The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-26
coon SToRIAs or THE PRESENT DAY.
The Escape OF n Govrrpm-nt Scout After n
Day OF Torture.

Kansas. Nebraska and Colorado were pro-
Tossing peace. yet making ready for the bloody
spring campaign which cost 80 many lives
Black Bird. son OF Roman Nose. the famous
Cheyenne chief, paid u visit to Fort Larned.
He was young man about 20 years OF ago.
tall. active. and brave as lion. Although he
made the excuse of trade. and although he did
purchase n few supplies. it was believed by
everybody at the post that he came as a spy.
There had been q war council OF all the
tribes. and II had boon agreed to open war
in tho spring which should not cease until the
white man was driven east OF the forks OF the
Kansas River.
Ono OF the hunters and scouts attached
to tho fort at that time was man
named Joe HILL. who had served as a
scout under Con. Sheridan. He was 35
years old, strong and rugged and 1t was said
of him that he didn't know what fear was He
firmly believed that young Black Bird came to
ascertain and report on the strength OF the
fort, and ho picked q quarrel with him to OBJ
tain satisfaction. Black Bird. although alono
and realizing that he had no friends there did
not show the white feather It was fight with
knives. beginning SO suddenly that tho officers
could not interfere. The Indian was wounded
and disarmed. and In order to humble him
still more Hall spat upon him and retained his
knife as q trophy 1t was an act criticised and
hmentad by tho officers. and n disgrace they
know would havo t. be washed out in blood.
and Hall himself realized that from that hour
every man Of tho Cheyenne tribe would thirst
for his life. Two weeks later old Eoman Nose
sent in the following message:
Give UP the man who insulted my son and
I will be satisfied. II You DO not 1t shall be
war between us and the whites as long as
have n warrior able to raise a tomahawk"
Thn 1at ri Grf rnfD cd nd 70
give Hall better show to protect himself no
was transferred to Fort Lyon. Col The In
dams soon learned OF the change and Black
Bird received the command OF ten warriors
and ordered not to return to his father until
he brought Halls scalp. During the greater
part OF the winter this band hung about Fort
Lyon for an opportunity to kill the scout. He
knew Of their presence. but made no change in
his programme. He had mule almost as
feet of foot as an antelope. and always carried
a Winchester and two revolvers.
Spring came. and with 1t the opening OF saw
age warfare. The Indians took the field de-
termned to sweep everything before them.
In June Joe Hall was sent from Fort Lyon to
Fort Wallace with dispatches. The interven-
ing country was literally swarmng with
hostlcs. but he was within three miles Of Wal
lace before he found his position perilous
Roman Nose and his band. numbering about
$50 bucks. made sudden dash on the over
land stage station q mile from the fort. and
gobbed up about fifty horses and mules
They expected to get the scalps Of five or six
employees as WE'LL but the men ron to their
dugouts and poured in such a hot fire as to
drive the Indians OH Roman Nose then
ordered an attack on the fort. which was only
a collection OF tents and shantes. and SHINY
garrisoned. He was beaten or after a sharp
fight. and while rctreatinG his force came upon
Hall trying to make the fort
Tho scout was cut Off. and he turned to mako
a run for it. His mule would have distanced
any pony in the band. but the race had scarce
~ begun when a bullet from the rifle OF O pur.
suer struck Hall in tho back OF the head. 1t
was n spent ball and didn't draw blood. but it
gave him such Il shock that he .umbled out Of
his saddle and was a prisoner when he rocov-
cred con sciousness. There wore thirty differ
ent warriors who knew Hall by sight. and when
it became known who the prisoner was the re-
Joicins was something; terrific He was thor
oushly up il thu na,eyenn;e, dialect. and Of
Nose was, told that Hall was the prisoner SO
fortunately picked UP. he rode up and said:
II have lost nine warriors to-day. bat shall
l hal capture the fort"
Hal knew th2t he must de and he hoped to
called him a sIuaw. coward. and brnggart.
He tauntci him with having coward for a
ifthcy would turn him Dose. Some Of tho
warriors were ior killing him on the SPOT. but
"Wc will put Inn to tho torture He shall
die, ten times over seven suns shall come
and g. betor" isnth zones to him GILL;,
on the smoky Hi! Fork. about thirty miles
away. and thith%r tt, whole band proceeded;
town. and Hall was tied hand and loot and
placed in tepHe ,nnc four guards Stationed
around it. small raidinC party had that day
"
airy wagon train. Tho Chayeunes hau deter
mined net to spare mar: woman. or child who
fell into their hands. hut after powwow last
ing, an hour tho trHnl;ter was brought out
an ,"m nny Son% Hnii + Trm m ors HAM ~,
We want al! white men toknow it. They will
not he!tGy"us; but they will believe you. Come
,iic was led to, the topeo and Hall admitted
hi. Identity and charged him with some fare
w"l! messages 70 friends. iie also CAV
him tho do.patru"S he was to deliver. or
rnntller asked homan Nose to DO 80. rnd the
" That your wiitn brothers may know you
have boon n rar.lve in our hands We will send
them our marx.
II" theron Jon sliced OF both ofthc teamstnrs
cars ana hand II thcri to him to nut in his rock
ct. The lirr'tion of Fort Wallace was pointed
out; and he w given ORG Of the stage horses
aud started oli.rcach!ns the post next forenoon.
There 4ld not apprar to be on" chance in n
hundred for Hall t. e97cnrc. but the village had
He was 70 tricca NJ that it was utterly impos-
siblr to Ire" himself. To worked at his lash
lnsS 1Dr an hpNt or 50. ana 'nen gave NJ tho
attempt. liz knew the 81 uatiou Of tho village
and tn" country around it, and 10 finally de-
ctlcd thar his onpor unity would come next
day. when taEen our to run III" gantl.t No
matter what no rest OF the prograIume i this
l. 'rtlon ~ preface i never omitted. The In
diane seem 70 get moro amusement out Of it
thun any other part
When mornin! came Halls arms wore cast
loose ana he was provided win II hearty
breakfast. The Indians knew n" was game.
and thcy wnntci him t. keep ,Iis full strength
object in Wow and ate all they brought
him. 1t was about o'clock when Ee was
taken out to run the gauntlet; All his lash
ings were cast oil. II rope tied around his
waist, and he vas exercised for fifteen min
ltcs to timber him VI. There wer" about 400
bucks in the lines rs they were presently
formed; In most irstnnres the warriors arc
allowed 10 strike with clubs. tho handles OF
tomahawks. or their hickory bows. bat in this
case only switches We're used.
Hall WAS n swift ruEnOr. and his plnn WAS 10
make olt for it whca he rea"hci the west
end Of tn" lin" To his chagrin no found !.
dozen mounted warriors placed to head OFF any
sach ntt"mpt, ~ mado it. however. Turning
down tho lines At tho top of his speed and TO
cciving cut from almost every warrior .s ho
passed. no broke out on the prairie and ran
Ter his life. The pursuing Indians could have