St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-17
CAPTURED BY REDS.
The Whole Sioux Nation After
the Scalp Ola Pale
Face.
Surprised in the Fog by a
Band Of Mounted Red
Warriors.
Reserved for the Stake, But
Rescued by Fortunate Ar
rival Of Troops.
NJ. Quad's Experiences During
the Indian Wars in the
West.

career to strike the Sioux blow which
made them forever after hungry tor my
life. This was in 1866, while they were
pretending to be at peace, but actually
killing every white man who was found
outside the forts. l was then at Fort
Mcpherson, and while carrying a dis
patch to "a small body of troops sta
toned on the Saline Fork of the Kansas
river l encountered small band of In
dams. This was about 10 o'clock in the
forenoon. i saw them emerge from a
dry ravine and head to cut me off, and
at once halted and dismounted. Twas
then on the crest of ridge, and close to
natural sink which would make a good
rifle-pit. 1t was big enough to shelter
my horse as well, and | was all ready
for the redskins before they knew had
taken the alarm.
While not in war paint, they showed
every other sign of hostility, and | knew
that if | fell into their hands my scalp
would change owners within five min
utes. There wasn't a Winchester rifle
among the Indians at that time and not
one in ten had seen one. l had one,
while the nine redskins before me had
old-fashiOned muZZle-loading rifles, and
| believed l could surprise them. They
were led by a Sub-chief named Little
Feather and among the nine were two
others named White Water and Run
ming Bear. These three sub-chiefs were
warriors OF renown and were then on
their way to attend a council and a war
dance.
1t was Little Feather who summoned
me to surrender on pain of being burned
at the stake, and he was the one who di-
rected affairs when | shouted my re-
fuSa. The nine spread out, mounted
on their ponies. until they encircled my
refuge, then, at signal, they came
charging UP the slope, each one yelling
enough to split his throat. Lying on
my face. with a dead rest for my rifle. l
tumbled Little Feather and White
Water out of their saddles, and that
stopped the charge. AS they checked
up killed Running Bear, and before
they got out Of range | wounded one CT
the warriors. The living galioped Off,
and carried two ponies and all the ac-
coptrementS of the dead chiefs into the
fort. In work entitled ''The Pioneers
of Nebraska" pages 355-6. IS an account
Of this fight, but not a very accurate
one. The number OF killed is there put
down at five and the name of Running
Bear is given as Yellow Bear.
1t soon became known among the
Sioux what had happened, and every
branch of the great tribe swore to have
my life. A reward of ten ponies was
offered to any one who should kill me.
and twenty if l were taken alive. 1 was
advised by every body to clear out of
that locality, but refused togo until
the long-eXpected war finally broke out
and l was attached to q moving column.
The threats of the Indians had not great
ly disturbed me, as | knew they would
always be trying their best to capture
scout, no matter if they had never
heard of him. Those were days when
every white man on the plains lived
year in every week and never forgot for
moment that his life was i'll continual
jeopardy. Several plans, as | afterward
learned, were formed to capture me,
but slipped through.
L was finally made prisoner under
singular circumstances. / was return
ing from the flying column to Fort
Wallace with dispatches. l had set out
soon after dusk and made a good
twenty-five miles when heavy fog
settled down on the plains. 1t wouldn't
have bothered an INDIAN to keep the
points of the compass, but after l had
turned and twisted among some dry
ravineS had to own up that l was lost.
My horse was just as bad off. When l
gave him his head he came to q stop.
The only thing to do was to dismount
and wait for daylight. was sitting on
the ground, not feeling a bit sleepy,
and my horse was lying down, when
band of thirty-seven Indians, all
mounted, walked right on to me
through the fog. | heard the footsteps
of their horses, but could not locate
them in the fog until too late. When |
leaped up it was with the thought that |
might make break for it on foot, but
before 1 could turn they were all about
me, and in another minute | was made
prisoner.
The Indians were as much surprised
as L was, and it was broad daylight
before they identified HE. Up to that
time they had treated me fairly well.
When it was known that | was the
scout whose life they had so long
thirsted after half dozen bucks tried
their best tomahawk me Oh the spot.
When their angry excitement had
cooled down there was as much rejoic-
ing as if they had captued fort. Six
warriors were called out as a guard,
and soon after sunrise was put in their
charge and started for big Sioux vii
lage on Deer creek, between the two
forks of the Republican river. | was,
of course, disarmed. Then my elbows
were tied together, my feet were tied
under the horse, and, for fear the horse
would rlfa Of with me, he was led by
At noon we made halt of half an
hour and l was given about half a
pound of jerked buff alo meat as nv
share of the MONDAY meal. My 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 at a gal
lop until ten o'clock at night before the
village was reached. | understood the
Sioux lingo very well, though / did not
let OH to, and the talk as we rode was
anything but pleasant to me. 1t was
agreed tn at would be put to the tor
ture, and that it would be made to last
as long as possible.
When we reached the village I was
placed In tepee and my arms I'M
bound. They refused to cast the lash
bucks stood guard outside. l was sol
stiff and sore with the ride that / coulds
not have taken five steps had they
turned me loSse and told me to go. r
got not wink of sleep that night, and
it was not until about O'Clock next
morning that my legs were freed. 1t
was village of eighty lodges, and the
one | occupied was almost in the center
of the collection. / couldn't have
escaped had they left the tent unguard-
ed, 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 squaWs
and children.
It was the third day after my capture
before was disturbed. Then, most of
the warriors having returned to the
village on purpose to witness my death,
L was led out at 8 O'clock in the after
noon to undergo the preliminary to act
ual torture. This is running the gaunt-
let. There were. as near as i could
judge, sixty men and boys in each line
and the lines were four feet apart. Had
each one been armed with Switch to
strike me II would have been punish
fnpnt nnnunh hut thaxr x.-oro alln.uo.i =