Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-08

days. My only food was the black berries
which grew on the bushes around.
quenched my thirst at spring near bv.
My wounds panied me exceedingly, and
| wasted to mere skeleton for want OF
proper nourishment. Ii rained upon me
seven nights in succession, and nv little
house was unable to protect me from the
cold storms. More than once | spent a
sleepleSs night, perfectly drcnched in rain
while the wolves sometimes coming with
in five steps Of me, would make the woods
ring with their frightful howlingS. They
would also follow close behind me when
went 10 the spring during the day |
expected some time to be deyourcd by
them {: but they are great towards, and
| could easily trighten them away.
When slept | would dream Of seeing
tables spread with an abundance of every
kind of food, but when | stretched forth
my hand to satisfy my hunger. the effort
would awaken me, and [ would find my
self weeping bitterly.
When absent from my house on the
twelfth day after my escape, some New
Mexican traders passed by on their wav
to the Camanche settlements While
standing on a small hill, looking after
them, IN order to he sure they were moi
Indians, | was discovered by three or
four of the party, who happened TO bc
some distance behind. They Immediate
ly came forward TO me, and soon under
stood my situation. They kindly offered
to take me with them, and | gladly La lc
farewell to my house in the woods.
The Mcxicans put me upon buJro, and
gave me blanket and some mems cloth
ing, in which dressed myself very COM
fortably.
Two or three days after this we came
IN sight of a band of Camanches and as
it was not safe for me to be seen by them
| was .eft behind in rayine, with the
promise that the MeXicans would return
for rne at night. IS they did not fultil
their promise, | started toward their
camp; about midnight, while wandering
among the bushes, Camanche Indian
passed within twenty steps. thought
L was captive once more, but fortunate
ly the savage did not see me. threw
myself on the ground and waited for day.
In the morning | started again for the
camp Of the MeXicans, but before reach
ed 1t | was discovered by one of the trad
ing party who was herding the animals.
This man is a Puealla Indian. Of San
lldefonse, and is named Juan Jose. To
him more than to any other man in the
party, owe my present freedom.
lie told me the camp was full Of Ca
manches, and il they saw me it would be
Impossible for the party to save me. He
made me lie down on the ground while
ne covered me with dried gass. [ Law
here all day, and at night crept forth to
quench my almost intolerablc thirst
Juan came and brought me some bread.
and told me net by any means to leave
my hiding place the next day. That day
Jagged slowly along, and L could hear
the dreaded Camanches passing and re-
passing and shouting to each other. AT
night Juan returned, bringing anothe;
blanket and several loaves of bread, and
told me that L must remain here for seven
or eight days longer, as the party were
obliged to 60 further on, and could not
take me unless was willing to become
captive once more. L saw the party
disappear the next day, and it seemed as
II my hopes of rescue disappeared with
them. But | resolved to wait till the an
pointed time was up.
In rayine near by, found large
log which had been left burning. this
fire kept alive day and night until the
MeXlcans returned, and without il SHOULD
probably have frozen to death, as the
weather had become very cold. GOV
cred hollow cotton wood stump wit,
bark and leaves to keep out the cold
wind. This stump was nv house during
my stay here. When | conld endure tho
cold no longer, would leave nv house
and run TO the fire. but was afraid to
stay there long, lest the Indians sbould
see me. The wolves soon found out my
place of retreat, and frequently, while
was IN the stump, they would come and
scratch around and on its top. Tie
blackberrles were very scarce here, and
had it not been for the bread Juan JOSE
gave me, do not see how could have
been kept from starving to death.
The eight days passed slowly by. and
knew not whether TO give way to hope
or despair. Bat on the Sth | heard scy.
eral persons calling to each other. /
feared they We're Indians, but they be
ionged to the trading party, and were On
their return to New Mexico. They had
lost the place where | was concealed, and
were shouting to each other to attract M,
attention. was so overioyed that /
rushed toward them unmindfll of briars
and sore feet. Juan gave me a fine hors,
to ride, and the whole party treated me
with the utmost civility and kindness |
On the thirty-fourth day of our return |
toward New Mexico, We reached tie town
of Pecos. Here met Major Carleton and |
Mrs. Adams of the U. S. Army, who took |
the deepest interest in my comfort. Her,
| laid aside mems apparel, and was fur
nished with supply from Mrs. A. s. ward |
robe. Alter remaining at Pecos few
days, was conducted to Santa Fe by the
son Of Gov. Merriwether.
To Gov. NJ, and ais to the American
ladies of this place, L cannot be too
thankful for their friendly sympsthies
and uniform kindness.
The past seems like horrid dream
have related nothing but facts, and no
language that can use can fully express
the sutierings of rnind and body which
have endured. My two brothers-in law
are still captives and unless reclaimed
hnan II