Evening journal., 1893-10-04
PULLED our AAlR BY HAIR.
a Remarkable story OF Indian Cruelty SUI
ncriuducpd i, .fealousv.


perinduced bs Jealousy.
Living near this town is q woman
whose prefectly bald head tells curious
story of jealousy and Indian cruelty. In
1859 Oswald Thurvald, Swedish farm
er, had home in the territory close to
the Texas border, and his family con-
sisted of his wife, two daughters and
son. The Indians seemed friendly, pass
ing over the Thurwalds even when slay-
ing the other settlers about and fire.
quenting their place to sell their wares
and to purchase such goods as Thur
wald brought out from the states for
barter. He was rapidly growing rich
and had made his preparations to move
to Dallas where he intended to extend
his business, when the tragedy occurred
that destroyed his homo and scattered
his family.
It seems that the chief Of the Tonkawa
Indians, who visited that part of the
country from the south on raiding ox-
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, he melted 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, though they
eluded capture the FIRST few days, We're
overta1en finally. Mrs. Thurwald sank
under the fatigue Of her flight 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 in the presence of
her sister, who had been seized and held
from the moment Of the attack till now.
She was taken to village and given
into the charge Of the squaws until the
men should have returned from the war
trail.
In tho meantime the Kickapoos de-
clarcd war on the TonEawas and raided
the village. when Elsa Thurwald was
carried off with such of the Indian
women as We're spared as slaves. The
Tonkawas, on returning, found the
smoking remains of the house and
started after the despoilers, overtaking
them close TO the Colorado, where an
obstinate battle ensued, but both side.
then consented to a truce. The chief oi
the Kickapoos, however, stipulated
that the white woman should be giveI
him. This was opposed by tho Tonka
wa chieftain, who claimed her by righ
Of priority. This brought on quarrel
which was terminated by n hand q
hand fight between the rivals, resultin,
, in the chief of the Tonkawas beinl
killed and the bone of contention fall
ing to the victor.
He carried her home and confided he
to the care Of his squaw with the injunc
ton that if she were injured in any wa,
the life of the woman would pay for il
D But, fired by jealousy for her successor
the woman took advantage Of her lord
absence TO wreak her vengeance on tn
I detested object Binding her TO a tree
she deliberately pulled out the unfoi
tunate beautys hair thread by thread
This torture lasted several hours, unit
the white woman's head was covere
with blood and she shrieking with agony
When the chief returned and learne
what had occurred, he ordered the witc
g burned at the stake. She escaped int
the bush, but was recovered and til
sentence executed. Thurwald had no.
9 died, but his son, hearing Of his siste
being in the hands Of the Indisns, organ
/, lied q rescuing party and succeeded
. lberating her after l8 months of capti'
a ity Her head took weeks to head, an
e it is Thought her mind was affected b
s her savage treatment, though in 1915 st
married a farmer in this vicinity. III,
hair has never grown again.
Letter in Philadelphia Times.