Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-08

IL. dream
But wax" To day that knows no surIset sky
h'id beach our Prov upon peaceful shore.
-----s ~-
A NARRATIVE
OF the Sutierings Of Mrs. Jane Adeline Wilson,
during her Captivity among the Camanche
Indians.
lCONCI.UDED.
/ have gone two days at time without
tasting food. The Indians depended on
hunting for their subsistence, and some.
times had nothing to eat themseIves-un.
less there was an abundance of food,
received little or nothing any
game was killed, the Indians would tear
out the heart, liver, and entra,ls, and eat
them raw. | suffered exceedingly from
thirst; | was not allowed to drink. ex-
cept while in camp. We frequently
crossed beautiful streams during the dav,
and [ would beg the privilege of dis
mounting to quench my thirst. But the
Indians would always deny my request
with contempt. 1t was in vain l pointed
to my parched tongue and head bl,stered
in the rays Of the sun. Nothing could
soften them into pity, and l ardently de-
sired death that my torments might come
to an end.
Every indisnity was offered to my per-
son which the imagination can CONCEIVE.
And ] am at loss to know how lived
through the barbarous treatment which
was inflicted upon me. Frequently my
feelings were so outraged that | was
tempted to kill my inhuman masters.
My indignation burned particularly
against the chief, and thought if could
only cut him to pieces | should die con-
tent.
We Travelled every day-we usually
started about ten o'clock in the morning,
and halted about four in the evening.
The Indians were accustomed to 90 to
the tops Of the highest hills and stand
there gazing in every direction. We
always spent the night on hill and were
thus exposed to the cold autumn winds !;
we slept on the ground, generally with
out covtring. When it rained the In
dlans made a tent of the blankets and
wagon sheet they had stolen from us, but
l was not allowed to take shelter in it
preferred sleeping outside in the storm.
After my mule had become so gentle
that | could llde it without being thrown.
it was taken from me and was Obliged
to travel on foot. The road over which
we passed was often very rough and
stony. and full of thorns. NV feet were
wounded and bruised till they were coy-
cred with blood and greatly swollen.
But still was obliged to keep up with
the rest of the party, and if lell behind
[ was beaten until | was nearly sense.
less. The Indians often urged HE on bv
attempting to ride their horses over me:
many a mile of that road is marked with
my blood, and many a hill there has
echoed to my useless cries.
| Travelled thus on foot some five or six
days. After the party Were ready to
start in the morning, the direction of the
route was pointed out to Me, and was
required to go before the others, in order
not to hinder them. They usually over
took me before travelled far. | had
always intended TO make my escape as
soon as [ found an opportunity. | never
expected to reach any friendly settlement,
but | did not wish to give the Indians the
pleasure of seeing me die. On the morn
ing of the twenty-fifth day after my
capture, | was sent on in advance as usual.
| had eaten no breakfast, and was very
weak, but the hope of escape now sup.
ported me. | FASTENED on as fast as
could, and finding a suitable hiding place
| turned aside end concealed myself in
the bushes. After this l saw nothing
more of my captors. found afterwards
by the tracks Of the animals, that they
had searched for me; they probably
thought [ would die, and therefore took
less trouble TO find me. I have no doubt
the next time they pass that way they
will look for my bones. -
My situation was now distressing be-
yond all description; was alone in an
Indian country, some hundreds of miles
from the nearest friendly settlements. |
was without food, without shelter, and
almost without clothing My body was
full of wounds ond bruises, and my feet
were SO swollen tLat could hardly stand.
Wild beasts were around me, and savsges,
more wild than beasts, roamed on every
Rand. Winter was coming on, and death
in its most terrible forms stared me in the
face. l sat down and thought of nv
lonely and exposed situation. But could
not weep; my heart was too full of woe.
| remembered the events Of the few pre-
ceding weeks. The husband of my choice
had been murdered, and was not allow
ed the melancholy privilege of closing his
eyes, and seeing his remains decently
inferred. Ny little property had been
stolen and when within fewdays' march
of sympathizing friends, l was captured
by s-vages, and after three weeks of in.
describao!e suaerings, found myself wan