The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-01-27
SEVENTY LIVES FOR ONE.
A WHITE MANS TERRIBLE RE
VENICE UPON INDIANS.
They Kill His Wife and Child-In
Turn He Stays at Least 40 Com
anches-A Merciless War.

They Kill His Wife and ChiId-In
Turn He Stays at Least 40 Com
anches-A Merciless War.
There has just died in Fort Sumner,
New Mexico, man who for ten years
waged a most merciless war on the
Comanche Indians of this region. His
career is over, but it was one of the most
remarkable ever known outside of dime
novel. In 1862 James Sanderson and
his wife and one child were crossing the
country near the Arizona line with
wagon and outfit.
A band of Comanches came down
upon them and killed the child and also
the woman. Sanderson was tied to a
post and compelled to witness the fear
full scenes. After this the Indians be-
gan a series of tortures, 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 too such an extent that the mans
face was scanned and SCARED in horrible
manner. Sanderson said little about his
terrible affliction, but returned to the
fort with the soldiers, and remained
there until he recovered his health.
Then he took a solemn oath to be re-
venged in manner that would make
his name terror to the Indians.
He supplied himself with rifle, re-
volver 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 on their trail, killing every
one that left the camp, until his presence
became a 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 en-
dowed with charmed life, for the Indi-
sns could not get near enough to him to
do him harm, and he became known as
the "White Spirit" The Indians were
frightened, 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 mount
aims, and went where white men had
never been before.
Before his presence became known in
the neighborhood he had killed boy, a
squaw and two warriors. Every time a
band was sent out after him they would
! be sure to return after losing several
members, and the Indians became afraid
TO go about the country alone. Within
a year he had thirty-nine scalps, and
said he had killed twelve Others whose
scalp 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 100. In July,
1864, a cloudburst occurred above the
village of bad band of Comanches
and the people fled into 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 be-
gan firing at them from above and roll
ing stones down upon them. He killed
twelve and wounded great number be.
fore they could get away.
BY July, 1865, he had over 100 scalps
and had killed at least 140 Indians and
seventy ponies. He had no idea of
abandoning his quest for revenge, but
was more determined than ever to wipe
out the whole tribe. After the close of
the Civil War, when the Government
turned its attention to the Indians, a
treaty was made with the Comanches,
and it was stipulated by the Indians that
Sanderson be called away from the
country. He heard of it, and for many
months he kept out of the way of the
soldiers and continued his work of de.
struction, but at last was found and told
that he must give up the work. He
complied, but with great reluctance, and
has taken advantage of every Indian out
break since then to go out to kill the
savages.