Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-03-08

D4--afa- ziftsss ~ - - q - = - - 9 = q
81. osG 81 ~ sii
edto study every method to put me To-
death by piece-meal. -
Exhausted by incessant toll and suffer
ing, and extreme anguish from my wounds.
l could not work as fast as the Indians
desired, and often when scarcely able
to stand, and hardly knowing what was
doing have been requiredto.d do the work
of the strongest man.. And because, my
inability to accomplish my task satisfac-.
torily. have been whipped till my flesh
was raw. Large stones we're thrown at
me. 1 was knocked down and stamped
by the ferocious chief, who seemed anx-
.ious to crush me like worm beneath his
feet. Myahead sometimes fell under the.
horses feet, and then the Indians would.
try to make the beasts kick me. After
all was ready for the day Journey, Twas
Obliged to travel as fast as The others. ri
ding sometimes over rocks and through.
bushes.s aching and sore from my head to
my foot, and exposed alike to cold and
heat, sunshine and storm. aa $50 =
have gone two days at time with
out tasting food. The Indians depended.
on hunting for theirsubsistance. and some
times had nothing to eat themselves-nn-l
less there was an abundance of food. re-.
ceived liLtle or nothing-when any game
was killed, the Indians would tear out
the heart, liver, and entrails and cat them
raw. suffered exceedingly for thirst;
l was not allowed to drink, except while
in camp. We frequently crossed beauti.
full streams during the day, and l would
beg the privilege ofdismounting to quench
my thirst But the Indians would deny
my request with contempt. -Itwas in vain
l pointed out my parched tongue and head
blistered in the rays Of the sun. Nothing
could soften them into pity, and ardently
desired death that my tOrmcnts might
come to an end. r
Every indignily was offered to my per-
son which the imagination can conceive.
And am at a loss 10 know how l have
lived through the barbarous treatment
which was inflicted upon me. Frequent
y my feelings were so outraged that Iywas
tolkill my inhuman masters
My Indignation burned particularly against
the chief, and thought if could cut him
to pieces l could die content. auUE
We travelled every day usually started
about 10 o'clock in the morning. and hal
ted about four in the evening. The Indi-
ans were accustomed to go TO the tops of
the highest hills and stand there gazing
in every direction. We always spent the
night on a hill and were thus exposed to
the cold autumn winds we slept on the
ground. generally, without cOvering.--
When it rained the Indians made tent
oflthe blankets and wagon sheet they had
stolen from US, but l was not allowed TO
take shelter in i'll preferred sleeping
outside i'll the storm. gt "a
After my mule had become SO gentle that
could ride it without being thrown; it
was Iaken from me and l was Obliged to
travel on foot. The road over which we
passed was often very rough and stony.
and full oGsthorns. My feet were wounded
and bruised till they were JcoVGreda with
blood and greatly swollen. 81 But stillaI
was obliged 10 keep up with the rest Of the
party, aud if fell behindl was beaten
till was nearly senseless. The Indians
often urged me on by attempting to ridu
their horses over me many mile OF
thai road is marked with my blood, and
many hill there has echoed TO my useless
cries. yaa2 slHi -4# i
travelled thus on foot some five or six
days. After the party were ready t.
start in the morning the direction oi
the rou Q was pointed out TO me.
and was required TO 20 before the
Others, in order not 10 hinder them. They
usually overlook me before travelled far.
had always intended to make my escape
as soon as found an opportunity. l ne.
yer expected TO reach any friendly settle
mcnt, but did not wish TO give the Indians
the pleasure of seeing me die. On the
morning Of the 25th day of my capture,
was sent on in advance as usual. had
eaten no breakfast, and WAS very weak
but the hope of escape now supported me
hastened on as fast as | could, and fin,
ding suitable hiding place turned aside
and concealed myself in the bushes. Al
| ter this l saw nothing of my captors.
found afterwards by Lls tracks Of the ami.
mails, that they had searched Tor me theJ
probably thought l would die, and there.
fore took less trouble t. find me. have nc
doubt the next time they pass that way
they will look for my bones.
! My situation was now distressing be
yond all description (; was alone 10 ar
Indian country, some hundreds of mile.
from the nearest friendly settlements
was without food, without shelter. and al
most out Of clothing. Ny body was fui
Of wounds and bruises, and my feet were
so swollen that could hardly stand. Wild
beasts were around me, and savages more
wild than beasts. roamed on every hand
Winter was coming on. and death in it
most terrible forms stared me 10 the face
i sat down and thought of my lDnel!