarm durin!
the night, and at sunrise was again hold
ing for the mountains. At about /
o'clock, while riding over broken ground
[ caught sight of an Indian taking cover
and halting my horse | made the peac
signs with my blanket. Ten minute
later was surrounded by a dozen wai
riors, who were evidently astonishcd a
my foolhardiness, | could speak the
lingo fairly well, and | told them what
had come for, and asked to be taken t
the nearest village. This request wa
sulkily complied with, and at the end {
two hours found myself in the village c
Red Moon, Chief Of all the Comanche'
The village was scattered along the rive
for a mile or more, and numbered at lea'
a thousand souls. My advent was halle
with whoops and yells and other toller
| Of satisfaction, and even when it wa
known that had voluntarily come int
camp on an errand of mercy it was har
, to restrain some of the young bucks frol
doing me injury. was taken directly
Red Moons tent, and my reception thel
, was anything but cordial. He was an!
thing but noble in speech and look. Il
t was dirty, unkempt and out of sorts, an
had no sooner set eyes on him than
knew my mission would be a failure.
"Why does the dog of a white ma
come to my campl" was his salutatioi
. "Four days ago some of your warrio