Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-02-15
STAUNTON, VA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1854

The scalp of the Mexican was stretched on
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, ,weret taken under guard
by two of the savages. My feet were tied
together, and ! was obliged to lie between
the other two. did not sleep any during
the night forI was afraid of being killed.
The next day we resumed our journey,
and travelled in the same direction. The
boys were mounted on good animals, and
had bows and arrows. Their faces were
painted Indian fashion, and they looked
like young sayages. They appeared to en-
ioy this new mode of life, and were never
treated with excessive cruelty, ] was
mounted on a good horse, but being obliged
10 sit astrde the animal, the journey was
Exceedingly painful.
Ihad fine head of hair, which | valued
very much, but the chief ordered it to be
cut off. I was not little mortified in see
ing it decorating the headssof the heartIess
savages. NY head was thus left entirely
unprotected from the intensely hot rays OF
the sun.
| Nothing of interest occurred except re-
peated acts of inhumanity towards me, un-
til the twelfth day after my capture. AT
this time we were joined by two Indian
men and squaw. These were al the In
dians 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 were greatly increased. The
squaw, from whom might have expected
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 without a
bride. had saddle, but it was worn out
and good for nothing except to torture me.
This animal would frequently 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 before its eyes. The
beast would then rear and plunge in the
utmost fright, 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 my senses returned. My repeated
falls greatly amused the Indians, whose hor-
rid peals oflaughter might have been heard
at great distance.
! l never saw them exhibit the first sign
of pity toward me. 1t made no difference
how badly was hurt, if l did not rise i'm
medlately and mount the animal which had
Just thrown me, they would apply their RI
4 ding whips, or gun-sticks, or the end of a
/ iariat, TO my unprotected body with the
greatest violence. The squaw would also
!. help me to rise by wounding me with the
'1point of spear which she carried. You
may understand one object the Indians had
in view in putting me upon this wild ami
7. NAL and causing me to be thrown so often,
when | tell you | expected to become a
mother In few weeks. They understood
my situation, but instead of softering their
hearts it only made them more inhuman
and subjected me to greater sufferngs.
was obliged to work like slave While
IN camp; while there was any service to
to perform was not allowed moments
rest. I was compelled to carry large loads
of wood on my back, which, being desti-
tute of sufficient clothing, was mangled till
the blood ran down to my feet. | had to
chase the animals through brars and bush
es, till what little clothing | had was torn
into ribbons. / brought the ANIMALS into
| n ha opd bod IN tuofCb
them till they were ready to start, and il
one more wild than the rest ran off, must
chase and bring him back, and then be
knocked down by The savage chief for my
want of skill. When all were ready to
start, had to catch and saddle my own
wild mule without assistance. lfthe party
did not start Immediately. was compelled
to pull at the end of lariat which the In.
dians would fasten to bush. They SEEM
ed TO study every method of putting me to
death by piecemeal.
Exhausted by incessant toll and suffer-
ing, and extreme anguish frcm my wonEds.
could not work as fast as the Indians de-
sired, and often when scarcely able to stand,
and hardly knowing what / was doing, |
have been required to do the work of the
strongest man. And because of my inabil-
ity to accomplish my task satisfactorily, l
have been whipped till my flesh was raw.
Large stones were thrown at me. was
knocked down and stamped upon by the
ferocious chief, who seemed anxious to
crush me like worm beneath his feet
My head sometimes fell under the horses
feet, and then the Indians would try to
make the beasts kick me. After all was
ready for the days journey, was obliged
to travel as fast as the others, riding some
times over rocks and through bushes, ach-
ing and sore from head to foot, and exposed
alike to cold and heat, sunshine and storm.
have gone two days at time without
tasting food. The Indians depended on
hunting for their subsistence, and some
times had nothing to eat themselves--un-
less there was an abundance of food, re-
ceived little or nothing-when any game
was killed, the Indians would tear out the
heart, liver, and entrails and eat them raw.
suffered exceedingly from thirst; | was
not allowed to drink, except while in camp.
We frequently crossed beautiful streams
during the day, and | would beg the priv
lege of dismounting to quench my thirst.
But the Indians would always deny my re-
quest with contempt IT was in vain /
pointed out my parcbed tongue and head
blis,ered in the rays Of the sun. Nothing
could soften them into pity, and | arden;ly
desired death that my tOrments might come
to an end.