Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-06-04
FOURTH OF JULY SCENE
Indian Massacre to Be Re-en.
acted by Survivors.
THRILLING ABDUCTION FEATURE.

and sham Battle Will Close the
wild Spectacle.
On July 4 or at an early date after
ward If postponed on account of bad
weather the people OF the Colorado val
ley in western Texas will assemble at
Apache Crossing for the purpose OF re-
enacting one OF the widest, most cruel
and exciting scenes that ever occurred
in an Indian camp in the hope Of max
ing the rising generation familiar with
the trials and hardships that their IA
theirs and mothers had TO endure on
the frontier in early times. says a spe-
cial correspondent of the Cincinnati
Enquirer at Austin, Tex.
There will be an Indian camp. and
painted warriors. with streamin
plumes, mounted on gayly caparisoned
mustangs, will ride over the plains.
Fires will be lit, and prisoners dashed
to the stake will be tortured in mimic
glee in harmless flames. while their
shrieks mingle with the savage yells OF
dancing COmanches. A surprise and Il
sham battle will close the wild scene
as a balloon sails away toward the
clouds with a mysterious prisoner
writing in a network Of ropes beneath
1t.
During the last days of June. 1S49,
the COmanches made a raid on the
Texas frontier, and after a series of
bold depredatiOns they carried several
prisoners Off into captivity.
The last cabin the red flends sur
prised was filed with wedding guests.
On that evening Miss SaIlie DOrnwell
was to be married to FoXmart King
don, a gallant young ranger. The
happy bridal party was Just entering
the room TO appear before the aged
minister, who was present to perform
the wedding ceremony, when an arrow
whistled through a window and the
warwhoop OF the savages burst upon
the ears of the startled guests.
A desperate battle ensued, but the
red fiends had come in overwhelming
numbers, and the whites were forced
into the forest, leaving the old preach
er and many others lying Iifeless in
their blood. The bridegroom fell at the
door in front of his BRIDE severely
wounded. and comrades dragged him
away. In the smoke and dust the girl
in her bridal robes became separated
from the man she loved. After firing
d
an AK, and, planting herself at the door
OF exit for the overwhelmed guests, she
defended the wounded until she was
knocked senseless and bound. The In
dians hurriedly retreated to their
strongholds in the mountains of the
Colorado. where they at once made
preparations to have a great war dance
celebrating their victory. Runners
were sent TO other branches of the
tribe inviting them to come and wit
ness the torture OF prisoners.
AS soon as the whites could collect
their forces the Indians were pursued
over the broad trail, which they had
left crimsoned with the blood of their
captives. A brutal renegade who had
formerly been employed at the frontier
posts TO make observations from a bal
loon was at that time with the Indi-
ans. He had committed u series OF re-
voting crimes and was eager to do any
deviltry in order to win the protection
OF the chief.
This monster put 1t into the heads OF
the Comanches to send some of the
captives to the clouds dashed to 4 fire
balloon which he had stolen from the
government. The idea pleased Buffalo
Hump, who was an incarnate fiend
July 4, 1910, the white mans big no
work day" was set for the great war
dance and the torture and massacre OF
prisoners. Streams of bowling savages
poured into the camp, and the morning
of the eyentful day was spent in max
ing strong young men and pretty girls
run the gantlet. Prisoners dashed to
stakes could hear the exultant shouts
of the savages as they beat and
dragged the exhausted captives about
the camp, and they listened in fear and
hope for the shouts of their friends
1t had been n day of horror, and the
hearts of the captives were beating
slow in their boSoms. The sun was
slowly sinking. The merciless rene
gade had inflated his balloon, and
twenty prisoners-men and women,
boys and girls - had been dashed TO
stakes planted in a great circle about
the swaying balloon. Sallie Dornwell,
still wearing some OF her bridal robes,
was torn from among her companions
and dragged to the inhuman renegade.
He bound her hard and fast 10 the
kissing balloon. Naked squaws stood
ready with blazing torches eager to
set the flames TO roaring at the feet Of
the captives. The shrieks and screams
of women and children mingled with
sobs and farewells.
The ropes that held the balloon were
cut and the flames lit. 4 wall OF de-
spair rose upon the winds. and as the
poor girl tied to the fire ship rose above
the tree tops a rife shot echoed through
the forest, and the next moment the
laH in, fI,n
an earthquake. Texans on foot and
Texans on foaming horses. with gleam-
ing blades and no mercy in their eyes.
swooped upon the doomed camp and
the slaughter began. The Indians were
surprised and paralyzed With terror.