Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-12-09
saved Prom the stake.

At o'clock in the afternoon the
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 a 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 captive. From his dress they be-
lieved 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 anyone
coming within mile except it be to
the rear. If we moved as a body they
would mount and away before we
were within rife shot. II was finally
decided that one of the Pawnees
should conduct ten dismounted troop
ers 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 be-
fore we reached the crest of the
mountain. 1t was before we found
the ravine which the scout said would
lead us right into the Indian camp.
While we had only about a mile TO
go it had to be Travelled in darkness
over a route which would have been
perilous by daylight, and it was close
upon o'clock when we finally
reached the fringe of bushes growing
at the mouth of the ravine
Right before us and not 100 yards
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 that they had Just fin
ished their 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 lying at full
length on the ground. Fresh fuel was
thrown on the fires and as the camp
was lighted up an Indian came for
ward to the bushes and hack d down
a sapling with his toma hawk While
he cut and trimmed he was within
| twenty-five feet of us Had we not
crept back when we saw him an
preaching, he would have run right
over the line. The stake was shnr-
pened and driven into the earth at
about the center of the camp, and
| while two or three Indians were en-
gagged at that four or five were collect
ing fuel.
Fortunately for US they gathered IL
to our left where a big tree had been
uprootcd by the wind. A cart load of
dry limbs was conveyed TO the stake
and piled up, and hen the feet of tn c
captive were loosened, and two In
dams pulled him up. lie was bare
headed, and the instant the flames
showed ms 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 warmm said
the chief of the band as he pointed 10
the stake.
waugh! You are pack of skulk-
ing cCwards!" answered the scout as
he drew himself up. Burn and be
hanged! I've got the scalplocISs of
six of your best men, and you won ( be
very much ahead of Charley Keatsr
A dozen warriors ran in upon him
with raised tomahawlks, but the chief
shouted for them to hold on and order
ed the prisoner led to the stake. a
rawhide lariat, which had been soak
ing 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 the torture we saw him
glance about as If he might have a
faint hope of rescue, but presently