Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-09-28

the doctor. 1t was an hour later be-
fore was sent for. Then nv arms
were left free and my legs were hob
bled just below the knees. While
could walk it was only with short
steps. and the idea of my trying to
escape from such crowd was too alb
surd to DO entertained. I found the
inhabitants Of the village drawn up In
two long lines extending out on the
plains. Even children or Q years old
were In line, each one armed with
stick or switch. Twas led 10 the lead
OF the line between two warriors. and
in four or Eve minutes the doctor was
brought out Red Moon had arranz-
ed this as a mental torture 70 both
OF us. He signihed 70 as hat we
might speak, and ak once IN
formed the dcctor-ofv my errand and
its failure He expressed his pleasure
that his friends thought 50 well OF him.
and his sorrow that I had brought mis-
fortune upon myself, and he seemed
to have made up his mind to die like q
man. knew the Indians thoroughly.
and / told him what the programme
would be- After running the gaant-
let he would be tied to q post and sub.
mitted to the powder torture, which
consists in shooting charges Of powder
into the flesh, with the muxzle OF the
gun only foot or two away. After
that would come cutting and mutllat
ing, and he would not be tied to the
fire stake until pretty thoroughly OK
hausted- advised him to do as ! In.
tended to do-leap upon some warrior
as he ran down the lines, grab his
knife or tomahawk, II possible, and
then fight until they would have 10
kill him then and there. He calmlyre.
piled that he should adopt the plan,
shook me by the hand, and then all
was ready.
AS we talked had been getting the
lay OF the village. II was only quar-
ter Of q mile back TO the broken
ground, and not over a half mile 70
the foothills had made up my mind
to make break for liberty, and I had
my plans all laid before the doctor
started Red Moon commanded me to
tell him that he was to run straight
down the lame and back, and that if
he made good run no would not be
much hurt ! gave him the informa-
ton, and advised him to make his
break about two-thirds Of the way
down, as he came 10 the last OF the
warriors. When stepped back my
elbows touched a guard ON either aide
and / saw that they were deeply In
terested III the scene before them.
When dropped my left hand down
it was close to the hilt of the warriors
knife, and then | was as ready as I
could be. Tho doctor was powerful
big fellow and was entirely naked.
He was TO start ut tho report of q rlfo
fred in the air, and when the signal
came he bounded away like deer.
Tho lines closed up and every one
tried to strike at him, but the climax
came when no made his bolt. With
q leap to one side he seized toma-
hawk, and at that moment / got hold
of the knife without being detected. A
great cry arose and one Of my guards
started forward bent down and cut
my thongs at single sweep, and
then, by back hand blow, drove tho
knife SO far into the body Of the other
guard, who had given me no atten-
ton, that 1t was wrenched from nv
grasp as he fell. Then ! bounded
away down the river, and believe
had start of twenty rods before pur-
suit began.
II is not braggadocio to assert that In
those days had the speed and bottom
of q thoroughbred. hadn't the least
fear Of being overtaken after Igot that
start by any one on foot, and as / at
once made for the broken ground their
ponies had no advantage. looked
back only once, and that was as got
clear OF the village. At least fifty In
dams were pursuing mo ON foot, and
few minutes later q score OF others
had mounted. Tho pursuers were so
strung out that no one dared shoot,
and when got settled down 10 the
pace ran for my life. In Eve or slx
minutes / was In the foothills, and In
ten l had gained the shelter Of tho
scrub pine. AT that moment twenty
rifles turned loose ON me, but none OF
the bullets came near enough to mako
me dodge, and l contrived 70 put in
my best ticks. They followed mo for
about four miles, losing grounda all the
time, and then drew OF TO return 10
tho doctor. 1t was five days before /
got back to the fort, my clothes In tat
tiers, and my strength almost gone,
and it was two years before learned
the particulars Of the doctors fate. He
made gallant fight when he got pos
session Of the tomahawk, killing a
warrior and n boy and wounding an
other warrior and an old man, but he
was overpowered and disarmed, and
then the devils glutted their vengeance.
Some idea of his sufferings can DO i'm
agined from the fact that he was under
some sort Of torture for three days and
nights, and there was life still left In
him when he was given up to the
fangs Of the village dogs Tho Co
manehe who gave me the particulars
was then "a ward Of the government"
drawing his rations, ammunition and
blankets from the very men whose
scalps he had hungered for, and he
could not be punished. He identified
himself AS the warrior who was guard
ing me on the right when mnde my
break, and for his carelessness ON that
occasion the chief stripped him OF all
his worldly possessions and gave tho
goods TO the widow OF the warrior
had slain. New York Sun.