Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-08-15
Democratic Northwest.
AMI HENRY COUNTY NEWS.
WILLIAMS ESCAPE.

Archibold Williams occupies uni
que positionin the history Of the south
west. He was once captive in the
hands of the Apache Indians and is
one of the very few persons who es-
capped from captivity, He is altogeth-
er a most singular and interesting
character. He is 81 years old. He
lives in a log cabin 2erched at the base
of Cave mountains, in the northwest
ern portion of Arkansas. 1t is lone
ly spot. The mountains tower above
the house, shutting out the light of
day. On one SIDE is forest of pine
so thick and dense that it can scarce
ly be penetrated. On the other side
there Is a wall of solid rock nearly
60 feet high. A bride patti leads
away from the main road on the
mountains down to the rustic abode.
Williams was born on a farm near
Springfield, Ills. When the war
broke out, he entered the Federal
army with his two brothers-Thom-
as and Jonathan. The trio served
until the close Of hostilities, and in
1870 drifted westward. They fol-
lowed mining and quickly became
experts in that line and were known
in all the mining camps from Colo
RADIO to Nevada In the spring of
1872, while camped in the Sweet
water country of Wyoming, two min
ers came to their camp, bringing
quantity of gold dust and relating
wonderful story. Eight or ten
moths before they had secretly pene.
trated into the interior of Arizona
and had discovered gold mine on
the Colorado river, near the mouth
of a canyan, where they had remain
ed for months taking out the dust.
The ccoQnt-ryy swarmed with Apache
Indians. Thhaee was not single
white settlement within 200 miles OF
the mines. The two miners worked
much of the time at night. To reach
the mines they had walked hundreds
of miles, carrying supplies on their
backs. Although the supply of gold
was still plentiful, the dread OF the
Indians caused them to abandon the
mines, travel speedily and secretly
across country and put themselves
again in touch with civilization.
They had been virtually prisoners for
nearly eight months.
In April, 1872, the Williamses
started for the abandoned mines
They travelled overland hundreds Of
miles through an isolated country
1t was a terrible journey, but the
brothers made it in safety, and actu-
ally succeeded in finding the mines.
The diggings were located along the
mouth of a magnificent canyon,
which opened into Colorado river,
and at spot where the isolation and
seclusion made all the surroundings
seem strange and weirdlike.
Less than three weeks after their
arrival the three brothers were
surprised one morning at daybreak
by the Apaches and taken prisoners.
Tom and Jonathan were both fatally
wounded. That day Tom was burned
at the stake at point so miles north
of the scence of the capture. His
unfortunate brothers were witnesses
of his execution. 1t was this and
subsequent events that turned Archt.
bald Williams hair from black tc
white inside of 48 hours. Jonathan
was burned on the following evening
at the Indian village, still farther
north, amid scenes of shocking cruel
ty. That night Archibald made hi'
escape. The squaw who had beer
placed to guard him while the popu-
lation of the village assisted at thu
living cremation of his brother stol'
away to take part in the jollificatlon
and In her absence he succeeded il
freeing himself from the thong
which bound him. He crawled for I
mile, then ran like madman acros'
the sterile plains, not knowing wher'
he was going. He had long laria
about his waist and q knife which b