The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-09-09
Thompson's Scalp.


Historical Society, and The indisputa.
BILE proof is wrinkled scalp in her
meticslly sealed case. lis one of the
curiosities in the Museum Of the Oma-
ha Public Library.
The scalp once adorned the head of
William Thompson, and was torn from
its natural resting place in an Indian
attack on the employees Of the Union
Pacific Railway August 6, 1867. The
attack was made short distance from
the present site of Kearney, Neb.,
and in that city lives Noses H. Syden-
ham, veteran journalist, who printed
the first newspaper in the State, and
he is the authority for the authenti-
city of the incident.
In personal interview Thompson
described TO Mr.. Sydenham his sensa-
tions while the scalping knife of the
savages was removing tbs scalp.
Thompson was one of the five men
ordered out Of the Plum Creek Sta
tion on August TO repair the telo.
graph line short distance from Kear-
ney. On the afternoon Of the folloy"
in day they encountered the ssvages.
The first suggestion Of danger was
pile of ties On the railroad track.
"They had no sooner stopped the
hand car, eaid'Mr. Sydenham, ethan
rifle shots were heard and bullets
whizzed by them. The prairie grass
along the Platte River seemed alive
with Indians, all in war paint. These
rushed upon the five linemen, who
aimed few shots at the Indians and
then ran for cover.
"a shot from one of the pursuers
hit Thompson in the right arm, but.he
kept on running. Finally he was
felled with blow from tomahawk.
For moment he lay stunned, and
then he recovered sufficiently to real
ize what the Indian was doing. He
determined to remain perfectly quiet
and to this decision he probably owed
his life.
with the deftness Of an expert
Thompson said, the savage grabbed
my scalp look in one hand, cutting
around it again ana again until the
edges of the skin were loosened. Then
he tore it free. The sensation was
shout the same as if some one had
passed hot iron over my head. AZ
ter the air touched the wound the pain
was almost uncomfortable. I never felt
| anything that hurt 80 much. had to
bite my tongue to keep from putting
my hand on the wound. | wanted to
see how much of the top of my head
was left.
"The Indian left Thompson and
hurried on in pursuit of the others.
| Just as he turned to 60 he tucked the
hair of the scalp under his girdle. In
his hurry it was inseourely fastened
and fell into the grass. The piece of
scalp was just about as big as mans
hand. In the distance the Indians
pursued the flying linemen. just as
Thompson prepared to crawl into the
grass he was roughly seized, hand
olutohed his hair agsin, and once more
he felt the knife. He felt that an
other Indian was soalping him. AZ
ter removing couple Of inches Of the
scalp the Indian rushed on.
'To the pain Of the wounds was
soon added the torture Of thirst.
Thompson felt dizzy end unable to
rise. He heard the Indians moving
near him. He Icy perfectly still and
saw that q freight train was approach
ing in the distance. The Indians had
placed ties on the track. Thompson
dared not Gag the train, ~k;eh vas
steadily approaching. It crashed in
to the ties and the Indians surround
ed the defenceless train Grew. Sever.
al cars and the engine were derailed.
The Indians found barrel Of whisky
among the freight and as darkness
came on Thompson heard their fren-
zied yells. They fred the derailed
cars, and from the grass Thompson
saw the fireman and engineer thrown
into the flames.
"In the darkness Thompson picked
up the scalp Ind crawled away. He
met resouing party from Omaha in
the morning. The charred bodies of
the fireman and the engineer were
taken from the debris and conveyed to
Omaha. None Of the other linemen
or members Of the train crew could be
found. They we're never heard Of
again.
"When Thompson arrived in Oma.
L n 4. Il . Y