The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-03-12
A TERROR TO the INDIANS.
toores OF Them Killed by n Nav who Had
GrudRe to Settie

Grudge to Settle.
There lately died in Fort Sumner, N.
NJ, n man who for ten years waped a
most merciless war on the Coinanche
lndiars of that region His career ia
over, but it was one of the most re-
markable ever known outside of a dime
novel. In 1862 James Sanderson and
his wife and one child were crossing the
country near the Arizona line with a
wagon and an outfit band of Co
manches 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 In
dians began Il series of tortures, and
his life was only saved by the timely
arrival of detachment of soldiers, who
drove off the savages, but not until
they had used fire to such an extent
that his face was scanned and Scared
in horrible manner.
Sanderson said little about his terri
BILE atfliction, 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
terror to the Indians. He supplied
himself with a rifle, revolver and
ammunition and left the fort. 1t was a
month before he was heard of. and the
affair had almost passed from the minds
of the officers and men, when one day
Sanderson walked in and threw down a
bundle containing twenty-nine scalps.
He had followed the Indians and hung
m hni t.nf1 l.tl al.
left the camp, until his presence became
veritable terror to- the band. He
made no distinction between men, vo-
men and children, burt killed any that
he could get near to. He seemed en-
dowed with II charmed life, for the In
diaus could not get near enough to do
him harm, and he became known as the
white spirit The Indians were fright
ened, and those who were left made
haste back to the home of their tribe,
carrying with them the terrible tale of
the Nemesis on their track. Sanderson
followed them TO the mountains and
went where white men had never been
before.
Before his presence became known in
the neighborhood he had killed u boy,
squaw and two warriors. Every 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 year he had thirty
nine scalps, and said he had killed
twelve others whose scalps he was un-
able 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 one hundreds In
July, 1864, a cloud burst occurred above
the village of band of Conan "hes,
and the people fed into. the narrow
gorge for safety. The water came so
suddenly that they were compelled to
fly with what they could gather and
run for their lives Sanderson came
upon them as they were huddled in the
gorge and began firing upon them from
above and rolling stones down upon
them. He killed twelve and wounded
n great number before they could get
away.
BY July, 1863 he had over one hun-
dred scalps aud had killed at least one
hundred and seventy ponies. He had NO
idea of abandoning his quest for re-
venge, but was more determined than
ever to wipe out the whole tribe. After
the close of the war, when the govern
ment turned its attention to the Indi-
ans, treaty was made with the Co
rnanches and it was stipulated by the
Indians that Sanderson should be called
away from the country He heard of it,
and for many months kept ont of the
way of the soldiers and continued his
work of destruction, but at last was
found and told that he must give up the
work. He complied, but with great re-
luctance, and has taken advantage of
every Indian outbreak since then to go
out to kill the savages.-Chicago News