Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-03-03

from the stupor OF unconsciousnesa
Jack found himself tenderly cared for
by some of the townspeople who knew
him, but unable even then to explain
what had occurred Fever set in, and
for several weeks he lowered between
life and death, constantly raving in the
delirium of Tom, calling for him, be
seeching him not to stay behind.
The Apaches had been driven back
but were not completely subdued. Blu,
as soon as Jack was able to tell his ter.
rible story a rescuing party was or
ganized and hurried to Seven Mile
Canyon with all the speed which was
prudent.
"At first no trace of Tom could b.
found. Then behind q rock was dis
covered a pile Of cartridge shells, ant
finally down in a little gully the skele
ton Of a man lying face downward up
On the ground, one end of q rode TIED
about the neck, the other attached to Q
stake driven deep into the ground
Alongside was a fairylike skeleton fas
tened by q thong Of rawhide to thu
same stake.
From these mute witnesses those
familiar with Apache methods wert
able to imagine the awful fate which
had overtaken poor Tom.
This Is what must have happened
Taking cover behind q rock Tom hae
held the Indians in check as long as pos
sible by pegging away every time q red
skin gave him the opportunity to make
Dne of his dead shots. AS the ammuni
ton ran low they gathered closer abOu
him.
TO Tom-brave, heroic Tom-thai
plished. Jack was safe on the road te
Dolores
He must have been surprised ant
overpowered at the end, for he would
certainly have reserved a last shot fol
himself rather than brave Indian tor
ture. How they took him prisoner one
does not know, but having suffered
such severe loss at the ranch and in til,
canyon it is natural 10 suppose that th'
Apaches were wild with rage. Nothin,
could be too devilish torture to infiic
upon Tom.
They tied his hands behind him, tiet
his feet, and taking him down into the
sandy gully laid him on his face upor
the ground, fastened him by rop'
around his neck to the stake.
In this part of Arizona rattlesnake.
are more than numerous-they simply
swarm. 1t was the work OF a moment
to catch big snake by means of lOol
Of cord at the end Of pole and to tie
him by a piece of rawhide through the
tail to the same stake which imprisoned
Tom.
The snake, thinking itself free, tried
to crawl away, found itself held by the
-awhide. and, savage with anger, strucb
at the nearest thing, which was-poo,
Toms face.
.But-mark the fiend;shness of the
torture-the snake could not quite reach
rCm.
The rope was just long enough &c
prevent the reptile from touching him
not long enough but that Tom must
feel the agoniZing possibility of being
bitten
again and again the snake struck
but fell short. Poor Tom! Parched with
thirst, hungry, baked by the sun, taunt
ed by his captorS, what must have been
his thoughts, Did he not feel that
friendship had cost him too dear?'
My God! it's too awful to contem
plate-"
He must have been tempted to era wi
near the snake and end it all"
Finally the shower counted upon by
the Apaches came. 1t refreshed both
the snake and the man, put-rne eIec'
of moisture upon the hempen rope was
to shrink it!
Can you understand? Can you SEQ
poor Tom, digging his toes into the
sand, holding back with might and
main as the pressure of the rope slowly
brought him nearer and nearer to hi:
ate?
Upon the rawhide the rain had q
different effect 1t stretched it-length
ened it.
The snake, feeling invigorated by
he rain, again tried to crawl away.
Again it was held back: again. angry
and vindictive. it struck at Tom, this
time a little nearer his face-and again
closer, as Tom, despite his superhuman
effort, was being pulled toward tbs
stake by the shortening rope.
AT last the snake struck home.
Can you imagine the awful agony
The lingering death, the bones-picked
by the vultures? Brave, noble Tom,
who died to save a friend-bah! how
this smoke gets into ones eyes"
1t was not the smoke that troubled
the ranchman's eyes-his cigar had long
since gone out.
In the dead silence which followed
ais thoughts, to judge by his expression
were far away. d.
BY Jove, that was a man. eJaculat
I'd the Idiot. Did you know Tom?-
ach.' for Just then the cowboy caught
him a most beautiful kick on the shin.
IL" said the ranchman, huskily, Il
was ack."-New York Tribune.