Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-07

up behind. We were all very mucl
frightened, and the Mexicens jumped ou
of the wagon and went toward the Iadi
ans, in order if possible, to gain then
friendship. O..
The mules of our wagon, four in mum
Der, becoming frightened with the wa,
whoop OF the sayages, turned out of the
road and commenced running as fast as
they could. One Of them fell down be.
fore We had gone far, and the others wer,
then obliged to stop. The Indians now
came 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 breathlesS sus.
pense. After the mules were embarrassed
the Mexican was stripped of his clothing
his hands tied behind his back. and or.
dered to sit down upon the ground. One
OF them went behind him, and shot him
with gun, while another stabbed sew
eral times with a large butcher.knife.
His scalp was cut off before he was dead
and put into his own hat: the hat was
then worn by one of his murderers s. |
was stupefed with horror as gazed on
this spectacle, and supposed that my turn
would come next. But the Indians. hay.
ing secured the plunder of the wagon.
mounted us on the mules, and ordered us
to 60 with them. r s.a.a.t1- rs..--
AS left, L looked back and saw the
poor Mexican weltering in his blood, and
still breathing.
We took a northeast direction, and
travelled slowly till sunset, when we en-
camped. Here the plunder, consisting of
blankets, bedding, clothing, brides, and
some money which had in my pocket,
was divided among the Indians. Some
articles considered useless were thrown
into the fire. My clothing was taken
away, except barely enough to cover nv
person. In the distribution of the cap
tives, the eldest boy, about - years of
age, was claimed by the chief became
the property ofone of the others. should
have mentioned that one of our captors
was Mexican, who had been stolen from
the State of Chihuahua, when an infant.
lie was now as savage as the Indians,
and claimed the youngest boy for his
prize. The scalp of the Mexican was
stretched on a stick and dried by the fire.
After giving us some meat for our sup
per, the Indians began to secure us for
the night. The boys, with their arms
tied tightly behind them, were taken
under guard by two Of the Savages. NV
feet were tied together, and I was obliged
to lie between the other two. l did not
sleep any during the night, for | was
afraid of being killed.
The next day we resumed our Journey,
and travelled in the same direction. Tie
boys were mounted on good animals, and
had bows and arrows. Their faces were
painted Indian fashion, and they looked
like young savages. They appeared to
enjoy this new mode of life, and were
never treated with excessive cruelty. Il
was mounted on good horse, but being
Obliged to sit asst ide the animal, the
journey was exceedingly painful.
| had fine head of hair. which val
ued very much, but the chief ordered il
to be cut oft. was not little morti-
fed in seeing it decorating the heads of
the heartless savages. My head was
thus left entirely unprotected from the
intensely hot rays of the sun.
Nothing of interest occurred except |
acts of inhumanity toward me. |
until the twelfth day after nv capture
At this time we were joined by two In
dian men and squaw. These were all |
the Indians | saw till after my escape.
Up to this time my suffering had been so
severe as to take from me all desire to
live; but now they We're greatly increased. |
The squaw, from whom L might have ex-
pected some compassion, was evidently |
the cause of the new cruelties which / |
now began to experience.
My horse was taken from me; and |
was mounted on an unbroken mule with
out a bride. | had saddle, but it was
worn cut and good for nothing but to
torture me. This animal would frequent
ly top me over its head of its own accord,
but not being wild enough to crafty the
malice of the Indians. the chief would
sometimes shake the MeXican's scalp be-
ore Its eyes. The beast would then rear
and plunge in the utmost Aeight, and
would be thrown upon the ground with
great violence. have been tossed from
the mules back as many as half dozen
times day, and once | was so stunned
that lay considerable time before NV
senses returned. My repeated falls great
y amused the Indians, whose horrid peals
of laughter might have been heard at a
great distance.
L never saw them exhibit the first sign
,f pity toward me. 1t made no difference
now badly I was hurt, if 1 did not rise
immediately and mount the animal which
had just thrown me, they would apply
heir riding whips or gunsticks, or the
End OF larint to my unprotected body
with the greatest violence. The squaw
would also help me to rise by wounding
ne with the point of spear which she
carried. You may understand the object
he Indians had in view in putting me
lpon this wild animal, and causing me
o be thrown SO often, when l tell you ]
to become a mother in a few
weeks. They understood my situation.
out instead Of softening their hearts, il
'nly made them more inhuman, and sub
ected me to greater sutferings. /
| was obliged to work like a slave
While in camp; while there was any SER
nee to perform was not allowed a mo-
nents rest. was compelled to carr,
arge loads Of wood on my back, which
destitute of clothing, was mangled till
he blood ran down to my feet. | had to
;hase the animals through briars and