The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-19
HE WAS RIDING WITHOUT SAD.
DIE OR Birdie.


There did not a2Sear to be one
chance in a hundred for Hall to escape,
but the village had no sooner become
quiet than he began to plan. He was
SO triced up that it was impossible to
free himself. He worked at his lash
ings for an hour or so. and then gave
up the attenlpt.
He knew the situation of the village
and the country around it, and he
finally decided that his opportunity
would come next daX. when taken out
to run the gauntlet. No matter what
the lest OF the programme was this
portion or s)reface was never omitted
The Indians seemed to get more amuse-
menl out of it than any other part.
When morning came Halls arms
We're cast loose and he WAS 0roVided
with hearty breakfast. The Indians
knew he was game, and they wanted
him to keep his full strength and last
as long as possible. He had also an
object in view, and ate all they brought
HIM,
1t was about O'Clock when he was
taken out to run the gauntlet All his
lashings were cast off, a rope tied
around his waist -aRd-he- was exercised
for 10 minutes to Timber him up. There
were about 400 bucks in the lines as
they were presently formed. In most
instances the warriors are allowed to
strike with clubs, the handles of toma-
hawks or hickory bows. but in this case
only switches were used.
Hall was a swift runner, and his plan
was to make a bolt as soon as he reach
ed the west end of the line. To his
chagrin he found a dozen mounted war
riors placed to head off any such at
tempt. He made it. however. Running
down the lines at the top of his speed
and receiving a cut from almost every
warrior as he passed, he broke out on
the prairie and ran for his life The
pursuing Indians could have killed him,
but the idea was reca pture. He got two
fI1I1 miles and dndOe6
for an hour before this was accom-
plished. He was then made to pass UP
and down the lines four times. after
which he was returned to the tepee for
an hours rest. Being stark naked, every
blow of the switches had raised welt
and he was SCARED from head TO heel.
The next move on the programme was
to bind him to a tree and throw knives
and toma hawks at him The idea was TO
torture his mind. but some of the wea-
pons slightly wounded him, and those
who threw them were laughed at as
bunglers. Hall won the admiration of
all the warriors by his display of nerve
during the trying ordeal.
AT noon he was taken back to the
lodge and given another hearty meal.
and an hour later was brought out to
be tied to the stake. Before this had
been accomplished an old buffalo bull
pursued by wolves dashed into the herd
of ponies about half a mile away and
started panic and a stampede. There
were 600 ponies in the herd, and they
made straight for the village, and so
sudden was the alarm that for the mo-
ment everybody was upset
The genera idea was that an attack
was being made by the soldiers, and
there was s. lush in every direction for
weapons f3sll and his guards were
knocked down like ten-Dins. but the
instant he was free he rose up among
the horses and ran with them, Yelling
to keep them going. He was carried
alo--y for a mile or more. and then
suddenly caught sight of his OWE mule.
She was as obedient to his whistle Is
a dog, and he was soon on her back. 1t
was not until the herd had covered a
distance of five miles that the panic
subsidized, and this gave Hall a long
start He was riding without saddle
or bride but that was no trick for a
scout. he headed away for Fort Wal
lace and though pursued to within
mile of the post he got in safely. HIS
pursuers numbered fifty, and some of
them urged their ponies to such speed
that the animals dropped exhausted
and were abandoned within sight of
-,.a fort.
After the red men had been thor
oughly whipped and forced back to
their reservation, Hall and a comrade
one day met four Chevennes who were
out hunting All four recognized Hall
at once. as all were in the lines when
he ran the gauntlet, and two of them
had hold of his arms. when the starn-
pede occurred They sat down for a
smoke. and after inquiring about Ro-
man Nose and Blackbird the scout OBJ
served.
you were having lots of fun with
me that day and 1 have always felt
sorry that I had to leave you so sud
denlv- It must have been quite dis
appointment to you not to help in my
torture. The fagots were there and
the fire all ready to light when had
| business elsewhere
! Had the fort been a mile further