Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-02-12
puLLEn or hAIa eY AAIR.
A Remarkable story Of Indian Cruelty 80
peytndueed By Jealousy.

/ A Remarkable Story OF Indien Nfe0itS
perinduced By Jealousy.
living near this town is a woman
vboae prefectly bald head tells curious
story Of jealousy and Indian cruelty Ia
1859 Oswald Thurwald, Swedish farm
sr. had a home in the territory close 70
the Texas border, and his family con-
sisted of his wife, two daughters ana q
sou. The Indians seemed friendly, pass
ing over the Thurwalds even when slay-
ing the other settlers about and ire
ouenting their place to sell their wares
and to purchase such goods as Ihur-
valid brought out from the states Tor
barter. He was rapidly growing rlch
and had made his preparations to move
TO Dallas, where he intended to extend
his business, when the tragedy occurred
that destroyed his home and scattered
his family,
II seems that the chief Of the Tonkaws
Indians, who visited that part OF tne
country from the south on raiding ex'
peditions, had seen Elsa the elder
daughter, and fancying her eaerad 70
buy her Of her father DbI ThufNsloI
though foLd 6f money, refdssd; Wliign
gave great offense 10 the ch,efl Rsturfi'
ing home; he melted his people against
the Thurwalds, and tho following spring
they made ai attack ch him. de ana
his son succeeded in escaping, but the
wife and yonhger daughter though they
eluded capture the first few days, were
overtaken finally. Mrs. Thurwald sank
under the fatigue of her fight through
a rugged country, and when the Indians
came up with them il was to lind 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 III
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 unit. The
men should have returned from the war
trail.
In the meantime the Kickapoos de-
clared war on the Tonkawas and raided
the village, when Elsa Thurwald was
carried off with such Of the Indian
women as were spared as slaves. The
Tonkawas, on returning, found the
smoking remains Of the house and
started after the despoilers. overtakiDg
them close TO the Colorado, where an
obstinate battle ensued. 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. Tnis brought on quarrel,
which was terin.4Ited by hand TO
hand fight between the rivals, resulting
in the chief of the Tnnkawas being
killed and the bone Of contention fall.
ing TO the victor.
He carried her home and confided heI
to the care of his sluaw with the injunc
ton that If she We're injured n amy way
the life Of the woman would lay f.. it,
But, fired by jealousy for Ter successor
| the woman took advantage II hcr lords
absence TO wreak her vengeance Oh the
detested object. Binding her to tree.
she deliberately pnlled out the unfor.
tunate beauty's hair thread by thread
This torture lasted several hours, until
the white woman's head was covered
with blood and she shrieking with agony
When the chief returned and learned
what had occurred, he ordered the witch
burned at the stake. She escaped into
the bush, but was recovered aud the
sentence executed Thurwald had now
died, but L.- son, hearing OF his sister
being Ia the hands Of the Indians, organ.
lied a rescuing party and succeeded in
liberating her after ls months Of captiy.
ity Hes head took weeks 10 heal, and
Il is thought her mind was affected by
her savage treatment, though Ia 1875 she
married "A farmer Ia this vicinity. Her
hair has never grown again, n,-Oklahoins
Letter in Philadelphia TimeA