San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-06-11
ghe 1aily Eight.
TUESDAY, JUNE, II. 1898.

or prisoner before mldnSnL
had bronco of tireless gait, rife and
revolver, and carried only FIVE or six pounds
extra weight. Before setting out l went in
to see young Black Cloud and say good-by.
had spent much of my time in his company,
and we had become pretty good friends.
When told him of my journey he took from
his neck buckskin string, to which was at
tached the tooth of grizzly bear, and handed
it to me with the remark;
You cannot get through. You will be
captured or killed. If not shot down show
this to my people. They will know who it
belongs to. They may trade you for me, and
shall thus get back to my tribe"
A thunder storm was coming up as took
my departure Instead of holding due north
on the direct route, rode to the east for five
miles and then held away for Concho direct.
The storm now broke, and for full hour
rode ahead at steady gallop, one moment in
darkness so black that | could not see the
ears of my horse, and the next in a blaze of
light so brilliant that it blinded me. By the
time the storm had passed was a good fif-
teen miles from the fort and as | had seen
nothing to alarm me began to hope that
would get through all right. 1t was between
10 and II o'clock, and had pulled my bron-
suddenly uttered a snort of alarm and start
ed off with wild jumps. Three or four rifles
cracked, and as the reports reached me the
horse fell in heap and flung me far over his
head. | was momentariy stunned by the
fall, and before [ had made move to get up
| was seized by at least three Indians, who
were not a minute in binding my hands and
feet.
I ,1o hood -
to realize that the Apaches had me a secure
prisoner and that there were six or sever
warriors about me. The moon came up in a
clear sky little later, and then made out
that ! had run directly into a temporary
camp The shots fired after me had brought
down my horse, and he lay groaning and
laundering few yards away.
The Indians knew that was a white man,
but they didn't know who they had got hold
of until morning came During the interval
| lay on the wet ground guarded by two
of the warriors, and almost Immediately
after my capture two men were sent off in
different directions 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
government riders were called, and as being
in the party who captured the chiefs SON.
No one ever saw such mad lot of redskins
before or since. They wanted to torture me,
and vet they realized that through me the
boy could obtain his liberty
The chief at first declared that he had dis
owned his son, and that he might rot in con-
fnement before he would exchange a white
hi I
ton to the charm young Black Cloud had
given me, the old man pretended to believe
that it was a sign the boy was. dead, and
he ordered my immediate torture. | was
jerked to a sitting position, my boots cut off,
and the devils were about to Use their knives
on my feet when the old man changed his
mind and restrained them, The sight of me
before them was the same as a pail of fresh
blood placed before ravenoUs wolves, and
expected to be knitted or tomahawked every
moment for the first half hour. When they
had cooled down a little Black Cloud de-
manded 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.
1t was finally decided to spare my life for n
the foot hills between the two forts Here a
council was held, and had a close shave of
it. While Black Cloud wanted his son back,
some of his advisers contended that he should
wait until securing some cheaper prisoner
They insisted on making me out very i'm
portant parsonage, and it was well known
that had killed or wounded several of the
tribe in different scrimmages Another thing
hot hnfhaval yroC RI 10 bn
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
lnander Of the fort would exchange the boy
for 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
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 eject what
might have been done in a day. | wrote
note to the commandment explaining the stu
alton. This was carried in by a 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 he taken to
within a mile of the fort and turned loose on
foot. The parties were to occupy eninences
half mile apart, and the hour was to be
o'clock in the morning This plan was car