The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-10-18
At the Stake.

At4 o'clock in the afternoon, the
Pawnce 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 a war party. Two OF the
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 government scout, and from Ger
tain preparations being made they felt
certain that he was goingto be put to
torture.
There was 100 troopers Of us, while
the Indians numbered only forty, but
they had gone into camp at the base
of mountain spur from which they
could note the approach Of anyone
coming within mile, except in the
rear. If we showed in a body, they
would mount and away before We were
in rifle shot. 1t was finally decided
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 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 up to the In
dian camp. While we had only about
mile to go, it had to be travelled in
darkness over route which would
have been perilous even in daylight
and it was close On 9 o'clock when we
finally reached the frince Of bushes
growing at the mouth Of the ravine.
Right before us and not 100 feet
away, was the Indian camp. There
were three small fires burning. with a
smell of roasting meat in the air, and
from the movements Of the redskins
we concluded they had just finished
supper, late as was the hour. 1t was
some little time before we made out
the white man, as he was bound hand
and foot and was lying at full length
on the ground. Fresh fuel was thrown
on the fires, and as the camp was light,
ed up an Indian came forward and
hacked down sapling with his toma-
hawk. While he cut and trimmed it
he was within twenty-five 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 were collecting fuel.
Fortunately for us they gathered it
to our left, where a big tree had been
uprooted by the wind. A cart load OF
dry limbs were conveyed to the sta Ike
and piled up, and then the feet of the
captive were loosened, and two In
dians pulled him up. He was bare
headed, and the instant the flames
showed us his face We recognized him
as Charley Keats, the government
scout attached to Fort Wallace. He
had been captured at daylight that
morning about thirty miles away:
"White man cold-going to build
fire for him-make him warmr' said
the chief of the band as he pointed to
the stake.
"Waugh You are pack Of skulk-
ing towards, answered the scout as
he drew himself. 'Burn and be
hanged I've got the scolplocks OF SIX
of your best men, and you won't be
very much ahead Of Charley Keats +
A dozen warriors ran up to him with
raised tomahawks, but the chief shout.
ed for them to hold on and ordered
the prisoner to be led to the stake. A
rawhide lariat which had been soak
ed 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 prepar.
ing him for torture, we saw him glance
around as if he might have a faint
hope or rescue, but presently despair
came to his heart, and he turned tc
the chief and said:
''You are squaw, and these people
around you are children whom l could
drive with stickl There isn't a real
warrior in your tribe. I have made
the whole gang Of you run like rab.
bits!''
There was rush for him again,
but the chief drove the warriors back,
and standing with folded hands before
the scout anwered:
"We know you. You are brave
man. You speak truly when you say
you have the scalps of several Of oul
warriors. But you shall see how it
will be with you when we prick you
with knives-when we shoot powder
into your fesh-when we thrust in
these splinters and light them-when
we cut off your ears and nose and
tongue! After that we will sit down
and listen to your cries!
''If you hear one yell from me, you
may tell every white man in this
country that was q. baby" shouted
the scout. $50 ahead with your
picnic. A fellow can't die but once,
and I've been prepared for this sort Of
death for the last five years.
There was a 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 ten car
bines and the scouts S 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 any.
thing in sight to fire at. The Indian
ponies, grazing little distance away,
dashed off in a drove. and every war
rior who could move, dashed at the
side of the mountain and disappeared
among the rocks and thickets.