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


and commenced running as fast ,as they
could. One of them fell down before we
had gone far, and the others were then obli-
ged 10 stop. The Indians now came up
on us, and ordered the Mexican to take
the mules out of the harness. While this
vas going on. got out of the wagon, and
looked on in breathless suspence. After
the mules were embarrassed, the Mexican
was stripped of his clothing. his hands
tied behind his back. and ordered to sit
down upon the ground. One of them
went behind him and shot him with gun,
while another stabbed him several times
with 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 the murderers. was supplied
with horror as gazed on this spectacleI'
and supposed that my turn would come
next But the Indians having secured
the plunder OF the wagon, mounted US on
the mules and ordered US to go with
them.
AsI left looked back and saw the
kpoor Mexican weltering in his blood and
still breathing. g-. 80.
We took northeast direction, and ira
veled slowly till sunset, when we encamp'
ed Here the plunder consisting ofblankets
bedding, clothing, btidles, and some mo
ney which had in my pocket, was dlvl-
| ded among the Indians. My clothing
was taken away, except barely enough to
cover my person. In the distribution OF
the captives, the eldest boy, about 2
years of age was claimed by the chief; l
became the property of one of the others.
| should have mentioned that one of our
captors was q Mexican, who had, been
stolen from the State of chihuahua when
an infant. He 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
Ere.
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 the two savages. Ny feet were
tied together. and was obliged tolie be-
tween the other two. did not sleep any
during the nj 5ht for l was safraid OF being
killed. l.a,
The next day we resumed our journey,
and Travelled in the same direction. The
bows were mounted on good animals, and
thad bows and arrows. Their faces were
painted Indian fashion, and they looked
like Young sayages. They appeared to
cninv their new mode of life. and were
never treated with excessive cruelty. L
was mounted on good horse. but being
Obliged 10 set astride the animal, the jour
ncy was exceedingly painful. -,.5r.
/ had a fine head OF hair, which L val
ued verv much, but the chief ordered it
to be cut Off l was not a little mortified
in seeing it decorating the heads of the
hearlless savages. My head was thus
left entirely unprotected from the Intense
ly hot rays Of the sun.
Nothing of interest occurred except re-
pea.ed acts of inhumanity towards me,
until the twelfth day alter my capture
At this time we we're joined by two Indian
men and a squaw. These were all 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 cruclties which l no" began
10 experience.
Ny horse was taken away from me, and
was mounted upon unbToken mule
without a bride. had saddle, but it
was worn out and good for nothing ex-
cept to torture me. This animal would
frequently top me over its head of its own
accord, but not being wild enough to gra-
tify the malice of the Indians, the chiei
: would sometimes shake the Mexican 5
scalp before its eyes. The beast would
then rear and plung 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 a
dozen times day, and once l was sc
stunned that lay considerable time be-
fore my senses returned. My repeated
falls greatly amused the Indians, whose
horrid peaIs of laughter might have been
heard at great distance.
never saw[them exhibit the FIRST sign
of pity towards me. 1t made no differ
ence how bad l was hurt, if l did moi
rise Immediately and mount the anima
which had just thrown me, they would ap
ply their riding whips. or gun-sticks, oI
the end of lariat, to my unprotected bo
$ DIV with the greatest violence. The squaN
would also help me to rise by woundinG
, me with the point of a spear which sht
l carried. You may understand one objec
the Indians had in view in putting me up
on this wild animal and causing me to Il
e thrown SO often, when / tell you expec
ted to become mother in few weeks
They understood my situation, but insteac
OF softening their hearts it only made then
: more inhuman, and subjected me to grea
ter suferings.
was obliged to work like slave whil
in camp while there was any service t
S perform l was not allowed moment
Z rest. 1 was compelled to carry larg'
%. loads of wood on my back. which, bein;