Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-13
MEXICAN


MEXICAN ADVENTURES.
Part of a company of Americans and
M~exicans, who left Santa Fe about the
LIST OF June last, arrived in Franklin
Missouri, on the 5th of August, with
nearly 500 mules and horses. At the
request of the Editor Of the Missouri
Intelligencer, one Of the party has far.
nished the following particulars, from
which it appears, that when the COM
pany had arrived very near the Ameri.
can settlements, a large body of Usage
Indians fell in with them, and plumber
ed, and otherwise i'll treated them:
The company, after leaving Santa
Fe, on the LIST of June pursued a route
not travelled heretofore, perhaps by "a
ny other party, either in going to, or
returning from, that country. After
leaving SAINT. Miguel, and travelling a.
bout a hundred miles, it crossed the
Canadian fork Of the Arkansas river, at
the foot Of the great Table Mountains,
where, in general, is a tolerable good
ford, and a large road leading neal TO
it, made chiefly by the Mexicans, who
so out hunting buffalo. from this
place the company continued down the
river for about 500 miles, until all the
high knobs Of mountains on the left of
the river disappeared. A considerable
| part Of this route is rather uneven, ard
may be regarded as a broken country.
From thence, the company pursued
a direct northeast line, till it intersect-
ed the main Aarkansas river, nea the
mouth of the little Arkansas river,
where it arrived on the 18th July. On
the morning of the 18th, crossed the RI
YER safely, (although the water was
high,) and travelled a few miles, and en-
camped. l4th, on the east side Of Que
Of the branches of the little Arkansas,
where about II or Is Of the party were
despatched for the purpose of killing
buffalo meat, to take into the settle
ments. About two hours after their
absence, the rest Of the company who
remained about the camp, were aroused
by the calling out of some Of the men
that "Indians were among the horses" %
At this instant, the greatest part Of the
company ran with their arms among
the horses and Indians, (for by this
time they were pretty we'll mixed to-
gether,) and endeavored TO check both
horses and. Indians, one Of the company
only being mounted. At this crisis,
the Indians appeared to manifest no
hostile intentions, continually, crying
out "wash ashes" "wash ashes" and
others e~ndeavoring to frighten off the
horses, by their hallooing and riding a
mong them, which they succeeded in
doing, so that it is supposed about
2-3ds ofthe animals were driven Oft by
them, in despite of every exertion TO
prevent them. Immediately some 6 or
7 men mounted some horses, Others
mules, and went in pursuit. After pro-
ceeding a few miles, it was discovered
that the animals were divided into 4
parties; the men then separated, and
part pursuing n drove and the rest
the other; both succeeded in taking a
drove, one Of which, amounting TO IS
horses and mules, arrived safe in camp;
the other was re-taken by the Indians
and driven to their camp, which was
not more than 4 or 5 miles from ours,
In the mean time, these Indians had
fallen in with the party who went out
hunting, and forcibly took them all to
their camp, al the same time robbing
and taking from them every thing they
wanted, and otherwise very rudely treat
ing them. On the return Of the party
who pursued the horses, the Indians
had taken off, it was ascertained that
there were between2 & 800 warriors. in
camp, many ofwhom appeared dispos'
ed to provoke some difference, so tina,
they might find a pretence for taking
all u property, or perhaps, murder
ing the whole party. In this, howev.
err, they failed, as the whole company
manifested a determination not to in
volve themselves in any difficulty what
ever, choosing to submit to the mos
violent outrages, rather than resent
them, as it was but too evident that re
sistance would have been madness
there being in their W and our camp
between six and v hundred war
riors, and about IL or Is effective mer
in ours. During the whole OF this e
vening, and the next day until evening
there were continually many of then
in u camp, constantly endeavoring te
steal from US, or to take by force sucf
articles as they wanted. During the
evening of the l4th, and the morning
ofthe 18th, when the whole cavalcade
Of the Osages moved to our camp
they did return some so or so OF oul
animals which they had driven of,
chiefly those that were Of the least va
lue; retaining TIE best, to the number o.