OCR Text |
Show A FRONTIER TRAUKOY. On Saturday eveaing there arrived in St. Joseph a young man, who gives his name as William MacMoore, who relates a terrible story of life on the Texas frontier. lie says he left Eliza-bethtown, Eliza-bethtown, Kentucky, in tho Summer , of IStiy, and went to Texas. Early in ! June last he engaged with one J. C B. Biackburn, a Government contractor, te drive a team to Fort Si!L Blackburn's Black-burn's train consisted of fourteen wagons, with fourteen persons as drivers, and started from Smith Paw Valley for the fort. On Sunday evening, even-ing, June 25th, the party had reached a small stream which was skirted with a strip of timber, about thirty miles east of the ibrt, when they were SUDDENLY ATTACKED By two hundred and fifty Cheyenne ludians. Part of the teams had crossed the stream; two (one of them driven by Mr. MacMooro had not yet come up, and one had stuck fast in a gully or ditch. A number of the drivers driv-ers had dismounted from their wagons, leaving their uruis in them, to assist in extricating the latter team. No one for a moment dreamed that a foe was near. The Indians had posted themselves them-selves iu the timber on both sides of the stream, andkept carefully concealed until the party were completely in their power. Then they came dashing out, with horrid yells, and in a moment's mo-ment's time tho unfortunate teamsters found themselves completely surrounded. surround-ed. Resistance seemed hopeless, and yet to yield was almost certain death. A few of those who were in the wagons fired a dozen or so shots, but apparently apparent-ly without effeot. Tho contest was speedily over. Seven of the party were SIIOT DEAD ON THE SPOT J -Auothcr was badly wounded, and then scalped and tomahawked; and sis, including MaoMoore, taken prii-oaers. MacMoore is unable to tell what was done with the train and stock, as immediately after his capture hp nd hio : securely buuuu and removed from the spot. The savages moved in a northwesterly direction, di-rection, and after going some distance, camped for the night. The next day after tho capture, one of the forty, while attempting to escape, was shot and killed. On the following Friday the savages came to the conolusion to - TOKTURE TWO OP TIIE TEAMSTERS, Jack Jones and Thomas Hayward, und about Live o'clock in the evening proceeded pro-ceeded to carry out their purpose. The unfortunate men were brought out and securely bound hand and foot to a stake. Their tongues were then cut out (it is supposed to prevent them from screaming while burning) and their .cars cut off. A pile of fagots, a foot or so high, was then placed around the stake, and so arranged as to burn slowly. The entire band then formed a circle, and indulged in the luxury of tormentiug their victims before the work of torture commenced. The other prisoners were then brought out and forced to witness the horrid spectacle. The fagots around Jones were dry, and burned more rapidly than had been intended, and his sufferings suf-ferings wore speedily terminated, the stomach and lower part of the body being first consumed. Hay ward died in about half an hour, and his AGONY WAS TERRIBLE. MacMoore says the remembrance of , that fearful scene will nover be eifaced from memory, Satisfied that they would soon be called upon to share tho same fate of their companions, the remaining prisoners pris-oners MacMoore, Henry Brown, and Harvey Jackson determined to make an effort to escape at all hazards. They were closely guarded, however, and for some days no opportunity prc-scn prc-scn ted itself. On the night of the 9th of July ahtavy rain set in, and tho anxiously anx-iously looked for chance came. The Indians had indulged pretty freely in "fire water" during tho afternoon and evening, and slept very soundly. .About 11 o'clock MaoMoore discovered that the buckskin thongs, with whioh he was tied, dampened by the rain, began to "give" couiderably. With a little exertion he succeeded in getting his hands loose, but was unable to release his leet. Henry Brown also discovered his bonds '"giving,'1 and finally SUCCEEDED IN RELEASING II IMS ELF Entirely. He then quietly approached a sleeping savage, drew a knife from his belt, cut the bonds of his comrades, and the three quietly hastened away. After travelling some two miles together to-gether tho three seperatcd for safety, and started lor Port Kiley. MacMoore reached the latter place on Wednesday, having walked liij miles in two days and a half. His feet were terribly lacerated, and ho had no olothing on except two shirts and a pair of drawers. Brown reached the fort four hours later in the day and Jackson came in the next d:iy. All the parties were MIEATI.Y EXHAUSTED, And probably would have peri.-ihed had it not been for the assistance of some friendly l'ottawatomie Indians, whom they fell in with on Tuesday. Jackson remained at Port Riley, his feet being so sore that he could not travel. Brown started to Denver. On Wednesday, the loth of July, Mac- ' Moore started on footfor Leavenworth, and waiked the entire distance, reaching reach-ing that place on Saturday last. The same evening, he took the ears on the Kansas City, Sl Joseph and Council Bluffs railroad, and came to SL Joseph, Jo-seph, That night he stopped at the 1 residence of C. H. Buckman, Esq., whose wife is a relative of his. On Sunday he went to the house of Mr. Bush, on Bush street, who is his relative, re-lative, where he is now stopping. Mr. Moore says that Dearly one- ' fourth of the party of Cheyenncs wai |