Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-12-05

Escape Through the Windows
seemed Easy Enough, But
a very fair resemblance TO the heads
of the sore We. which had gone. Hasti-
ly repacing the candles on the nails
and the lid over the lower portion of
the coffin, / crept In, and with my
string handles drew 1t over me, hold
ing II down firmly.
My first feeling was one OF ,uffoca-
tion. SO unbearable that my scheme al
ready seemed impossible. Should
have time 10 make an air-holeF
thought, and would seemed easy
enough, but would IL be safe II did,
] resolved 10 try. and pushing my lid
down, reached large gimlet. with
which ] bored some holes at the side.
"A tramping OF feet. and / dropped
the tool. drawing the lid to it's proper
place.
AS the dor latch turned my heart
beat violently. Had they seen N1moyeE
with all my might chung 10 the
I'D. the muscles OF my arms swelling.
my teeth clenched, my breath coming
quick and fast.
THAT was the most agonizing mo-
mcnt Of my life. as ] waited In dread
suspense. all the vitality in my veins
frozen with horror. u ~ Aftl5E tf1.fs
THE sound OF a low. nfonotonouss
voice broke ON my ear. The words
brought the reality OF my awful po-
sltion wildly before me. The priest
was blessing this nnockery OF death!
Al he ceased, the soldiers went TO The
door, OF the adjoining room. Would
they discover the exchangef ] heard
Il open and shut again; they weIe
evidently satisfied was asleep under
my blanket. The coffin was raised:
still chung 10 the lid. fearing II would
slip. hut my grasp was so tight that
the only risk was In the string break
ing.
MY feeling can bc imagined as they
carried me ont oil their shoulders.
these strong men who were prepared
90 shoot me down like dog at day
break.
II knew only too well what wild
plan was pursuing-how mad this at
| tempt to save myself would have
seemed at any other time. But des-
peratIon and acute emergency will
drive one 10 any lengths. and l had
seen so much OF the superstition of
these people.
$50 clung 20 my wretched thread of
| hope. and prayed as never did l'e-
! fore. J did not know where ws,s be-
/ ing taken. Int Judging from the time
+ Il was out Of III, camp.
.'rhc formula vi this militnry night
funeral was familiar TO. me. ! should
4 liz set down at the side of the grave
ON the ropes that would lift and lower
nae. while the priest sprinkled some
more holy water. Then the firing larty
4 would fire and the earth be shoveled
/ In.
Before the steady march ceased |
raised my lid slightly 20 get a good
breath OF fresh air. Then an ABRUPT
| halt, and l was deposited with rather
\ jcrky motions OH the ground.
'''rhe crucial mouent had arrived
/ when a dash for freedom, life and air
1 Should save or end my existence! Ny
last chance. final entreaty To the
! powers above. bracing Of the nerves,
resolution and then
II gripped my string handles tighter.
and with one mighty effort dashed Up
the lid, shrieking wildly In Spanish:
10 soy espritu del su jefe. Escario! Il
am the spirit OF your leader, Escarim.
4 "The lid struck the men violently
soldiers as they were, for whom bull
4 soldlres as they We're. for whom bul-
let's had no terror, they started back
covering and white, consumed with
superstitious dread ut this weird res.
! direction.
whether they believed indeed l was
1 their fallen chief. or n devil bursting
from bonds, know not. for in the
4 twinkling of an eye was away under
cover of the night. Before they had
time to consider, the phantom vanish