The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-01-06

L ~ war AttiAy WV lillIlultN DGtufG ~ CiIltl
rode forward and said "How-how,n and
extended his hand TO me, and as be did SO
the whole body closed in. am 10 unfort-
innate as. TO be marked on the left temple
with that birthmafB known as wine
stain, the spot being as large as a silver
dollar My hat was well up and my hair
back as the chief rode up, and the instant
ho noticed the mark he let 60 my hand
and said something to those crowding up.
Pretty soon he pushed In and touched my
face, perhaps thinking the mark TO be a
wound or sore. Others did the same, and
when they found that it was a part Of the
skin they expressed much wonder and rev
hrenoe.
While ! had served as a scout only few
months | knew considerable Of Indian
character, and was not long in realizing
that had made hit. While no violence
was offered us we were disarmed, and our
horses were led behind the ponies Of the
Indians as we moved Off to the east. We
Travelled until about midnight before halt
Ing, and then reached an Indian village on
Soldier creek. As we descended from our
horses, Robinson was led off by two war
riors, while / was conducted to the wig
wan Of Red Trail, sub.chief In COM
mand during Pawnee-killer's absence.
had been busy planning during the ride
and had made up my mind to pretend to
be without the power of speech. | found
opportunity to whisper to Robinson to
pursue the same policy, but unfortunately
he had not the nerve to carry out the idea
The fact Of his being captured broke him
all up. The recollection of what McHenry
must have suffered unstrung his nerves.
and ! heard him begging and entreating
as be was carried away.
Red Trail closely examined the mark on
my face, aud was as much mystihed as the
Others. still had power in reserve.
Having served through the war in the
navy it was but natural that / should
carry sailors passport. On my left arm
was tattoo representing an anchor. This
was seen as two warriors stripped my
buckskin shirt of to look for further
marks. Not an Indian in that camp had
ever seen anything like the mark, and
when the examination had been completed
/ felt sure that was looked upon with
awe and mystery, il not veneration. l was
conducted to tepee and motioned to turn
in, and had every reason to congratulate
myself on the plan had pursued. | had
made signs that could not talk, and the
information had been accepted
Next morning Pawnee-Killer arrived in
the village. He had agreed to surrender
his tribe and 90 on reservation, but it
was bold faced lying on his part. His very
first move was to order the village to pack
up aud move back about twenty miles.
This consumed the entire day. As we were
ready to start received my horse to ride,
and my hands and legs were left entirely
free, saw Robinson brought out, and he
was loaded down with kettles and led by a
rope. AT no time during the day was he
near enough to exchange word, but on
several occasions saw him kicked and
beaten by the squaws and boys,
II was 0 O'Clock in the evening before
was taken into the presence Of Pawnee-
Killer. He seemed to have accepted the
belief OF the others, and in less than a
quarter of an hour waved me out Of his
wigwam. may state here what learned
two or three years after. 1t was the belief
OF the Indians that had been struck by
lightning AS ! slept, and that the fluid had
left the two marks TO prove that was in
vulnerable. They further reasoned that /
lost my speech at the same time, and was
thaH4fOpa AZ phfopt rf 7
in no wise hampered or restricted, but
found shelter rs soon as possible, and was
soon asleep. wanted to do something
for poor Robinson, but just how to do it
could not figure. The treatment accorded
him during the day did not augur well for
the future
When morning came again had hearty
breakfast, and then two old men, armed
with only bows a1l arrows, took me down
the creek about mile and then sat down
on the grass 1t was an hour or two before
| could make out the significance of the
move, but then heard sounds from the
direction of the camp which satisfied me
that Robinson was being put to the torture.
One of my guards soon left for the village,
and an hour later the other suddenly rose,
and without word suddenly walked
away in the same direction Unable to
make up my mind what to do, remained
where ] was during the entire day. In
later years learned from one of the war.
riors of the fate of Robinson. His tortures
lasted nine long hours. He first ran the
gantlet. Then he was tied to a stake, and
every form Of mutilation which the fiends
could invent was practiced on his poor
body. 1t was with great animation that
my informant related how the poor fellow
begged and cried and entreated-what
wonderful vitality he had--how he could
have been preserved an hour or two longer
had not everybody grown tired of the sport.
Itwas Pawnee. Killer himself, fresh from
signing treaty of peace, who exhibited
the most fendish spirit.
] had much closer call than l. knew
The two old men who took me out
doubted that was what the others took
me for. They had some arrows made on
purpose tokill witches and keep off bad
spirits, and they were TO take me off and
see il these arrows would kill me. In go.
ing down the creek'one of;them came near
stepping on rattlesnake, and this was
taken as sign that they must not shoot.
AIan,y