The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1854-02-23

>, anu ''e two boys 10 follow as rapidly could. W
were al 'h's time ""hin three days journey Of mi
+ itary post at Phantom Hill, and were considered o,
} OF danger discharged soudier being unab!e ,
: keep with us was some distance behind but sa,
'f nothing oil him after this The day after Mr.. Ha,
j. eit us, AS we were travelling, about noon, we sa,
j Two Camanche Indians charging upon US in front
and at the same time two others were seen driy;n
& mp lchind. We were all very mnch ir;eb,ened
0 anu the Mexican jumped out Of the wagon AM
went towards the Indians, in order, if possible Il
GAIN their friendship.
he mules IN wagon, four in number bccomip,
frightened by The war whoop of the savages, tutne,
out oi the road and commenced running as fast n
they could. One OF them fell down before he haC
gone lar, and the others then obliged TO stop
i ne Indians now came upon us, and ordered The
nexican to take the mules of the harness.
"h'ie tins was going on, got Of the wagon
and looked on in breaihIess suspense. After The
mules were unharnesse,l, the Mexican was stripped
oi MS clothing, his hands ted behind his back
ana ordered to sit down on the ground. One o
them shot HIM with gun, while another stabbed him
several times with large butcher knife. His scalp
was cut oil btfOre he dead, and put into bi,
! nat: the hat was then worn by of his murder
ers. was sturified with horror as l gazed on
inns spectacle, and supposed that my turn would
come next. But the Indians having secured the
piuncer OF The wagon, mounted Oh the mules
ana ordered Us To 90 with them.
AS left, locked back and saw the poor Mex
'can "elteiing in his blood and still breathing.
we took northwest objection, aud travelled
slowly TIL sunset, when encamped. Here the
plunder, Consisting OF blankets, bedding, cioth,ns
brides, and some money which had in my pocket
was divided among the Indians. Some article.
considered useless were thrown into the f,e. Ny
clo'hIns was taken away, except barely enough
~ cover my person. In the distribution OF the
cap'ivcs, the eldest boy about twelve Years Of aye
was claimed by the chief; became the property
Of one the others. | should have mentioned that
! on nj h.x
stolen from the Stale Of chihuahua when AN infant,
lie was now savage the Indians, and claimed
the Youngest boy ior bis prize. The scalp Of the
Mexican was stretched stick and dried by the
fire.
After giving us some meat for our supper the
Indians began 10 It's lor the night The bow, ,
with their arms tied Tightly behind them taken
under guard by two of the sayagts. My feet were
tied together, and obliged to lie Between the
other two did not sleep amy dmins the night
Tor was aad Of being Killed.
The next day resumed our tourney, ard travelled
in the direction. The boys we've mounted ON
good animals, and had bows and arrows Their
faces painted Indian fashion, they looked like
young <avagcs. They appeared TO enjoy their new
mode Of hir, and we,e never treated with excessive
c'ueln. was mounted on good horse but being
obliged 10 st aStrde the animal, the Journey was
exceedingly painful.
had a fine head Of hair, which | valued very
much. But the chief ordered it to be cut of; /
was no, little mortified IN seeing it d. rating the
heads of the hearicss savages. Ny head was thus
left entirely unprotected from the intensely hot
rays of tue sun.
Nothing of interest occurred except repeated
Of nbumanIty towarts me, until the twelfth day
Of my capture. At this time were joined by
two Indian men and squaw. These all The
Indians ] ill after NY escape. Up 10 this
time INV suffering had been severe as to take
f ON me all desire to hive, now they greatly
| incre ased. The squaw, from whom j might have
expected some coniIassIon was evidently the cause
Of the new cruelties which ] now began to eXpe-
rience.
NV horse was taken from me, and WAS mounted
on unbIoken mule without a birdie. l had
| saddle but II was wora ont und good for nothing
except 10 torture me. This animal would he-
quently It's head Of its own accord but
not beng wild enough to crafty the malice Of the
Indians, the chief would sometimes shake the
MeNcans sea ip before its eyes. The least would
then and plunge in the utmost fright, and
would be thrown upon the ground with great
violence. ] have been tossed from the lnue's back
as many as ha.f a dozen tunes day, and once
stunned that lay considerable time before
my returned. My repeated falls greatly
amused the Indians whose horid peals Of laug hter
might have been heard al great distance.
! never saw them e~ibit the frs, sign Of sympa-
thy towards me- 1t made difference how tady
| WAS hurt, if did not rise Immediately and mount
the animal which had just thrown me, they would
apply their riding whips, or sun-sticks, or the end
Of Mat, to my unprotected body with the great
est violence. The squaw would also hsp to
rise by wounding me with the point of spear
which she carried. \ ou may understand object
the Indians had in view in putting me upon this
" lid animal and causing TO Lc thrown so often q,
when tell you ! expected to become mother
! IN a few weeks. They under stood my sI.uatIon, but
instead Of soltening their hearts it only made them
more inhumin, and subjected greater suffering.
was obliged 10 work like slave while in camp !;
1,1, ,lf. t1p,e tn ,G,t.u l
allowed moments rest | compelled TO
carry large loads of wood on my back. which being
destitute Of sufficient clo,h,ug inaug,d til
the blood ran down 10 my feet. had to chase the
animals through briars and bushes, till what little
, clo,hing had was torn into ribbons. j brought the
animals to camp in the morning, and had to watch
them till they were ready 10 start, and u
wild than the off, ! chase aud bring
hun back and then he knocked down by the vase
chief for my want Of skill. Wheu all were ready
to start had to catch and saddle my own Wild
mule without assistance. II the party did not sta,
immediately, was compelled 10 pull at the end OF
lariat which the Indians would fasten to Lush -
They seemed TO study every method OF puttiny me
to death by piecemeal.
Exhausted by iucessan, told an suffering, and ex
treme anguish from my wounds, | could work as
fast the Indians desired; and often when scarcey
able to staud and hardly know ing what was dong
have been required TO do the work Vt the st,Opgcs
man. And because Of NJ, inability 10 accomplish IN,
tisk satisfactorily, have been whipped i my iies!
was raw. Large stones were thrown at NE. i Was
knocked down and stamped upon b, the fcrocIou.
chief, who semed anxious to c,ush me like worm
beneath his feet. My head sometimes iei under The
horses feet, and then the Indians would try to make
the beast kick me. After all ready for the
days journey, was obliged to travel as ;art the
oihe,s, riding sometimes over rocks and through
bushes, aching and from head TO foot, and ex-
posed alike To cold aud heat, sunshine aud storm
have gone two days without tasting food. The
Indians depended hunting for their subsistence
and sometimes had nothing to eat thenseiy
there an abundance OF food, received ltie OF
nothins-when any game was killed, the Indians
would tear out the heart liver and entras and ea,
them raw suffered exceedingly from ,hirst--I wa,
not allowed to drink, except while in camp. We
frequently ctossed beautiful streams during tae day
and | would beg the privilege OF dismounting te
qucnch my thirst. But the Indians would always
deny NY request with contempt. Ii in vain
pointed to my rarched lips and head bi.ieed III the
rays of the sun. Nothing could soften them into
pity, and ardeniIy desired DEATH that my torments
might COME to a end.
Every iadisai,y was offered TO my person which
The INA sinaton conceive. And | am at los,
to know how l have lived through the barbarou,
treatment which inflicted upon me. Frequent,
my feelings were outraged that l was tempted tt
!, XIII nv lnhuuan masters. Nh i.dirra;iop hurnc,