The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-03-15
A SCOUTS
ESCAPE
BY NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.
By NJ. QUAD

DuElllS tue 4uuIuu lIOuDISS IT." dASh
followed the close Of the civil war
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 or
misfortune almost ut the outset OF my
career to strike the Sioux Il blow
which made them forever after hungry
for my life.
It 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 aud
twenty if | were taken alive. ] was
advised by every one to clear out OF
that locality, but ! refused to 80 till
the long expected war finally broke
out, and l was attached to Il moving
column.
WIS finally made prisoner under
singular circumstances. ! was return.
ing from the flying column to Fort
Wallace with dispatches. l had set
out soon after dark and made good
twenty-five miles when u 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 rarines had
TO own up that was lost. My horse
was just as badly OF. When ! gave
him his head he came to Il stop. The
only thing to do was to dismount and
wait for daylight. l was sitting on the
ground. not feeling a bit sleepy. and
my horse was lying down when Il band
OF thirty. seven Indians. all mounted.
walked right on to me through the fog.
] heard the footsteps of their horses.
but could not locate them in the fog
until too late. When I lcaped IN 1T
was with the thought that l might
make break for it on foot. but before
could turn they We're 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 / was the scout
whose life they had SO long thirsted
after half a 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 u 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 OF with me lie was led by lariat.
When we reached the village | was
put in tepee and my arms unbound.
! It was the third day after my cap
ture before was disturbed. Then.
most OF the warriors having returned
tC the village on purpose to witness my
death, was led out ut 3 o'clock In the
afternoon to undergo the preliminary
to actual torture. This is running the
gauntlet.
l got ready as well us l could, and
when the signal came sprang away
Mt the top OF my speed. Blow after
blow fell upon me as the savages shout.
ed their delight, and. to my great sur
prise. ! ut length reached the END:
There fell In a heap, aud they gave
me ten minutes to brace up for the
run back. made only half the dis.
lance this time. being struck such
blow over the head with 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 III
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 dashed.
and could not sleep.
Half IN hour after daylight the viii
lage was astir, and mt sunrise q squaw
brought me some breakfast. and the
lashfngs around my ankles were cast
Off. learned several years after that
It was intended to 0blige me to run the
gantlet again. I was eating the meal
the squaw had brought when sud
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
Nebraska as an independent force
charged 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
defense. but before that time was
safe. At the first alarm sprang up
and ran out Of the lodge full against
one Of the guards. and rs | ran was
fired at two or three times. was
with the horsemen In Il minute or two.
ana after bit got q rifle and took
an active part In the hot fight going
on. We were driven off after couple
Of hours. but we got every pony IN the
herd and burned all the lodges, and
they had many a dead warrior to
mourn over
1t was singular that in after years
! .hould meet the squaw Of Little
Feather on the reservation and have a
long fnfls with her SO II hHnppno1