Omaha daily bee., 1889-01-13

together, but not until they had killed
several Indians. They had essayed to
escape, but both their horses were shot
from under them, and for u full half
hour they kept the fierce Apaches off.
The Chiricahuas were in a delirium
of excitement, and d~ismounting, it
seemed as if nothing short of tearing
the helpless Mojave and the soldier
limb from limb would allay their terri
no less a parsonage than Cochise him
self. ordered It consultation, which
ended with the foreseen result-they
were to suffer instant death-to be
burned to u crisp, then and there!
Captain RalstOn, bound hand and
foot, was moved to a convenient place
near these terrible scenes, and was
compelled to witness them to their
close.
He said that it would be impossible
for him to convey a suitable idea Of the
demoniac ecstacy with which Cochise's
edict was received by his ferocious and
vindictive followers.
The desert air was made to resound
with their unearthly yells and shouts
of savage Joy, and in less than half an
hour from the capture, two short black
stakes were driven firmly in the sands,
and Hassabotch and Vorys stripped of
all clothing, were fastened securely to
them with thongs of buffalo hide.
Then, for u brief space Of time, every
Apache was busy gathering the dead
cactus and acacia stalks, which
abOunded plentifully there, never rest
ing until huge piles were heaped about
their naked victims.
After this had all been accomplished
Cochise gave that peculiar shrill war
scream of his people, and the Apaches
flOurishing their guns, knives and tom
ahawks, began their torture dance.
Brave after brave fell into the whirling
multitude, until the entire war party
was numbered in its dizzy mazes. The
spectacle" said Captain Ralston, twas
m of widest terror. The tiendish
countenauces of those Infatuated and
maddened beings receiving additional
which they mingled their unholy
voices.
Poor Vorys, he screamed in frantic
horror, prayed and begged them to
spare his life, then to shoot him, for Il
while, but finally his voice died away
in a ~despairing moan and | doubt
whether lie was ever conscious after
that.
"Suddenly Cochise gave a single,
short whoop, that rang above all the
deafening clamor, and caused AN imme-
date cessation OF the horrid orgies of
his warriors. STOPPING he deftly lighted
the piles heaped about the forms of
Vorys and the red scout, who at this
momen began to chant the weird and
chilling death song of his nation.
''Greedily the yellow flames began to
creep up through the interstices of the
cactus stalks toward their prey, who
stood seemingly rs unmoved as images
carved from stone, Vorys insensible, |
believe, to the torments, and the Mojave
heroically chanting in lugubrious tones
the song that told he knew that there
was no escape rom death.
st was indeed a horrible spectacle
the fires growing brighter and tiercer
and throwing the shadows of the half
naked Apaches in grotesque shapes far
owe the desert, as they leaped and
danced and screamed in widest delight
and eXultation around their suffering
captives.
THAT lonely spot upon the great
desert OF the ella appeared like some
ungodly arena or pandemonium, where
the attendants of Satan had assembled
To perform their wicked and internal
rites.
"A scene of terrible torture soon
began. The frenzied Apaches heated
the steel barbs of their lances red-hot
in the seething fire and sent them deep