The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-02
Froa he LouisriHe Journal.
MISS FRANCES SI,oCUM.

MISS FRANCES SLOCUM.
A friend, writing 10 Us from Peru, Indiana, gives
the following interesting account OF an interview on
the Is, of this month, between Frances Slocum, a
white woman, taken, when only FIVE years and eight
months old from near Wikesbarre, Pa, (sixty-two
years ago) by the Delaware Indians, and her bro
Their and two neices -
PEau Indiana, Oct. 3, 1882
GENTLEMEN: In myirip out from Pennsylvania,
IL was my good fortune 10 be thrown into the COM
pany OF Joseph Socum Esq. Of WilkesbarTe, Penn
sylvania, and his two accomplished daughters, who
were on their way 10 the Deighbofhood Of this place
TO visit sister and an aunt, who was captured by
the Delaware Indians in her sixth year, lsixty-lwo
years ago) in the neighborhood Of Wilkesbarre, Pa
and carried West by that tribe in IN, ir retreat before
The march OF civilization until about fory-hve years
since, she was carried 10 the neighborhood OF Fort
Wayne at which place she resided near forty years
She was taken Immediately after the massacre Of
Wyoming, the horrors Of which are so faithfully
pictured in the poem Of that name by the poet
Campbell Alter her capture, she was adopted INTO
The family Of Delaware chief, who had lost his
only daughter, and who, after much persuasion IN
duced his wife 10 adopt her as substitute. In this
family, she resided until she got married 10 Della
ware, with whom she lived for number Of years:
After that, portion OF the DelawareS Joined the
Miamies and among them, Miss Socum She BE-
ing then widow, or deserted by her husband, she
married Miami, known in his tribe by The sonbri-
quet Of the Deaf Man. With him she lived ill
his DEATH The fruits oil their marriage being Two sons
daughters are now living nine miles from Peru, at
place called the Deaf Mans Village The mo-
Their and daughters are very much respected, own
section Of land and are very well of 10 horses, cat
lie stock &C. One OF the daughters has been mar
ried but has lost her husband and the other is mar
ried TO half breed named Brouetle, one Of the
most noble looking Indians have ever seen The
mother daughters, and son-in-law live in com
Portable log building, and their house is the abode Of
hospitality and kindness.
".The prog,ess Of civilization, however, (stIange
to say) has mol been able 10 win either the mother or
daughters from strict adherence TO the primitive
manners Of the Indian lace They are, in every re-
spect, completely Indian in their dress and habili-
menis preierring the loose Indian blanket 10 the
neat dress ofthe whites.
''The Slocum family, for upwards Of sixty years,
used every means in their power to learn the fate OF
this unfortunate member OF their iamily-otfering
large rewards, and expanding much time and money
in iruitless search, until Col Ewing discovering
white woman in thetrbe, who could speak just Eng
lish enough 10 tell her name, and that she came from
near river called the Susquehanna attempted to
get the facts published in the Lancaster papers about
three or tour years since. The publication not APP
pearng for year and half after il was first writ
ten, il only came 10 the notice OF the family about
two years ago; at which time two Of her brothers
and sister paid visit to their long lost sister at
this place. They found her not only entirely welded
10 the Indian mode Of life, but utterly ignorant Of
the sounds Of her native language as il she never
spoke word of English. On the present occasion,
visited her before and appeared to be highly delight
ed at seeing her beautiful and accomplished netes,
whom she had now for the first time seen. The re-
mIniscences Of some early incidents which the pre-
OF her brother called up (who was three years
old when she was taken away,) were truly interest
ing She recollected particularly, the circumstances
attending the capture, and OF her being taken from
behind the star-sleps, where she attempted TO hide,
by the Indians. While tracing The very striking re-
semblance between this woman and her brother and
family was forciby struck with the effects produc-
ed by intelligence and civilization upon the express
sion OF the human counenance, as we,l as upon the
manners and character OF the human family Ex-
ceping her complexion there is nothing about Miss
Slocum that indicates her origin, or that distinguish
her. in the slightest particular from the aborigines
with whom she livesin contentment and peace. She
spurns the idea of abandoning her present mode of
lile or exchanging it for what cal! the comforts
and enjoymenls OF civilization Her ideas of hap
pness are SO inseparaby connected with her present
mode Of life that she considers any change as only
productive of unu.itigaed misery and wreched-
ness" e.. :.... "....