The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1893-10-13
Saved From the Stake.
And When LO0sed Brave Charley Keats
Only Complained Of Thirst.


Pawnee scouts. who were riding half
a mile ahead of the column, gave the
signal to halt, and pretty soon word
came back 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 a white man with them as cap
tive. From his dress they believed
him to be a government scout and
from certain preparations being made
they felt certain he was going to be
put to the torture
There were 100 troopers of us, while
the Indians numbered only forty, 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 mile, except ii be to
the rear. If we moyed as a body they
would mount and away before we were
within rifle shot. 1t was finally de-
clded that one of the Pawnees should
conduct ten dismounted troopers over
the mountain to approach the camp
in the rear, while the main command
was to move up as near as possible
without discovery and be ready to
dash at the camp when the signal was
given. 1t was 6 o'clock before We
reached the crest of the mountain
1t was seven before we found the ra
vine which the scout said would lead
us right into the Indian camp. While
we had only about mile to go it hat
to be Travelled in darkness over q
route which would have been perilOus
by daylight, and it was close upon
o'clock when we finally reached tht
fringe of bushes growing at the mOutl
of the rayine.
Right before us and not 100 fee
away was the Indian camp. Their
were three small fires burning, with
smell of roasting meat in tine air, ant
from the movements of the redskin.
we c0ncludeded they had just finished
their supper, late as was the hour
, 1t was some little time before w
made out the white man, as he wa
; bound hand and foot and lying at full
i length on the ground. Fresh fuel wa
thrown on the fires, and as the cam
e was lighted up an Indian came fol
S ward to the bushes and hacked dow
;, a sapling with his tomahawk. Will
: he cut and trimmed he was With
25 feet Of US. Had we not crept bac
n when we saw him approaching h
=: would have run right over the line
= The stake was sharpencd and drive
,e into the earth at about the center {
. of the camp, and while two or thre
) Indians were engaged at that four c
W five were collecting fuel.
4" Fortunately for us they gathered
" to our left, where "a big tree had bee
l. uprooted by the wind. A cart load ,
dry limbs was conveyed to the stal
ni and piled up, and then the feet of tt
~ captive we're loOsened, and two I
I'd dians pulled him up. lie was bar
c. headed, and the instant the fam
e. showed us his face we recognized hi
U" as Charley Keats, the government a
tachcd to Fort Wallace. He had BET
o, o. captured at daylight that mornii
or thirty miles away.
RS "White man cOld-going to bui
f. fire for him-make him warm !" sa
&C. &C. the chief of the band as he pointed
ed the stake.
to "Waugh !. You are a pack Of skull
ing cowards,' answered the scout,
ch he drew himself up. "Burn and
hc hanged I've got the scalplocks
ne six of your best men, and you wor
n. be very much ahead Of Charl
et Keatsw
'er A dozen warriors ran 10 upon hi
'se with raised tamahawks, but the Chi
shouted for them to hold on and {
re dered the prisoner led to the stake.
% ns rawhlde lariat which had been soa
ito ing In the spring, was then broug
along, and after the scout had be
ne stripped Of his clothing he was ma
sa 90, fast to the stake by the lariat bel
passed around his wais'. lie thus h