Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-03-14
The Cruelty OF Indians.


Mrs. Wilson, who recently made her
cscore from the Camanchc Indians, the
81. Louis Republican says:
'Hcr account Of her sufferings and i'll
treatment seems 10 be almost Incredible.
1t is difficult to believe tha! at this day
and in this enlightened age, there are
any tribes associated with the whites
who could be guilty Of such barbsritics.
We learn, however, from Major SteW,
OF the United States army, who was sta.
toned in New Mexico and hns had much
intercourse with these and other Indians,
that the narrative is not at all likely to
be over. wrought. He has given us q mar.
rative Of females whom he has releas.
ell from the Indians, that even exceeded
Mrs. Wilson's ccount Of suffering. In
one instance he released five Mexican
girls. The Indians had attacked a Mex.
lean rnnc he, murdered the parents and
men, and taken away the women and
child'cn. The boys they trained 10 be
more savage and brutal than themselves;
the females they use for all kinds Of
drudgery and the most licentious pur.
poses.
'l'hc Major informs us that, among
the five taken from the Indians, there
was little girl Of about nine or ten
years; that she had been compelled 10
drive cattle, stolen from her fathers
ranche, distance OF more than three
hundred miles. She was barelooted and
the thorns Of the cactus were planted in
her feet sceminsl sly as !hick as the hair
on mans head. The soles Of her feet
had burst from the irritation, and some
Of her toes were protruding from the
flesh, ana the-boncs were exposed. Her
whole body was bruised and mangled
from whiPpings, and the picrcings Of the
spears which the old squaws carry. The
other four girls, older than this one,
were in nearly the same condition.
With much difficulty he secured posses
sion of them, and proper treatment and
supplying them with necessary clothing,
&c, which had to be done at the priv.
ate expense Of the officers Of the post
(thc United States government having
no fund for charitable purposes,) they
were sent TO their relatives in Mexico.
Major s,een succeeded, at his indi.
viJual expense and tha, of another off.
Ger, in rescuing from the Indians Mex.
lean woman aged about twenty eight
years, wEo had been we'll and tenderly
raised, and as we'll educated as the
country where she resided permitted, ,and
Of her son, a small shild.-Her nara
lion Of the sulferings and indignities to
which she was sub can scarcely be
described. On another occasion, the
maj jor aud anolher officer hired Mexi.
can 10 steal Mexican woman whom
The Indians had in captivity, and when
she was delivered to them she was in a
most deploIable condi,ion-deslitu,e oil
clothing, and physically reduced to the
mcrest skeleton.
The persons thus rescued from cap.
tIvlty were returned 10 lhei. relatives in
Mexico, and up 10 this time the cost
labor and expense of capturing them
from the Indians, Of medical treatment
and supporting and sending them home
has been paid ou, Of the private purse:
Of the officers. Is this just or right on
The part OF the United States government
Major S,ecn informs US that among
the bands of the Camanche Indians
from which Mrs. Wilson escaped, there
are fully two hundred white persons
held in captivity, chiefly Mexicans. The
Indians justify their conduct by slleg.
ing that the Mexicans steal their chill.
dren and make slaves Of them.
Be this as it may, it must be admit.
ted, that it is the duty of the govern.
ment 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 In.
dian paid some respect to the virtue oil
the female; in the progress Of his con.
nection with civilization, he has los,
even this attribute. He is now as beast
" as no is savage, and the government
should provide the means to punish
them whenever they violate the laws o.
humanity"
Every mail brings confirmatio Of the
Hrsute Revolution now raging in Eng.
land. A London correspondent, writing
at late date, has this confirmation o.