The Punta Gorda herald., 1915-09-23
A. SCOUTS
ESCAPE
BY M. QUAD
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate

During the Indian troubles which
was attached to various western forts
and camps as scout and dispatch rider
and in that capacity had my full share
of adventures. 1t was my fortune OF
misfortune almost ut the oaltset of my
career to strike the Sioux u blow
which made them forever after hungry
for my life.
1t soon became known among the
Sioux what had happened, and every
branch of the tribe swore to have my
life. A reward of ten ponies was Offer.
ed to any one who @ould kill me and
twenty If | We're taken diive. | was
advised by every one to clear out of
that locality, but | refused to go till
the long expected war finally broke
out. and l was attached to moving
column.
/ was finally made a prisoner under
singular circumstance. | was return
ing from the flying column to Fort
Wallace with dispatches. | had set
out soon after dark and made q good
twenty-five miles when heavy fog
settled on the plains. 1t wouldn't have
! bothered an Indian to keep the points
! of the compass, but after turned and
twisted among some dry ravines l had
to own up that was lost Ny horse
was just as badly off. When | gave
him his head he came to stop. TIE
only thing to do was to dismount and
wait for daylight. was sitting on the
ground. not feeling n bit sleepy. and
my horse was lying down when a.band
of thirty-seyen Indians. all mounted.
walked right on to me through the fog.
l heard the footsteps of their horses.
but could not locate them In the fog
until too late. When | leaped up 1t
was with the thought that l might
make break for 1t on foot. but before
could turn they were all about me.
and in another minute was made
prisoner.
The Indians were as much surprised
as I was. and 1t was broad daylight
before they identified me. Up to that
time they had treated me fairly well.
When it was known was the scout
whose life they had so long thirsted
after half dozen bucks tried their
best to tomahawk me on the spot. but
were restrained.
When their anger had cooled down
there was as much rejoicing as if they
had captured fort. Six warriors were
called out as guard. and soon after
sunrise | was put in their charge and
started for big Sioux village on Deer
creek, between the two forks of the
Republican river. l was. of course,
disarmed. Then my elbows were tied
together and my feet fled under the
horse. and for fear the horse would |
run off with me he was led by lariat |
When we reached the village | was
put In tepee and my aT.-s unbound.
1t was the third day vAer my cap
rure before | was disturbed. Then.
most of the warriors having returned |
to the village on purpose to witness my
death, was led out at o'clock In the
afternoon to undergo the preliminary
to actual torture This is running the
gantlet.
/ got ready as well as | could, and
when the signal came | sprang away
at the top of my speed. Blow after
blow fell upon me as the Savages shout
ed their delight. and. to my great sur
prise. l at length reached the end.
There l fell In heap. and they gave
me ten minutes to brace up for the
run back. made only half the dis
tanee this time. being struck such a
blow over the head with a club that
sank down unconscious. When | had
recovered my senses they returned me
to the lodge. where l lay for many
hours, expecting to be taken out any
moment for torture. They would have
finished me but for the fact that the
wife of Little Feather. who was In
another village fifty miles away. had
not yet arrived. She wanted to be In
at the death.
The squaw arrived soon after mid
night My ankles were tightly lashed. t
and could not sleep
Half an hour after daylight the VII
lage was astir. and at sunrise "a squaw
brought me some breakfast. and the !
lashings around my ankles were cast ,
or. learned several years after that J
It was intended to oblige me to run the ,
gantlet again. ! was eating the meal
the squaw had brought when sud j
den excitement arose outside. There
was great shouting. followed by
cheers and the report of firearms. and
the next minute the 200 frontiersmen
who had been raised in Kansas and
>"hraska rs NJ lndcncndcnt force
into the village. 1t was a
complete surprise to the Indians. but !
not for long. 1t wasn't FIVE minutes
before the fleeing warriors rallied for
1efense. but before that time was
safe. AT the first alarm sprang up
md ran out of the lodge full against
me OF the guards. and as I ran | was
ired at two or three times. was
With the horsemen in minute or two.
ma after bit l got rifle and took
IN active part in the hot fight going
III. We were driven Off after couple
II hours. but we got every pony in the
lerd and burned all the lodges, and
hey had many a dead warrior to
MOURN over.