The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-03-06
.GrMelties of the Indians.


from the CamanGhe Indians. Her account
OF suffering and i'll treatment seems to be al
mOSt incredibIe. 1t is difficult 10 believe
that, at this day, and in this nlightened age,
there are any tribes associated with the
whites, who could be guilty of such barbar
ties. We learn, however, from Mai. Steen
of the L. S. Army, who has been stationed
In New Mexico, and has had much inter
course with these and other Indians, that the
narrative is not at all likely to be over
wrought, lie has given us d narrative of
females whom he has released from the In
dlanS that even exceeds Mrs. Wilson's ac-
count OF suffering. In one instance he re-
leased five Mexican girls. The Indians had
attacked ii Mexican ranch, murdered the pa
rents and men. ana taken away the women
and children. The boys they train to be
more savage and brutal than themselves; the
women they use for all kinds of drudgery
and the most llcenuous 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 competed TO drive cattle, stolen from
ler fathers ranch, a distance of more than
5OO nllrS. She was bare footed, and the
1honS OF the cactus We're planted in her feet
seemingly as thick as the hair ON IA mans
head. The soles of her feet had burst from
The irritation, and the bones Of some of her
toes were exposed and rrotruding from the
flesh. Her whole body was bruised and man
gIed from whlppings, and the piercings of
the spears which the Squaws carry. The
other four girls, older than this one, were in
nearly toe same condition. With much diff
iculty ne secured possession of them. and
after proper treatment and supplying them
with necessary clothing, &c, which had to
be done at the private expense of the officers
of the post, (the United States having no
fund for charitable purposes they were sent
TO their relatives in Mexico.
Major Steen succeeded at his individual
expense and that of another officer, in resCu-
ing from the Indians. a Mexican woman,
aged about % wears. who had been we'll and
trnderly raised and as well educated as the
country where she resided permitted, and of
her son, a small child. Her narration of
SuilrringS and indignities TO which she was
subjected, can scarcely be described On
another occasion, the Major and another Of
1iccr hired Mexican to steal Mexican wo-
man whom the Indians had in captivity and
when she was delivered to them she was in
most deporable condlion---destitute of
clothing and physically reduced to the mer
The persons thus rescued from captivity
were returned to ;heir relatives in Mexico
and up TO this time, the cost, labor and ex-
penSe of capturing them from the Indians, of
medical treatment and supporting them and
sending them home. has been paid out of the
private purses of the officers. Is this Just
or right, on the part Of the United States
governments
Major Stecn Informs us that among the
band of the Camanche Indians from which
Mrs. Wilson escaped there are full 200 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.
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 put
ting an end to this cruelty, and Furnishing
the Indians In the early history of our
country, the Indian paid some respect to the
virtue of the female in the progress of his
conneXion with civilization, he has lost even
this attribute. He is now as beastlv as he !
is savage, and the government should provide .
the means to punish them whenever they
violate the laws of humanity ISt. Louis
Republican.