Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-02-17
SIiSCEEI,t
Interesting Narrative OF IA Woman among
the Indians.

vi ''''"" "i''o"s
the Indians.
The following recital of the suFerlncs of
Nus Ni,.o, a., ,,,o, r,,.l,, ,osa,,oj
iioi ''' """'''"e i'"i"h'' WIS i"ii'is"eu W
the 81 LoHiS Republican,, 10y Major Carron
and Smith. orSonto ta who took if from her
a.. 49,, 49,, ,,,,.,. ,,.o
wv" ''i'' i"'9 ''' '''''' '"' 10 ''"'s wv
man "i modest ana uhassnmlhs manners, pre-
| possessing appearance. and strong mind. and
| that almost Incredible as - the tale. no one
,,l.. ,.;,l, \,,., yn,.,,
"''' ''''' "'' "' " ''''''
can ior Il moment u"nht hrr Neracltv'
was born in Alton. Illinois. on the lotb
Jov of ,Juna 1s3- nm. therefore in the l-tb
yenr of my nce NV fathers name was vii.
liam Smith inv motbcr's maiden name was
Jane Cox. had five brothers and four Sis
ters / think 1t was m the wear 1916 that we
moved to- Missouri and settled ut Il boat land
inr or G.rry. called jamestown. ON the North
| Grand River NV father kent the ferry.
About eight wears apo we moved from this
place to Texas, and settled near Paris, in
/ Lunar county Here NV father and mother
died within one dav of each other. leaving SIX
! orrhan children behind them. Three Of NV
! brothers had died he.ure the death of my
/ parents NV eldest brother, who was in Il
ranging company. now came home to settle
NV father affairs an make pro, i>un for our
/ support lie secured homes for us with diff
| f,rrnt nrighbors. hut took the Youngest sis
t.r. our ct. with hln to place her with one
; of our auuts
O..,. day ; journey from the place where he
| left Us he was attacked by the winter fever,
/ and died in one week | have three sister
older than my self. Their naincs are Eliza
/ b.th. tNuthi.. and Caroline. My brother
! .la.n,s and sister Ellen are Younger than my
/ self Ellen was four wears old when nv
| parents died. Caroline is u dwarf, and the
II ichhors thought that the medicine the doc
t,r gave her stopped her growth She was
dear child and We all loved her because Of her
mis- ortGnr. (llere Jane was asunablc to res
| train her feelings, and burst into tcars.)
/ lived with several n'ighborS unit! the first OF
/ last February, when | was married to MIR
James " isnn, IL young farmer Just beginning
! lie with II little property, consisting III cattle
and horses He was but nineteen years OF
age when we We're married. We knew but
/ httlc OF life for | was not vet sixteen. iear
We were crazy in getting married while W,
were 81 yuuug poor girl when hrl
thoughts went back TO that period OF her lii,
she wept a. il her ncart would hreak.)
We had heard that the people became ricl
very fast in California, 50 ", concluded t
move and commence life in that dist mt coun
| try. We gathered together the little pro
l,rrtv We possessed and Joined u party of emf
grants consisting of iiity-twu men, twely,
women and sevcra! children The father an,
brothers of my husband were among the mum
b"r. There were in all twenty-two wagons
and the whole company was placed under tn,
command of Mr.. Henry Hickman. W,
started from Hunt county on the 9th of Apri
last; and took the route lor III paso. We ar
rived at the Guadalupe Mountains about tn
lst of jane. Here the MascalurO Apache
stole from us nineteen head Of cattle; 81!
men started in pursuit but We're driven bucl
by the Indians. We went thence to FL PasO
My husband 5 family not being able to traye
with Mr. Hickman train, We determined t,
remain at III Paso till the arrival of anothe
party OF California emigrants tiy" of Mr.
ii men sald with us. While here, tn
MrxiranS Stole nearly all the property W
had, and left MS unable to proceed On ou
journey. We could do nothing hut make ou
way back to Texas.
About the last OF july we started on our re
turn, with the fragments oi our pr0pert
whlch til" thieves had spared. tn the frs
day oi August, my husband and hiS tuthc
lett US aud fell into the hands OF the In
'hahS. ! saw them no more alter this ! wa
told that thry had been murdered, You ma
perhaps, Imagine my feelings when ioun
myself thus "reavrd and destitute III II Ian
oi strangers. My misfortune seemed create
than could bear, fnt knew not tia
heavier Trials were III store Tor me.
naplr To continue my journey, rrturnr
& III Iasp, whore remained TIL Srptemh
NtiI, when ! started once NOR" Tor Texas wit
my three brothers III law, III company with
small party consisting of five Americans AN
on" M'A''ah' Mr.. Hart, wiI' owned AN
commanded TINS Tram, having some husines
IN Texas which required lis Immediate at
t'htloh, Travelled very rhpldlN amt hoped /
few days more To be- IN the midst of III
friends.
rs We had Srrn.nly one Indian on the rout
"" BATTERED ours Ives that We should not i
mol'st"d hy any of the tribes which infe-
e. tins route. nen near the horders OF IrXa'
, 50 Ne oi our"Mn party stole three horses irol
y Mr Hart, Mr. HAT, anIi"uS to ovrrtuk
. the thieye', s,irtrd in pursuit, taking wit
hIm my eldest hrother-in-lLw, lad som
y. fourteen years Of age, leaving myself, II Me'
lran' amt 'he tw" h"ys to follow as.r.aPidlyo