Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-05
AN INDIAN NEMESIS.
James Sanderson's Unbounded Vengeance for
the Killing of His Wife and Child.

James Sanderson's Unbounded Vengeance for
the Killing of His Wife and Child.
There has just died at Fort Sumner, N. NJ,
a man who for ten years waged a most morci-
less war on the Comanche Indians Of that
region. His career is over, but it was one
Of the most remarkable ever known outside Of
o dime novel
In 1862 James Sanderson and his wife and
ono child were crossing the country near the
Arizona limo with a wagon and outfit. band
OF Comanches came down upon them and killed
the child and also the woman after horrible
outrages. Sanderson was tied TO post and
compelled to witness the fearful scenes.
After this the Indians began series of tor
lures, and his life was only saved by the timely
arrival of a detachment Of soldiers, who drove
off the savages, but not until they had used fire
to such ar extent that the mans face was
scanned and SCARED in horrible manner.
Sanderson said little about his terrible affiic-
ton, but returned to the fort with the soldiers,
and remained there until he had recovered his
health. Then he took solemn oath to be
revenged in manner that would make his
name a terror to the Indians.
He supplied himself with rifle, revolver
and ammunition and left the fort. 1t was a
month before he was heard Of and the affair
fcers and men, when one day Sanderson walked
in and threw down bundle containing twenty
nine scalps. He had followed the Indians and
hung on their trail, killing every one that left
the camp until his presence became veritable
terror to the band. He made no distinction
between men, women and children, but killed
any that he could get near to-
He seemed endowed with charmed life. for
the Indians could not get near enough to him
to do him harm, and he became known as the
S,N,r 10 I'd
and those who were left made haste back to
the home Of the tribe, carrying with them the
terrible tale of the Nemesis on their track
Sanderson followed them to the mountains and
went where white man had never been before.
Before his presence became known in the
neighborhood he had killed a boy, a squaw and
two warriors. Livery time band was sent out
after him they would be sure to return after
losing several members, and the Indians be-
came afraid to go about the country alone.
Within n year he had thirty-nine scalps. and
said he had killed twelve others whose scalps he
was unable to get. At the end of that year he
raised the number to seventy-nine scalps and
said he would not return to the fort until he
had a hundred.
In July, 1864, a cloudburst occurred above
the village Of a band Of Comanches and the
people fled into narrow gorge for safety. The
water came so suddenly that they were CON-
PEELED to fly with what they could gather and
run for their lives. Sanderson came upon
them rs they were huddled in the gorge and
began firing at them from above and rolling
stones down upon them. He killed twelve and
| wounded great number before they could get
away.
By July. 1865, he had over 100 scalps and had
killed at least 40 Indians and seventy ponies
He had no idea OF abandoning his quest TO,
revenge, bat was more determined tnan over
to wipe out the whole tribe. Alter the close Of
| the war Of the rebellion. when the government,
| turned it's attention to the Indians. a treaty
was made with the Comanches and it was stip-
| uiated by the Indians that Sandcrson should be
| called away from the country.
He heard Of is and for many months kept
out Of the way Of the soldiers and continued
his work of destruction, but at last was found
| aud told that lie must give up the work. He
complied, but with great reluctance, and tool
advantage Of every Indian outbreak since then
to 60 out to kill the savages.