Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-25
A CLOSE SHAVE.
How Government Scout Was Saved From
the Hands of the Enemy

ProC1y SooH worn came Dack that they had
struck the fresh trail of war party Two
or three of them disappeared among the
foothills and were absent for an hour.
When they returned, it was to report that
the war party had gone into camp four
miles away and that the Indians had
white man with them as captive. From
his dress they believed him to be a govern
ment scout, and from certain preparations
being made they felt certain he was going
to be put to the torture
There were hundred troopers of us,
while the Indians numbered only 40, but
they had gone into camp at the base of a
mountain spur from which they could note
the approach of any one coming within a
mile, except it be to the rear. If we moved
as body, they would mount and away be-
fore we were within rife shot 1t was final
ly decided that one of the Pawnees should
conduct 10 dismounted troopers over the
mountain to approach the camp in the rear
while the D!ain command was to move up
as near as possible without discovery and
be ready to dash ut the camp when the sig
nal was given. 1t was o'clock before we
reached the crest of the mountain 1t was
Z before we found the ravine which the
scout said would lead us right into the In
dian camp. While we had only about a
mile to 90, it had to be travelled in darkness
over route which would have been peril
Gus by daylight, and it was close upon
O'Clock when we finally reached the fringe
of bushes growing at the mouth of the ra-
vine.
Right before us and not 100 feet away
was the Indian camp. There were three
small fires burning, with smell of roast
ing meat iii the air, and from the move
ments of the redskins we concluded they
ha1 irGt E,,i. IL.
the hour 1t was some little time before
we made ont the White man, as he was
bound hand and foot and lying at full
length on the ground. Fresh fuel was
thrown on the fires, and as the camp was
lighted up an Indian came forward to the
bushes and hacked down a sapling with
his tomahawk. While he cut and trimmed
he was within p feet of us Had we not
crept back when we saw him approaching
he would have run right over the line The
stake was sharpened and driven into the
earth at about the center of the camp. and
while two or three Indians were engaged
at that, four or five We're collecting fuel
Fortunately for us they gathered it to our
left, where a big tree had been uprooted by
the wind. \ cart load of dry limbs was
conveyed to the stake and piled up, and
then the feet of the captive were loosened,
and two Indians pulled him up. He was
bareheaded, and the instant the flames
showed us his face we recognized him as
Charley Keats, the government scout at
tached to Fort Wallace He had been cap
tured at daylight that morning about 30
miles away.
white man cold-going to build fire for
him-rnake him warm said the chief of
the band as he pointed to the stake.
Waugh! You are Il pack of skulking
cowards!' answered the scout as he drew
himself up. Burn and be hanged I've
got the scalplocks of six of your best men,
and you won't be very much ahead of
Charley Keats
A dozen warriors ran in upon him with
raised tomahawks, but the chief shouted
for them to hold on and ordered the pris-
oner led to the stake. 4 rawhide lariat
which had been soaking in the spring, was
then brought along, and after the scout had
been stripped of his clothing he was made
fast to the stake by the lariat being passed
around his waist He thus had the freedom
of his arms and legs, and the fuel was so
arranged that it did not come within three
feet of the stake. While they were thus
preparing him for torture we saw him
glance about as if he might have faint
hope of rescue, but presently despair came
to his heart, and he turned to the chief and
said:
You are n squaw, and these people
around you are children whom | could
drive with stick! There isn't a real war
rior in your tribe l have made the whole
gang of you run like rabbits
There was rush for him again, but tue
chief drove the warriors back, and stand
ing with folded arms before the scout he
answered.:
I'VE know you. You are Il brave man.
You speak truly when you say you have
the scalps of some of our wasriors. But
we shall see how it will be with you when
we prick you with knives-when we shoot
powder into your flesh-when we thrust
in these splinters and light them-when
we cut off ears and nose and tongue! After
that we Will light the fire and sit down
and listen to your cries.
''If you hear one yell from me, you may
tell every white man in this country that l
was baby,' shouted the scout. Go ahead
with your picnic! \ Teller can't die but
once, and Eve been prepared for this sort of
death for the last five years.
There was yell from every Indian as he
ceased speaking, but the crowd parted
right and left, and the chief drew his knife
and stood surveying the captive We got
the word at this moment to open fire, and
our 10 carbines and the scouts rife rang
out as one. We rose up with a cheer and
fired again and again, but after the third
volley there was no longer anything in
sight to fire at. The Indian ponies, grazing
little distance away, dashed off in Il
drove, and every warrior who could move
dashed at the side of the mountain and dis
appeared among the rocks and thickets.
The command came galloping up, but
no, g., - n 81
lay seven dead and two wounded Indians,
with 10 or II rifles and all their blankets
scattered about. Seven of the II men had
aimed at the chief in the first fire, and seven
bullets had struck him We turned to the
scout as the fight was over, and he I'D out
his hand and said:
''Howdy, boys Some of you cut this
thing and let me get drink of water at
the spring! Sort of n close shave, and it
has made me rather thirsty,'
NJ. QUAD.