Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-03-02

70 Plotect me from the cold storms More
.han once spent sleepless night, per-
fectly drenched in rain while the wolves.
sometimes coming within FIVE steps of me.
would make the woods ring with their
frlghtful bowling. They would also fol-
low close behind me when 1 went to the
spring during the day l expected some
! times to be devoured by them but they
are great towards, and I could easily
! frighten them away.
When L slept | would dream of seeing
tables spread with an abundance of every
KIND OF food; but when stretched forth
my hand to satisfy my hunger the effort
would awaken me, and [ would find nv
self weeping bitterly
When absent from my house on the 18th
day after my escape, some New Mexican
traders passed by on their way to the Ca
manche settlements. While standing on
small hill, looking after them in order to
be sure they were not Indians, [ was dis
covered by three Or four of the party who
happened to be some distance behind
They immediately came towards me and
soon understood my situation. They
kindly offered to take me with them. and
l gladly babe farewell to my house in the
woods The Mexicans put me upon
oatrrO and gave me a blanket and some
mems clothing In which l dressed myself
very comfortably
Two or three days after this we came
in sight of band of Camanches, and as
1t was not safe for me to be seen bv them.
L was left behind in a ravine. with the
promise that the Mexicans would return
TOR me at uight. AS they did not fulfill
their promise, l started towards their
camp; about midnight, while wandering
among the bushes, a Camanche Indian
passed within 20 steps l thought | was
captive once more but fortunately the
savage did not see me | threw myself
on the ground and waited for day. In
the morning L started again for tho camp
OF the Mexlcans, but before l reached it
was discovered by one of the trading
party who was herding the animals This
man is Puebla Indian, of Ildefonso, and
is named Juan Jose. To him more than
any other man in the party, l owe my
present freedom
Camanches, and if they saw me it would
be impossible for the party to save me-
He made me lie down on the ground while
he covered me with dried grass. lay
here all day, and at night crept forth to
quench my thirst. Juan came and brought
me some bread and told me not by any
means to leave my hiding place the next
day The day dragged slowly along, and
| could hear the dreaded Camanches pass
ing and repassing and shouting to each
other; at night Juan returned, bringing
another blanket and several loaves of
bread, and told me that I must remain
there for 7 or 8 days as the party were
obliged to 60 further off and could not
take me unless l was willing to become
captive once more | saw the party dis
appear the next day, and it seemed as if
my hopes of rescue disappeared with them
But l resolved to wait till the appointed
time was up.
In ravine near by found large log
which had been left burning; this fire /
kept alive day and night till the Mexicans
returned, and without it should probab bly, |
have frozen to death, as the weather had |
become. very cold | covered a hollow |
cotton wood stump with bark and leaves |
to keep out the cold wind This stump
was my house during my stay here. When
could endure the cold no longer, | would |
leave my house and run 20 the fire, but
was afraid to stay there long lest the In
dians should see me- The wolves soon /
found out my retreat, and frequently while
[ was in tho stump, they would come and |
scratch around ana Oh its top The hack |
berries were very scarce here, and had it !
not been for the bread Juan Jose gave me,
[ do not see how l could have been kept
from starving to death.
The eight days passed slowly by, and
l knew not whether to hope or despair
But on the eighth heard several persons
calling to each other feared they were
Indians, but they belonged to the trading
party, and were On their return to New
Mexico. They had lost the place where
l was concealed, and were shouting to
each other to attract my attention. l |
was so overjoyed that l rushed toward |
them, unmindful of briars and sore feet |
Juan gave me fine horse to ride, and /
the whole party treated me with the ut |
most civility aud kindness.
On the thirty fourth day of our return
toward New Mexico, we reached the town
of Pecos Here | met Mai Carleton and |
Mrs. Adams, of the u s. Army who |
took the deepest interest in my comfort. |
Here laid aside mems apparel, and was
furnished with supply from Mrs. AS
wardrobe. After remaining at Pecos
few days, was conducted to Santa Fe by
the sou of Gov Merriwether
To Gov NJ, and also to the American
ladies of this place, cannot be too thank
ful for their friendly sympathies and uni
form kindness.
The past seems like horrid dream |
have related nothing but facts, and no
language that | can use can fully express
the sufierings Of mind and body which [
have endured. My two brothers-in-law
are still captiyes. aud unless reclaimed
will become as savage as the Indians =
The Mexicans saw them with the Ca
mancbes, but were unab e to procure their /
freedom One is twelve years old, the !,
other ten, and unless the strong arr. of
government is lifted up for their redemp- |
ton, there is no hope for them
GONG THAT WAY.-AG old woman OBJ