Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-05-23

awe were all greatly alarmed the
remainder of the night, but Tom
looked upon 1t as a joke and declared
that he declared that he was only too
glad to prove to US that he bad meant
what he had said when be announced
his intention to kill the first red
devil we came across We all slept
upon our rifles as precaution against
surprise. but as the hours wore on to-
ward morning and nothing inter-
rupted the silence of the night we
were convinced that the late intru-
ders we're only stray indians and that
we we're at safe distance from any OF
their great camps. However, those
of us, who could dos snatched a little
nap now and then, but Tom slept on
in blissful igorance of the horrible
to- morrow that awaited him.
sAs the first streaks of dawn shot
across the sky there came a terrific
shout from the hill above. We
sprang to our feet, grasped our
rifles, and. looking up, saw an innum-
cradle host of Indians pouring down
upon us, seemingly springing from
every bush, even from the ground
itself. We prepared to die game
When we were completely sur
rounded and their chief and couple
of braves approached us we learned
they were Nez Perces and spoke a
mongrel and Indian dialect to under
stand with difficulty. We made him
interpreter and learned that the In
dian Tom had SO wantonly shot was
the favorite daughter of one of the
braves and that the tribe meant us
no harm if we would surrender the
murderer. If we did not they would
at once stampede our cattle and
horses and doubtless annihilate US all
in half hours's time. We, must,
then, give our poor Tom to mercilese
foes or everyone Of us succumb. II
was terrible alternative. Some had
wives, sweethearts, mothers, children
praying for them in humble homes
away back east and they were limo.
cent of this Indian girls death. Even
to try and save Tom would be mad
act, for we should all fall together in
the fruitless attempt. We discussed
the dreadful situation q few moments
and decided we must relinquish our
merry hearted young companion, II
the chief would promise neither &c
kill nor torture the young prisoner,
for we professed belief that the
chief would keep his word, once
given.
'Our terms we're accepted and Tom
produced from his hiding place under
q wagon cover. He pleaded piteous-
ly TO remain, but we reassured hin
that he would be unharmed and held
only as a hostage; that we would get
United States soldiers to reclaim hin
as soon as we could get in communi-
cation with the nearest fort. THAI
was all the consolation we could give
the poor fellow.
"A half hour after the last savage
head had disappeared over the hill
top the morning air was rent witt
such heartrending screams that mo-
one of that band of pilgrims who
heard it can forget while he lives
| 1t seemed about an hour that thu
frightful sound continued with hearts
paralyzed with horror and fear, W.
we're compelled to listen to them. A
last they grew weaker and fainter
then ceased altogether, and coupl'
of the Indians appeared upon tn
rocks above and waved their hand
as If to let us know their deed, what
ever it had been, was done. Thel
! they were off to scenes of fresl
atrocities.
AN hour later we managed to mus
, ter sufficient courage to mount tn
, hill and look down where the Indian
evidently had just abandoned camp
! The scene that greeted our eyes wa
} APPALLING. There, fastened to a stake
} with throngs was the body of Tom
) scarlet mass Of flesh scienti6call
/ skinned alive from the top Of his hea'
to his toe tips. With sickened heart
$ and trembling hands we managed t
9 unfasten the trongs We procure
! blankets and used all the lard we ha
. to case the flesh. We poured all th
Q brandy we had down the sufferer
J. throat, but he never spoke. He coul
g not. He fell into sleep that ende
v in death two hours later