Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-02-10
MAHIN & CL EMENS.
A Narrative


A Narrative
OfIAs suferings IF Mrs. june .7dsins Wiison,
Idsring her capfirity among Ms Co"'a' 'ehe
Indians. asd ~
fThs Missouri Republican, OF the 26th ult ,
contains q narrative OF Mrs. JANE ADELINE
Wusos, who, it will be membered, was
taken captive by the Comanchs Indians, and,
after almost incredible hardships and dan
gers, ,ha, recently been released. She Is
represented as being young woman Of
prsposssssing appearance, modest and un-
assuming, and Of remarkably strong mind.
: Although the narrative is quite long, we
publish it entire, believing that nothing
could be more Interestingly
= Twas born in Alton, Illinois, on the 18th
day Of June, 1887 and am, therefore, in the
seventeenth year OF my age. My father.s
name was William Smith my mother 8
maiden name was Jane Cox. had five
brothers and four sisters. think it was in
the wear 1916 that we moved to Missouri
and settled at boat landing or ferry, called
jamestown, on the North Grand river. My
father kept the ferry. 7vrs8
About eight years ago we moved from
this place to Texas, and settled near Paris,
in Lamer county. Here my father and
mother died within one day Of each other,
leaving six orphan children behind them.
Three of nv brothers had died before the
death of my parents. My eldest brother,
who was in a ranging company, now came
home to settle my fathers affairs and make
pfoyisions for our support. He secured
homes for us with different neighbors. but
,soI the youngest sister. our pet, with HIM
10 place her with one OF our aunts.
One day journey from the place whore
he left US he was attaokcd by the winter
.,fsyer, and died in one week. have three
sisters older than myself. Their names are
Elisabeth, Cyntkis, and Caroline. NV bro.h-
, er james and sister Ellen are younger than
myself. Ellen was four years ole when my
parents died. Caroline is dwarf, anc the
eneighbors thought that the medicine the
doctor gave her stopped her growth. She
wssa.dear child and we ell loved her BE-
cause ofEher misfortune. Here Jane was
unable TO restrain her feelings, and burst
into tsars.) fliyed with several ,neighbors
until the frst af last February ,'Shen was
married to Mr.. James Wilson, .as young far
,ner lust be ginning life with littleproper-
II. consisting in cattle and horses. !Ne was
but nineteen wears of ago whenw were
married. We knew bat little OF life for
xaa not vet sixteea. fear We were crazy
in getting marri d while we were 50 young.
(Poor girl when her thoughts went back
to This period Of her life she wept as.if her
heart would break.
-We had heard that people became rich
ysry fast in California, SO We con lnded 50
move and commence life In that distant
country. We gathered together the little
property we possessed and joined party
OF emisrants consisting of ffty-two men,
twelve women and several chillren The
father and brothers of my husband were
among this numbcr. There were in all
twenty-five wagons, and the whole company
was placed under the command OF Mr..
Henry Hickman. We started from Hunt
county on the 9th of April last, and took
the route for FL Paso. We arrived at the
.Juue. liere the Mascalaro Apachcs sole
from us nineteen head of cattle; SIX men
started in pursuit, but were driven back 10y
the Indians. We went thence to FL Paso.
NV husband not being able to travel we'll
With Mr. Hickrnan's train, he determined
I'd reina.n at FL Paso till the arrival of ano-
ther party Of California emigrants. Five
ot Mr.. IFS men staid with us. While here,
the Mexicans stole nearly all the property
We had, and left US unable to proceed on
our ;ourr ey. We could do nothing now
except make our way back to Texas.
About the last of July we started on our
return. with the fragments Of our property
which the thieves had spared. On the first
day Of August, my husband and his father
left US, and fell into the hands OF the Indi-
ans. / saw them no more after this. was
told that they had been murdered. You
ma perhaps be able 20 imagine my feel
iprs when found myself thus bereaved
and destitute in . land os strangers. My
misfortune seemed greater than could
bear, but knew not that heavier trials were
in store for me.
Unable to continue my journey, return
Cd to Ell Paso, whore remained till Sep
tsmber 9Th, when started once more Tor
Texas With my three brothers-in-law, In
company with email party consisting
Of Eve Americans and one Mexican. Mr..
HART. who owned and commanded this train,
having some business IN Texas which re-
ouired his immediate attention, travelled
very rapidly, and hoped in . few days
more 20 be in the midst of my friends.
Awe had seen only one Indian on the route
we 6attsred ourselves that we should not
be molested BY any Of the trihts which in
test this route. When near the borders Of
Texas. some Of our own party stole three
snimsls from Mr.. Hart, and ran of. Mr..
Hart anxious to overtake the thieves started
IN pursuit, taking With him my eldest broth.
er.Sn-lav. lad sone fourteen years of
age, leaving myself, . Mexican, and the
tie two boys TO follow as rapidly - we
could. We were At this time within three
DAYS journey of military post At Phantom
Hill, and were considsSed out OF danger.
A dischsrgsd soldier hsing unable TO keep
up with us Was some distance behind, but !
saw uoSsing OF him after this. The day
after No Hart left us as we were travelling,
shout noon, We saw two ComsnChe Indians
charging upon ~ in front and the same
time two others were seen driving up be-
hind. We were all very much frightened,
and the Mexican jumped out of the wagon
and went towards the Indians in order, it
possible, to gain their friendship.
The mules in our wagon, four in number,
becoming frightened BY the war whoop Of
che sayages, turnad out of the road and
commenced running as Fast as they could.
One Of them fell down before he had gone
fsr, and the others were then obliged 70
stop. The Indians now Game upon us, and
ordered the Mexican to take the mules out
OF The harness. While this was going on, |
got out Of the wagon, and looked on in
bresthless suspense. After tho mules we're
embarrassed, the Mex ,can WAS stripped oI
his clothing, his hands tied behind his back,
and ordered to sit down upon the ground.
One OF them then went behind him and
a - l. L. - -. t..sj