Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-12

The Cruelty Of the Indians.


monument amounted, on the premises, TO SIT SO
The Cruelty Of the Indians.
Speaking Of the thrilling narrative of Mrs
Wilson, who recently made her escape from the
Camanche Indians, the st. Louis Republican,
says:
Her account of her sufferings and i'll treat
ment seems to be almost incredible. tits diff.
cult to believe that, at this day aud III this en-
| lightened age, there are any tribes associated
with the whites who could be guilty of such bar
barites. We learn, however, from Major Steen,
OF the United States army, who was stationed
| in New Mexico and has had much intercourse
| with these and other Indians, that the nara
| tive is not ut all likely to be over-wrought. He
has given us narrative of females whom he
has released from the Indians that even ex-
ceeds Mrs. Wilson's account Of suffering. In
one instance he released FIVE Mexican girls
] The Indians had attacked Mexican rancho
murdered the parents and men, and taken away
| the women and children. The boys they train
! to be more savage and brutal than themselves
the females they use for all kinds OF drudgery
and the most lcentious purposes.
| "The major informs US that among the five
taken from the Indians, there was a little girl OF
about nine or ten years; that, she had been
compelled to drive cattle, stolen from her ia
| theirs rancho, distance of more than three
hundred miles. She was barefooted, and the
thorns OF the cactus were planted in her feet
seemingly as thick as the hair on mans head.
The soles OF her feet had burst from the irrita.
ton, and some of her toes were protruding from
| the flesh, and the bones we're exposed. Her
whole body was bruised and mangled from
| whippings and the percings of the spears
which the old squaws carry. The other four
| girls, older than this one, were in nearly the
Same Same condition. With much difficulty he Sc.
cured possession of them, and after proper
treatment and supplying them with necessary
| clothing, &C., which had to be done at the pr
vate expense of the officers of the post, (the
| United States government having no fund for
charitable purposes,) they were sent to their
relatives in Mexico.
"Maior Steen succeeded, at his individual ex-
pense and that of another officer, in rescuing
from the Indans Mexican woman aged
about twenty-eight years, who had been we'll and
tenderly raised, and as well educated as the
country where she resided permitted, and of
her son, small child Her narration of the
sufferings and indignities to which she was sub
jected can scarcely be described. On another
occasion, the major and another officer hired a
Mexican to steal Mexican woman whom the
Indians had in captivity, and when she was de-
livered to them she was in most deplorable
condition-destitute Of clothing, and physically
reduced to the merest skeleton.
"The persons thus rescued from captivity were
returned to their relatives in Mexico; and up to
THIS time the cost, labor and expense Of cap
turing them from the Indians, of medical treat
has been paid out of the private purses of the
officers. Is this just or right on the part the
United States government?
| "Major Steen informs US that among the
bands of the Camanche Indians from which
Mrs. Wilson escaped, there are full two hundred
white persons held in captivity, chiefly Mexicans.
! The Indians justify their conduct by alleging
| that the Mexicans steal their children and make
slaves of them. M
"Be this as it may, it must be admitted, that
it is the duty of the government promptly and
efficiently to furnish the means of putting an
end to this cruelty and ofpunishing the Indians.
In the early history of our country the Indian
paid some respect to the virtue of the female
in the progress ofhis connexion with civilza-
ton, he has lost even this attribute. He is
now as beastly as he is savage, and the govern
ment should provide the means to punish them
whenever they violate the laws of humanity"
Rapids Enquirer tells Of man in them I" Dig
gings," who being informed that thunder was
| death to worms, and being much troubled with
their works in his garden, and despairing too
| of any thunder ofnatures manufacture, resolved
to have some of domestic production. Pur-
suant to this determination, he charged an old
musket muzzle-full. took pail Of water and
lantern, proceeded to the cabbage garden,
rained on the plants copiously from his bucket,
made the lantern open and shut sesame, by
way oflightning, and then in hot haste let oti
sod Copenhagen" for thunder. The worms
.cut and rum" while the manufacturer of the
domestic article lay with his back to the earth,
rendered oblivions from the knocks caused by
the repercussive action Of the thunder machine.
Ds1~ A few years ago. when Mrs. Farren was
playing a very brilliant engagement at New
Orleans, an incident occurred which will never
be forgotten by those present Mrs. F. was
personating some very arduous character, and
one where the interest and sympathy Of the
audience was demanded, when, In tie middle OF
very exciting scene, an apple came flying
from the gallery upon the stage. The husband
of the lady, very much incensed at the supposed
insult, rushed to the gallery, and in loud voice
! demanded instant satisfaction. For some time
he was unable to discover the individual; but at
length person whom he noticed for the first
time inquired Do you want to know who fred
that apple ?" YesT answered Mr.. f., boil.
ing with rage, and faint hope of instant re-
venge on the malefactor glin,mering upon his
countenance. With a face expressive Of strong
enthusiasm, he said: "Well, l did; aud !
,uould Mrow bushel Of apples, If Ihad them,
to a pomaa that Wiu play as ,ceu as she did ~
| VTALENTINES.-Ala large stock of Vaen-
/ Y tines, embracing every variety Of style and
price, Just received at
TAYLOR a. MAURYS,
| Feb 1O--3t Book store. near Ninth street.
/ ~rAU +, NTaNESf Wal ENTuNESii