Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-07-24

,ri,pner md that there wre M o. sveA
vrrYsors about me. The moon came up in
e3snr Ky . Iittls later, and then made out
sh,s I bad run directly into q tenpurary
Camp The shoex fred after me bad brought
down my hor<. and b. lay groaains and
doundering few ysrds away
m Indians kuew that vas q white raan,
but shey dEint know who they bad got bold
al until morning came During the interval
I lay on The vet ground guarded by two
AZ the warriors, and almost Immediately
sitter nay capture two msn we're sent Oh IN
different dirsctions with news Of it. A party
Of twelve Apaches arrived just before day
light and ten more at sunrise, and among
the latter recognized Black Cloud father
Of the boy One Of the men had recognized
me az The white man who-hnrries,' as the
government riders were called AID as being
In the rsarty who captured the chiefs son
No one ever saw such a mad lot Of redskins
before or since. They wanted 10 torture me,
and vet they realized that through me the
boy could obtain his liberty.
Tbs chief II first declared that be had dis
owned his son, and that he might rot In con-
fr,ement before he would exchange whifs
nri,.,per for him. When called his atteu-
ton TO the charm young Black Cloud bad
given me, tue old man pretended TO believe
that IL was . sign the boy was dead, and
he ordered my imms,iiate torture. | was
i.rked TO q sitting position, my boots cut on,
and the devils were about to use their knives
On nv feet when the old man changed bis
mind and restrained them The sight Of me
before them was the same pail OF fresh
blood placed before rayenous wolves, and
exr4cted to be knitted or tomahawked every
moment for the first half hour. When they
had cooled down a little Black Cloud de-
rnau.ied the particulars OF his boys capture.
saw that he felt degraded over the event,
and was ready to disown the youth, and
made out a strong defense for the little chap
to save my own scalp.
II was finally decided To spare my life for 4
few days, and ! was conducted 10 camp in
the foot hills between the two forts. Hese
council was held, and had close shave OF
it. While Black Cloud wanted bis son back,
some Of bis advisers commended that he should
wait until securing some cheaper prisoner.
They insisted on making me out very I'M
portant parsonage, and II was well known
tina, had killed or wounded several of the
tribe III different scrimmages. Another thing
that bothered them was how to make the ex-
change 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 com
,nander OF the fort would exchange the boy
for a private soldier or any sort OF prisoner,
and that had done them TOO much damage
to be set at liberty.
There were three days in which my fate
was undecided, and during the last day q
stake was driven and fagots collected for a
fire TO torture me. | had no voice in the
council, being bound and under guard, but
it was at length decided TO make the ex-
change So cautious and fearful were the
Indians that it took a week to effect what
might have been done in a day. | wrote a
note to the commandment explaining the stu
alton This was carried in by squaw, who
was permitted to see and converse with young
Black Cloud. He replied that he would ex-
change The Apaches then wanted the boy
turned loose before they released me, but
this would not hear to, knowing they would
murder me- 1t was finally arranged that he
was to be escorted a mile outside the fort and
turned loose on his horse. | was to be taken &c
within mile Of the fort and turned loose on
foot The parties were to occupy elniiences
half milo apart, and the hour was To be
O'Clock in the morning. This plan was car
ried out Twenty soldiers came out with the
boy and about the same number Of Apache,
escorted me-
The treachery Of the copper faced devil:
was soon exemplified. They had posted five
warriors in dry run to shoot me down as
made for the fort The boy doubtless sus
pected some such move, for as soon as re
leased he came galloping straight for me, and
and after how how" and hand shake hs
insisted that walk beside his pony until We
reached the gate of the fort When ! wa,
safe he waved his hand and rode away to bt
received with yells and cheers, and it wa,
then we saw the treacherous rascals creeping
out Of the cover where they had been sta
toned. A year later, after fight in which
| over forty of the bravest Apache WARRIOR
had gone to earth, found young Black Clouc
among the dead, having been hit four times
| He bad Winchester and revolver, from
which every cartridge had been fired.
| Nart