The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-08-06
A SCOUTS
ESCAPE
By M. QUAD
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.

| was attached TO various western TORT
and camps as scout and dispatch ride
and In that capacity had my full share
OF adventures. 1t was my fortune OF
misfortune almost at the outset of IN,
career to strike the Sioux 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 would kill me and
twenty IL / were taken alive. / was
advised by every one to clear out of
| that locality, but | refused to go till
the long expected war finally broke
| out, and I was attached to a moving
| column.
I was finally made a prisoner under
singular circumstances. | was return
ing from the flying column to Fort
Wallace with dispatches. | had set
out soon after dark and made a 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 l turned and
twisted among some dry ravines ] had
to own up that / was lost. My horse
was Just as badly off. When | gave
him his head he came to a stop. The
only thing to do was to dismoInt and
wait for daylight. / was sitting on the
ground, not feeling bit sleepy, and
my horse was lying down when band
of thirty-seven 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 it
was with the thought that | might
make break for it 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 l was, and it was broad daylight
before they identified me Up to that
time they had treated me fairly well.
When 1t was known I 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 IL they
had captured fort. Six warriors were
called out as a guard, and soon after
sunrise was put in their charge and
started for a 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 tied under the
horse, and for fear the horse would |
run Off with me he was led by a lariat |
When we reached the village ! was
put In tepee and my arms unbound.
IL was the third day after my cap. |
ture before I was disturbed. Then.
most OF the warriors having returned |
TO the village on purpose TO witness my
death, was led out at 3 o'clock In the
afternoon TO undergo the preliminary
to actual torture. This is running the
gantlet.
l 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
cd their delight, and, to my great sur
prise, l at length reached the end.
There ! fell in heap. and they gave
me ten minutes 10 brace up for the
run back. l made only half the dis
lance this time, being struck such n
blow over the head with a club that
sank down unconscious. When l had
my senses they returned me
TO the lodge, where j lay for many
hours, expecting TO be taken ont any (,
moment for torture. They would have
finished me but for the fact that the A..
wife OF Little Feather who was In +,
mother village fifty miles away. had !
hot yet arrived. She wanted TO be in
II the death.
The souaw arrived soon after mid
light. Ny ankles were tightly dashed, [
md could not sleep. i
Half an hour after daylight the vii |
age was astir. and az sunrise a squaw 2
lfNuEhA nv >oLnt bItihihHAt Auh Tue
ashings around my ankles were cast !
n. / learned several years after that
, was intended 10 oblige me 10 run the !,
Iantlet again. was eating the meal !
be squaw had brought when a sud 4
len excitement arose outside. There
vas a great shouting, followed by II
beers and the report Of firearms. aud v
he next minute the 200 frontiersmen 2
vho had been raised in Kansas and t
as an independent force =
harged into the village. II was a
omplete surprise to the Indians, but
OF FOR long II wasn't Eve minutes
efore the fleeing warriors rallied for i.
efense. but before that time I was
afe. Az the FIRST alarm sprang up :
nd ran out Of the lodge full against
ne 81 the guards. and ~ I ran ! was
rcd az two or three times. was
-ith the horsemcn IN a minute or two.
ID after 2 ~ got a rife and took
4 active part In the hot hzht going
b. We were driven CT after a couple
hourE. but We rot every pony In the