Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-04
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It was late at night when three struggling
Indians entered camp where all was quiet and
repose. There, warriors lay sIumbering around
the camp fire, while the slvery moon shone
beautifully down through the forest trees, and
cast shadow upon their sombre forms. A few
PAGES distant was rude tent or wigwam, where,
stretch ed upon . blanket before . large fire,
IsEsS ssEH ~ che dim light delicate female form,
with beautiful infant clasped tightly in her
arms, pparently overcome by the fatigue of
wearist Nme journey. BY her sat a squaw, who
seemed to be watching her tenderly, and ad-
ministe ring, ~ we'll as she knew how, to her
quiet aud comfort. Ever and anon was heard
the agonized sigh and exclamation of
MY husband, my dear husband, ALL all is
lost!"
At la ST frenzied with terror and suffering,
and overcome by fatigue and despair, she caught
her chill more closely TO her bosom and sunk
into fe verish slumber, until she was aroused
by the frantic yellS Of rage which burst forth
from the awakened warriors, at the ill luck Of
the strag gling party just returned. The chief
who seel ned to command them, was wild with
rage and desperation. He called them coward
Ily dogs, and told them they were only fit to
wait upon the squaws and nurse the papooses,
or they would never have stopped quietly with
their VII ite prisoner SO near to the white mans
home.
"Don t you know" said he, that they are
worse Il ian blood-hounds; and can smell white
brother and hunt him down, even to the Indian
camp fire? But we've got here safe with one
rich booty, any how, and the white squaw and
papoost will not get away so easy from US"
Poor Emma! for indeed it was her who was
dreamrn,s once more of being at her beloved
home startled from her sleep by the noise she
heard, vclaimed in terror,
"Henry, where are we? I've had an awful
dream"
But on, the sleepy mist was soon dlspelled
and she quickly remembered that it was sad
reality What was to come next, she did moi
know, and scarcely cared, for it seemed to hel
THAT deaf would be a relief, if it would only
take her child too. All was now confusion il
the camp. The frightened Indians reported ar
army of whites in pursuit of them, and fearful
lest they should be overtaken and put to flight
or taken prisoners themselves, they thought il
best to leave their present rendezvouz and pro
coed to another war-camp some miles distant, IL
the forest, and where they would find anothe
party equal TO their own.
When Emma heard the orders to prepare FOL
"a march, she felt that it would be impossible
for her TO drag one foot after the other or ever
: to stand alone. But, poor human nature 81
frail and so weak, scarce knows what it can en-
4, dure till put to the test.
,, During the night it had blown up unusually
J cool, and the piercing winds Of the west almos
I 'chilled to death the delicate woman, who tool
q her own blanket TO shield her child, and driver
ON by the nhuman wretches, she was obliged t.
= pursue the journey, hoping that every momen
. would relieve her by death; sweet death, whicl
i lat any other time, would have been a terrible
III DIT obI 10 fha nd 1S,1ffar hear
" what a relief to think that we cannot endure al
Eways, and that sooner or later our misery mus
!. END. All night and all the next day they trav
: Ieled, only stopping to eat and take moment
rest Several times they proposed taking tn
. child and dashing its brains cut upon tree, o
;. leave it prey to the wild beasts, W hich terri
" fed poor Emma so that it gave her fresh nerv
} and renewed strength to carry her child rathe
:, than il should retard their progress. At las
!. y an old chief stepped forward and took it fror
:, her arms and lashed it TO his own back, sayin
! he had lost a little papoose short time before
and he " ould keep it and take 1t home to hi
- souaw. Poor Emma raised her hands implo
= ringly, aud more lovely still from grief and ia
~ tiVue, even the heart OF the wild savage SCENE
20 20 touched by her suffering beauty; as he took he
"A by the hand and said,
- :. "The pretty little pals-face is mine, too. Th
Al Great spirit tells me 10 DC heI AalheF' dig IL
-. Jun shall not have her"
As he was their chief, and seemed to be {
= great Importance, they all were obliged to al
~. ~ sent to his wishes, though a savage vengeanC
~ could be seen in the dark and lowering face
ID her original captor, as he listened to the wore
I, of his chief
" The darkness Of night was fast closing up'
nc them when they reached their place Of destin
,ion. and were hailed with savage shouts
IN theiY brother warriors, who were engaged
Ell the performance Of one Of their war dance
~ ~ while numbcrless squawS and papooses we
IA IA arranged throughout the camp, delighted spect
Gu tors. When they saw the beautiful Emma, tn
l 80, raised such cry Of savage triumph as made Z
~" ~ moor creature almost die of terror, until the
~. chief, stepping forward and making speech
'on them which she could not understand, IN
81 ssrazsA saah. n n Ssrgse4 sshsaissisR, end
i" sumed their dance He then led Emma and =
4, child to his own wigwam, followed by .
~, " souaw, who seemed to be a half-breed' ana
az ~. possess more feeling than any OF the lndn
mi's m with whom she had met. They soon prepar
'os n pallet Of straw, and spread blanket Tor n
leu and gave her something to refresh her, and $
H. began to regard them as hNr friends ana
s"o pressed, as we'll ax she could, her gratitude
'er The old chief babe her to sleep, and placing
no her arms her little babe or, as he called 1t,
ong g White Fdpn," he retired from the tent,
:. went forth to hold general council oefore
AsII king rest themselves
lied 10 DC oo'N"'"'u'
etch Tn. od gentleman that invented leather bedpo'