The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-03-25
?REEMASONS AMONG INDIANS.
Sign Made by Army officer Tied to the
Stake Saved Him from
Torture.

MAJ. T.. SOOpcI, W
tary headquarters at Chicago, recently
related an experience through which ne
passed while on the western frontier that
possesses more than passing interest,
says the Chicago Chronicle. During
nearly 40 years Of travel and exploration
in all parts of South America to Alaska,
have had many thrilling experiences
and many narrow escapes from DEATH
said Maj Cooper.
1.-The memories of one instance are
particularly vivid. 1t was in the early
'70's, and l was carrying on my investi-
cations among the ruins left by the cliff
builders. 1t was just across the Colo
RADIO border, in Utah, and l was alone
and miles from any white man, when
suddenly was surrounded by tribe of
Piute Indians and taken captive.
81 was well acquainted with the saw
age characteristics of this renegade
tribe and knew what was in store for
me- 1t was their custom to bind their
captive, stand him on pile of fagCts
against a resinous scrub pine tree, and
then amuse themselves by shooting ar
rows at him, coming as close to the vic
tim as possible without hitting him.
When the Indians had tired of inf1icting
torture the flames were lighted, and that
was the beginning of a horrible death.
81 have never been afraid of death, but
did not fancy the methods, so | began
to think faster than had ever done be-
fore. I could see no possible way Of es-
cape, but was not intending to give UP
without an effort. The old quotation
about the power of music to soothe the
savage breast came to my mind, and ]
| started to sing as loudly as / could.
| Naraguaynuop, the chief, stood by and
| laughed at me, and / knew that the music
| trick was no good. Meanwhile the
| bloodthirsty savages were using their
tomahawks industriously and the pile of
fire wood was growing. My feet were
| bound, but when they approached me to
pinion my arms to my side l used the
last resort, vain. though 1 supposed it to
| be- l gave the grand hailing sign and
| the sign of DISTRESS of the master ma
sons, an appeal to which any mason is
bound to respond when there is an even
chance that his life will not be sacrificed.
Hardly had given the sign when the
old chief threw up his arms, gave COM
mand to his men and took me into his
own tent That night he stole with me
from the camp and told me to escape. l
walked some distance up one canyon and
then retraced my steps, walking back
| ward l repeated this trick in second
canyon and then walked backward up
a third canyon, where 1 found my horse.
| This was not the only tune that the ma
sonic sign has been of great service to
me and wherever have travelled have
| always found someone who recognized
and responded to -"
The day after the publication Of the
| above incident in a Milwaukee paper a
reporter called upon w. w. Perry, grand
secretary of the grand masonic lodge of
Wisconsin, and asked him what he
knew of the existence of freemasonry
among the savage tribes Of the country.
They have no lodges that know of !"
said he, land 1 don't know where they
got their masonry, but some of the In
| dams are good masons. l remember
having heard similar stories of narrow
escapes from death and disaster by
white men making themselves known as
masons. Maj. Cooper's was good story,
and he had q narrow escape.
'The story goes to show that masonry
is a worldwide institution said DR..
w. NJ. Wilson. Many years ago they
brought ship load of slaves to New Or
leans and when one Of them was put up
on the block to be auctioned OF he made
the masonic hailing sign He was taken
down from the block, examined and
found to be a mason. He was not sold
into slavery, but purse was raised by
New Orleans masons to purchase his
freedom and he was sent back to Africa. +"