Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-08-14

They would exterminate us. We had
not chance. Our men wouldn't come
after u: for two days. There was no
hope of release. We might just as
well make up our minds to it.
Up to this time we had been so far
apart, separated by our guards, that we
could not speak to each other or suggest
any plans. When we reached the clear
ing, however, we were brought togeth-
er, and marched before the most villain
Gus looking rascal ever set eyes on
evidently the chief Of the band. Joe
was filling the air with the most lovely
and choice selections from his truly mag
nifccnt vocabulary of Billingsgatc, and
calling upon each aud every separate
Tartar to let him have the use OF his
hands and the cutlass and meet him on
fair gound. What would they do with
usl We were very soon to know.
With hospitality we could not uu-
derstand, the chief signed us to SIT
down, and presently great dish OF de
licious rice was placed before us and we
were, by signs, invited to eat. Our
morning trip had made.us botn hungry,
notwithstanding that we had already
had some breakfast, and not even the sad
memory of the death of our comrades
could prevent our "ptching in" Then
came bowls of most refreshing, sparkling
spring water. What would come next;
We noticed, as we finished our repast,
iendish grin spread over the features
our host. He made a sign and SAID
something which we, of course, did not
understand. Two fellows came up and
evidently said all was ready, for at an'
other few words We were seized, made
to stand on our feet, our arms bound Sc
curely TO our sides, our ankles tied to-
cether and we were dragged of.
Presently we came to spot where not
a tree of any kind formed the slightest
protection from the suns -ays, and where
at a distance OF about six feet apart we
saw two large, deep holes.
"Now, what are they going to do"
asked Joe.
had no time to answer, for in min
ute we were dumped, feet foremost one
into each hoie. Then the beggars began
shoveling the sand soil in on top OF U.S.
They're going to bury us alive
said Joe.
1t was worse than that. That would
have killed us too soon. They only
buried us to the necks, leaving our heads
free, but so securely fixed in the soil
that we looked like couple of living
heads on magician's table. Great God
what horribly conceived torture was
this, While we were buried helpless
there a brute came and with sharp knife
carefully shaved a round patch from the
tons of our heads, then another smeared
one sticky substance thereon. Were
they going to set fire to u.s. Worse even
than that
Do not suppose that all this was done
in silence. BY no means. A horrible,
yelling, jeering, hooting crowd sur
rounded US, and how they came and spat
in our faces and slapped us with fiat
pieces of bamboo. This went on for a
couple of hours, and the sun was beating
down upon us with almost unbearable
power. Then the flies came in myriads
and bit and stung us. Then came cry
from Maxted, which quickly echoed;
"I'm burstingl If this don't stop
soon I'll burst!"
The rice and water we had swallowed
was swelling, and the weight Of the soil
creating an enormous resistance our
agony was intense.
"Great God! Why didn't we tell the
men TO come soonerl"
Then poured forth the cheeriest words
of encouragement to me man could
think Of.
They'll never obey you, sir; they'll
get anxious and come"
His words were prophetic They were
hardly out of his mouth when we heard
the heartiest British cheer | ever heard
ring through the clearing-then volley
Snd another from good British rifles,
and then the short swapping of the re
yovers-and then tainted.
A week later, lying in my cabin on
the Ticker, heard how ono of the men,
angry at not being chosen to make the
inland excursion with me, had followed
US short distance through the forest.
Hc had seen the attack and at once
scampcred back to the boat. Realizing
I tehat ten men would be Of little use
against so many Tartars, they had rowed
down the river right back to the Ticker
and reported my capture to Commander
Napier, who had come himself with a
brigade to my rescue, with the results
that you have already read.
Esery pirate in that scoundrelly crew
was shot CT cutlassed in the attack. Not
one escaped. .---New York Recorder.
On Ju% 4, 1912, war declared by the
limited States a0aiDst Mexico. on ac-