The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1890-06-11
INDIAN CRUELTY.
Story OF the Nan Who Wants Pay
for His Seal

for His Seal
An Elston, Kan, special tells
the story Of Robert McGee, in
whose behalf Senator Plumb has
introduced resi- luton to pay him
50, 600 for the loss OF his scalp. In
1864 Niece, then 10 years old,
was an orphan without a home to
which he could turn or friends
who could advise him. He was
rather large for a lad of 10, and
the idea struck him that he wonld
join the army. He went to Fort
Leavenworth and enlisted, thinks
ing he could induce the officers to
accept him as recruit. When
the mastering came on Niece was
rejected Us unfit tor service, but
was Immediately given a place
with a contractor who was then
about to take train of governs
ment supplies from Fort Leaven,
worth to Fort Union, in far away
New Mexico.
1t was hazardous journey, as
all knew who embarked with the
train, for it was through section
with military posts few and far he.
tween and infested with roaming
bands OF savage Indians to encoun-
ter to the death. The young fell
low accepted all these chances,
thinking all the time he was in
the government service. although
he had heen rejected as Il soldier.
The little band set out on the long
journey into the uninhabited res
gion beyond Fort LAavenworth in
the summer of 1864. Ii plodded
On through the territory Of Kan
sas in Il southern direction until
on July the train pitched camp on
the banks of Nalnct creek, near
the site of the present city OF
Great Bend, Kansas. There it
was attacked by a band Of Sioux
warriors led by Chief Little Tar
tie.
1t was an unequal contest, for
the redskins vastly outnumbered
the white men and, although the
latter held out brasely against the
tremendous odds, they were il.
time taken captives and forced to
submit to all the hideous tortures
chat savage brains could devise.
According to McGee's story Of the
fight and capture he was selected
as the chiefs special victim, and
held captive while his comrades
We're put to the most horrible
deaths before his eyes. After all
but the boy had been disposed of
the Indians, after short parle V,
concluded to kill and scalp him, the
Old chief claiming him as his prey.
He was knocked down with a speer
handle, and rs he fell a shot was
fired at him, the bullet to this day
remaining firmly lodged III his ribs.
Then Chief Little Turtle cut the
sc~lp loose in front, put his feet on
the back of his neck aud tore off
the whole top of his head Not
satisfied with this he shot two ar
rows through him, AMI as he lay
pinned to the ground brought
down his tOmahawk twice on his
head, each stroke stripping of a
piece OF his skull. Then he ran a
speer through his body several
times. Unconscious and bleeding
from q dozen wounds after this
barbaric torture the Inians with
drew, leaving the lad and all his
comrades for dead. His compan>
ions were indeed dead, but a spark
of life remained in McGee's body.
For three hours he remained in
the hot July sun pinned to the
ground by the arrows which pierce
ed his body, until party of SOL
diers on their way to Fort Larned
happened along and discovered
him. I hey drew the arrows from
him, and throwing his almost life
less body across one Of their po-
nies took him to the tort, where
the surgeon succeeded in saving
his lie.