Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-01-12

Idey we're having their famous wa
dance. and going through the ceremon
: of striking the post in which each war
rior able to bear arms aud willing {
go on the warpatb, strikes his tema
hawk against the post to illustrate tn
manner in which he win eleaye tn
skulls of his unfortunate enemies.
'.As soon as we were discovered b,
them, We were surrounded by the howl
ing savages. pulled from our horses
and. in less time than it takes TO tel
it, were landed within living circle
The Indians danced around us, brand
ishing their tomahawks aud spears, and
seeing how near they could come to us
without injuring us. In vain made
the peace sign, and in vain our inter.
prefer protest that our object was
simply to pay friendly visit. A grand
council was at once ordered to decide
II it would not be an appropriate and
fitting course of procedure to inaugu-
ate their campaign. and show their con-
tempt for the military, by burning a
white officer at the stake, and turning
the war dance into scalp dance in
honor of the occasion.
1T was decidedly cas- of packed
jury, and. although one or two fee ble
voices were raised in our behalf. the
popular yordicE was against US, and it
was decided to hold the scout prison.
err and to torture me on the spot The
scouts Interpretation of the words
and the busy preparations of the
Indians informed me of the verdict at
the same Time and 1 spent the few
moments that remained in instrucling
the scout to escape rs soon as possible,
and report to the post all that had
happened
"My recollection of my sensations at
that time were very vague. | was
stunned at the suddenness of the cal
amity that was about to overwhelm
me. and 1 remember a feeling of
anger at the order on account of the
provisions of which was to die a
horrible death for no other reason
than that of having done my duty.
but didn't have long to think ev-
en- of that, for as soon as all was
ready. the two bucks acting as my
guard caught hold of me, and hall led.
half dragged me toward the stake.
The yelling savages closed in around
me with every evidence of pleased an
fTRIna4inn A. thnv- I. ~ q
me to the stake, and the last raw of
hope seemed gone. powerful form
made for itself an opening through the |
crowd. and in moment | saw stand |
ing beside me Black Kettle the head
chief Of the Kiowas. AT his back |
were thirty to forty of the most infiu-
entail members Of his tribe. had a |
short time before performed m net OF |
kindness for this powerful chief and I
now waited in breathless suspense to /
see how he would return It. The Com |
anches paused for moment, and |
then. maddened nc the interruption OF |
their gentle pastime. their ellis became /
more and more blood-curdling. while
and spears fairly rained
about me.
BLACK Kettle said nothing. but. tax
ne up one corner OF his blanket, he
held it out to me. The grip with
which the proverbial drowning man
yrasps ct straw ism circumstance
to the way in which / chung
o the dirty edge of that Indians
grassy blanket. AS long as Black Ket-
lie permitted me to thus protect my
elf under the shadow of his wing,
Knew that was safe. for the Com
inches would not dare to harm the
'rotege, and thereby secure the enmi-
y of the great chief whose tribe they
we're exerting every effort to secure as
lilies.
Strong words and arguments fol-
owed the interruption. but finally re.
ulted in my going off. still clinging to
he skirt of Black Kettles garment,
nd was quartered in the chiefs
odge, where could consider myself
afe until final disposition should be
made of me
"Five of the longest days and nights
4 my life wero spent under Black d
lettle's roof l had to partake Of a
og's soup and other vile messes that il
e offered me for fear of offending him |
V declining. At all times the air was /
He'd with yells and the sounds of tom b
pms At night was led forth to '
muse my captors, and in order that f
hey might gloat over my misfortune. t
hey made me dance and sing and 20 Ii
trough I'll kinds Of Ridiculous D err. d
)rmances Each day could see that d
le Kiowas were more inclined to join
Ie Comanches, and shuddered to n
link of what must necessarily happen n
hen they would put on the war paint. n
had some hope that Spotted Dog had Il
scaped. and that troops would come d
} my assistance. and yet l feared to g.
ave them come, for / had assisted too il