The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-05-15
REBEL BILL"
Early Life and Adventures of
Col. VIM. 5. Smith, Noted
Rebel Scout.
Continued from last week 5

Continued from last week
We only moved short distance, prob
ably two miles, and correlled for the
night. The greatest fear prevailed in
camp on acsS7nt q Jnss5's rash and in
human act It vzs next 50 impossible
10 restore Or,isz sz1 szis-lis and pre-
vent cozrlats a==s-l sri Stauion-
meas q azr azFy-as However
with a s1r1zE y55rss gue-i az ever aT-
proaeh to rs, We maaAse3 10 pass the
night without noiesiadol q harm
Early next morning contrary to the
Indians usual custuia-siz hundred
armed warriors made their appearance
and small delegation was received in
to camp whose spokesman proceeded to
inform us that his people entertained
the most friendly feeling toward US
that they were not necessarily on the
war path, but rather on nilsson Of
peace; that one of our men was IN in
famous murderer, had wantonly shot
and killed one of their squaws without
cause or proyocation; that by their law
murder could only be avenged by the
forfeiture of the life of the murderer
Then continued he, We have come for
him and viii have if it costs the life of
every brave in our tribe but if he is
peaceably surrendered TO us we will
part friends and we will implore the
protection of the great spirit for your
peaceful and prosperous journey. A
consultation was then held between
Reatherford and myself. and later the
whole company was called. There APP
peared to be but one available conclu
sion, and that was to surrender Judd to
the Indians. We had less than one hun
bred fighting men. besides the care of
eTerahamilies;were in word helpless,
hundreds of miles from civilization and
assistance, in the midst of a populous
aud well armed tribe of savages, with
no alternative left but to sacrifice our
own lives for that Of william, or quiet
ly allow him to pay the penalty so rich
" deserved. Notwithstanding, it made
our blood run cold to be reduced to the
inevitable necessity of compliance with
their terms We all felt that but for
our own pride in the matter that to
surrender the wretch who had caused
our trouble into hands less savage than
his own would be inadequate to the
crime he himself had committed.
Judd was man above ordinary in
telligence, and had once been sheriff of
johnson county, Tenn. He had some
good traits of character, but was very
disagreeable companion when angry.
He had fist fight with Capt. FEATHER
ford and also shot and wounded one of
our company some weeks before, but
now when he realized that he was to be
turned over to the savages 10 atone for
him, its enormity with all its hoirdness
doomed up before him, and his piteous
pleas for protection were almost heart
rending but if our disposition had
prompted us, we were totally unable to
render it so he entirely broke down and
piteously bemoaning his fate was led
out and delivered up to the exaultant
savages, who hastily arranged circle
into which Judd was triumphantly
borne; and amid demonical demonstra-
tions of joy, they wrecked a fiendish re-
venge, by leisurely skinning the priso-
ner alive end that, too, right in our own
Mortified presence. Judd wrggled in
their iron grasp like worm in hot en-
bers. His cries of excruciating agony
in death, were beyond human descrip-
ton; and he ceased TO breathe when
only part of his head remained I'M
peeled. The surrender Of Judd insured
lasting peace which was religiously
kept by the Indians They remembered
us with many nc $ Of kindness. If our
cattle were stray led or stolen they would
return them to us at once and always
met US with the greatest manifestation
OF pleasure. 1t also served as gentle
reminder to our boys that human life
was precious thing aud dangerous to
tamler with, even in the shades Of the
rugged Rockies
The remainder of our journey was
made over high arid wastes alternately
descending into fertile valleys below
whose luxurient grass clothed with a
CARPET of rich vendure surroundings
that in some distant age of the past had
been seas of molten lava poured out
from furious volcanic peaks above, and
untold seasons come and gone, had
transformed these fiery lakes into par
adise of living green, an ever welcome
but rarely convenient iepose for our
weary caravan. Nothing more disturbed
or endangered our progress, and in the
latter part of June we pitched our tents