Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-10-25
Captured by Comanches.

had been scouting from Fort Basco.n.
on the Canadian River. and CARRYING de-
spatches between that point ard Fort
Stanton, on the Rio Pccos, for six
months, before the Comanchcs called the
turn on me. 1t is agreed that an Apache
Is ticnd incarnatc, but in the old DAYS
there wasn't much choice between the
tribes. All were bloodihirsty and re-
lenticss, and it mattcrcd little into whose
hands prisoner might fall Every tor
turc which ingenuity could suggest wa:
certain to be applied, and no ransom,
However great, could effect the release OF
prisoner. 1t was while engaged in such
an effort that my first capture came
about.
party of citizens from Santa Fc had
come out Fort Bascom for hunt ALONG
the Canadian River to the cast. They
were all well-known men, and were ont
fitted in the finest style, having the best
oil firearms, and being accompanied bv
four hunters and guides of long cxpcr-
lcncc. The Indians were bitterly hostile
ut 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 ii was well handled. 1t Left the
post one Sunday morning and was gonc
three weeks, and, up TO two days before
reaching the post, all went we'll Then
Dr. Albertson, of Albuquerque. tarrctl
behind one morning as the party broke
camp, and three Comanclcs dashed in
and cut him off. They mounted him on
his own horse and had start of half Il
mile before the mishap was discovered.
aud, although pursuit was made, it was
useless. The Doctor was a man of
prominence, holding some position under
the Government, and having many
friends, and the party no sooner reached
the post than it was determined to make
every effort to secure his release. II was
Idle to think of sending out an armed
1orcc, and 1t was finally decided that |
should go cut as an cinissary to treat for
his ransom. 1t was agreed that should
promise the Indians us hi"h us S1O. 900
IN cash for his release, and all were hope
lul that this large sum would induce the
redskins to give him up. | had been
told time and again that the Comanchcs
mad never been known to give prisoner.
and WAS therefore in state of doubt
rs l rode away on my GRAND had rot
to put myself in their hands in order TO
negotiate, and if they refused TO give IN
the Doctor it was probable that they
would hang on to me.
rode away TO the cast. knowing that
the prisoner had been conveyed TO some
camp in the Wichita range left the
post in the morning and rode hard all day
without sighting an Indian. AT dark |
went into camp and had no alarm during
the night, and at sunrise was again hold
ing for the mountains. At about II
o'clock, while riding over broken ground,
l caught sight of an Indian taking cover.
and hating my horse made the peace
signs with my blanket. Ten minutes
later | was surrounded by dozen war
riors, who were evidently astonishcd Mt
my foolhardincss, 1 could speak their
lingo fairly well, and l told them what
had come for, and asked to be taken to
the nearest village. This request was
sulllily complied with, and at the end of
two hours found myself in the vilIage of
Red Moon, Chief of all the Comanchcs.
The village YVES scattered along the river
Tor mile or more, and numbered mt least
a thousand souls. My advent was hailed
with whoops and yclls and other tokens
Of satisfaction, and even when it was
known that had voluntarily come into
camp on an GRAND of mercy il was hard
to restrain some of the young bucks from
doing me injury. / was taken directly to
Ned Moons tent, and my reception there
was anything but cordial lie was any
thing but noble in speech and look. He
was dirty, unkempt and out of sorts, and
had no sooner set eyes on him than |
knew my mission would be failure.
"Why does the dog of n white man
come to my camp2" was his salutation.
"Four days ago some of your warriors
captured white hunter suns journey
to the west" replied.
'"rhcy did, and tomorrow he Shall
dic!"
az have come from his friends to buy
his liberty. They will give Red Moon
more silver than he ever had before"
~ spit upon the white mans money!"
he rctortcd. "fhc white man has killed
my young men, built his forts on nv
land, and would drive us away if he were
strong enough. I would not take food
from his hand if was starving"
named the price which we would nav
for the Doctor. and tried to make him un-
dcrstand how many guns and blankets