Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-10-12
PULLED OUT HAIR BY HAIR.
Remarkable Story of Indian Cruelty SUI
perinduced by Jealousy.


perinduccd by Jealousy.
Living near this town is a woman
whose perfectly bald head tells acurious
story of jealousy and Indian cruelty. In
1859 Oswald Thurwald, a Swedish farm
er. had home in the territory close to
the Texas border, and his family con-
sisted of his wife, two daughters and a
son. The Indians seemed friendly, pass
ing over the Thurwalds even when STAY
ing the other settlers about and fire.
uuenting their place to sell their wares
md to purchase such goods as Thur
valid brought out from the states for
barter. He was rapidly growing rich
and had made his pref. .ratiOns to move
to Dallas, where he intended to extend
his business, when the tragedy occurred
that destroyed his home and scattered
his family.
1t seems that lAe chief of the Tonkawa
Indians, who visited that part Of the
country from the south on raiding ex-
petitions, had seen Elsa, the elder
daughter, and fancying her offered to
buy her of her father. But Thurwald,
though fond of money, refused, which
gave great offense to the chief. Return
ing home, heincited his people against
the Thurwalds, and the following spring
they made an attack on him. He and
his son succeeded in escaping, but the
wife and younger daughter, thoughthey
eluded capture the first few days, We're
overtaken finally. Mrs. Thurwald sank
under the fatigue Of her fight through
a rugged country, and when the Indians
came up with them it was to find the
girl holding her mother in her arms, the
poor woman having just expired.
The next day the girl herself, tagging
on the march from an arrow wound in
her ankle, was shot III the presence OF
her sister, who had been seized and held
from the moment of the attack till now.
She was taken 10 4 village and given
into the charge Of the squaws until the
men should have returned from the war
trail.
In the meantime the kickapoos de-
clared war Oh the Toukawas and raided
the village, when Elsa Tuurwald was
carried off with such Of the Indian
women as were spared IS slaves. The
Tonkawas, on returning, found the
smoking remains Of Tie house and
started after the deSpoilcrs, oycrtaking
them close to the Colorado, where an
obstinate battle cnsucd, but both sides
then consented to truce. The chief Of
the Kickapoos. however, stipulated
that the white woman should be given
him. This was opposed by the Tonka-
wa chieftain, who claimed her by right
of priority. This brought Oh quarrel,
which was terminated by Il hand to
hand fight between the rivals, resulting
in the chief of the IonkawaS being
killed and the bone Of contention fall
ing to the victor.
He carried her home and cOniided her
to the care of his squaw with the iniunc-
ton that if she were injured in any way
the life of the woman would pay for it.
But, fired by jealousy for her successor,
the woman took advantage of her lords
absence TO wreak her vengeance on the
detcsted object. Binding her to a tree,
she deliberately pulled out the unfor-
tunatc bcauty's hair thread by thread.
This torture lasted several hours, until
the white womau's head was covered
with blood and she shrieking with agony.
When the chief returned and learned
what had occurred. h. ordered the witch
burned at the stake. She escaped into
the bush, but was recovered and the
sentence executed. Thurwald had now
died, but his son, hearing Of sister
being in the hands OF the Indi;"s organ
led II rcscuing party and succeeded in
libcrating her ar,pr Is months of pity
ity Her head took weeks to heal, and
it IS thought hor II;ud was affected by
her savage treatment, though in 1915 she
married farmer in this vicinity. Her
HAIR has never grown again.-Oiilahoma
Letter in Philadelphia Times.