Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-12-18

tured fort. Six warriors were called
out as guard, and soon after sunrise
l was put in their charge and started
for big Sioux village on Deer creek,
between the two forks OF the Republi-
can river. / was, OF course, disarmed.
Then my elbows were tied together,
my feet tied under the horse, and for
fear the horse would run of with me
he was led by a lariat.
At noon we made halt Of half an
hour and / was given about half a
pound of jerked buffalo meat as my
share OF the MONDAY meal. Ny arms
were unbound that might eat, but
the whole six constantly kept their
eyes on me. When we set off again |
was bound as before, and we rode ar
a gallop until ten o'clock ar night be
fore the village was reached. | un-
derstood the Sioux lingo very well
though I did not let on to. and the
talk as we rode was anything but
pleasant 10 me- 1t was agreed that |
would be put TO the torture, and that
it would be made to last as long as
possible.
When we reached the village | was
placed in a tepee and my arms I'M
bound. They refused to cast the lash
ing off my legs. though three Of the
bucks stood guard outside. was so
stiff and sore with the ride that
could not have taken five steps had
thev turned me loose and told me 70
60. got not wink OF sleep that
night. and ii was not until eight
o'clock next morning that my legs
were freed 1t was a village OF eighty
lodges. and the one occupied was al
most in the center Of the collection. |
couldn't have escaped had they left
the tent unguarded. but they took no
risks. There were always two and
sometimes four Of the bucks squatted
outside OF the lodge. and outside OF
these circle OF sqnaws and children.
1t was the third dav after my cap
ture before | was disturbed Then
most OF the warriors having returned
to the village on purpose 10 witness
my death, was led out at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon to undergo the prelimi-
nary to actual torture. This is run
ming the gauntlet. There were as
near as | could Judge sixty men and
bows in each line. and the lines were
four feet apart. Had each one been
armed with n switch to strike me it
would have been punishment enough,
but they were allowed to use clubs
and sticks and tOmahawk handles.
When | looked down the line felt
that there was no show for me to
make the run, and yet ! must make
the attempt. You may ask why did
not obstinately refuse and let them do
their worst then and there. Because
| was hoping for them TO show me a
little mercy They would torture me,
but not 30 cruelty as if | refused to
run.
got as good ready rs could and
when the signal came | sprang away
at the top Of my speed. Blow after
blow fell upon me while the savage
shouted their pleasure, and to my
great surprise | at length reached the
end of the lines. There | fell in a
heap and they gave me about ten
| minutes in which to brace up for the
run back. | made only half the dis
tance this time, being struck such
blow over the head with club that |
sank down unconscious. When had
recovered my senses they returned me
to the lodge, where | lay for many
| hours expecting to be taken out any
moment for torture. They would
have finished me but for the fact that
the wife OF Little Feather who was in
another village fifty miles away, had
not vet arrived. She wanted TO be in
at the death, and so further proceed
ings were declared of for the day.
The squaw arrived soon after mid
night. My ankles were tightly lashed
and | could not sleep. She was for
having me ont at once. and came and
looked into the lodge to see If ! was
safe; but she was told that | would be
put to the torture after breakfast in
the morning. and long after she had
turned away beard my guards gloat'
ing over the prospects 1t was
agreed among them that | was
game man and would hold out for
several hours and give them lots ol
amusement
Half an hour after daylight the vii
lage was astir, and at sunrise II squaw
brought me some breakfast and the
lashings around nv ankles were cast
off | learned several years after
that it was intended TO oblige me 70
rnn the gauntlet again. ! was eating
the meal the squaw had proueH
when a sudden excitement arose out
side. There was great shooting
followed by cheers and the rerort o.
firearms, and the next minute th'
two hundred frontiersmen who hac
been raised in Kansas and Nebraska
as an independent force charged intC
the village IL wasn't five minute
before the fleeing warriors rallied foI
defense, but before that time wa
safe. At the first alarm / leaped al
and sprang out OF lodge full agsins
one of the guards. and a. / ran wa
fired at two or three times. / va
among the horsemen in q minute o
two. and after bit ! got riie AM
took an active part in the hot hgh
going on. We were driven of after