Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-02-24

, W reached Guadalupe Mountains a5ot
the lst of June. There, the Mescaler
Apachcs stole from US nineteen head {
cattle. Six men started in pursuit, br
were driven back by the Indians. W
then went on to Ell Paso My husban
not being able to travel well with Nj
Hickman train, he determined to renal
at Ell Paso till the arrival of another part
of California euigrants. Five of Mr.. II.
men stayed with US While here, tn
,Iexicans stole nearly all the property VI
bad, and left US unable to proceed on ou
journey. We could do nothing now excep
make our way back to Texas.
About the last of July we started on on
return, with the fragments of our propcrt,
which the thieves had spared. On tn
first day of August, my husband and hi
father left us, and / fell into the hand
of the Indians. l saw them no more afte
this. | was told that they had been mur
dered. You may perhaps be able to ina
gine my feelings when found myself thu
bercaved and destitute in land Of stran
gers. My misfortune seemed greater thar
| could bear, but ! knew not that heavier
trials were in store for me.
Unable to continue my journey, re-
turned to III Paso, where l remained unit
September s, when | started once more fol
Texas with my three brothers IN law, in
company with a small party consisting Of
five Americans and one Mexican. Mr.
] h., lol
train, havin. some business in Texas which
required his immediate attention, travelled
very rapidly, and hoped in few days tc
be in the midst Of my friends.
As we had seen only one Indian on the
route We hattered ourselves that VIC should
not be molested by any of the tribes which
infest this route. When near the borders
of Texas, some Of our party stole three
animals from Dir. Hart, and ran off. Air.
Hart, anxious to ovcrtake the thieves,
started in pursuit, taking with him my ell
dest brother-in-law, a lad some fourteen
years of age, leaving myself, a Mexican,
and two boys to follow as rapidly as we
could. We we're at this time within three
days journey of a military post at Phantom
Hill, and were considered out of danger. A
discharged soldier being unable to keep up
with US was some distance behind, but l
saw nothing of him after this. The day
after Mr.. Hart left US, as we were travel
ing, about noon, we saw two Camanche
Indians charging US in front, and at the
same time two others were seen driving up
behind. We were all very much fright
ened, and the Mexican jumped out of the
wagon and went toward the Indians, in
order, if possible, to gain their friendship.
The mules Of our wagon, four in num-
ber, becoming frightened by the war-whoop
of the savages, turned out of the road and
commenced running as fast as they could.
One of them fell down before we had gone
far, and the others were then obliged to
stop. The Indians now came upon us, and
ordered the Mexican to take the mules out
of the harness. While this was going on,
| got out of the wagon, and looked ON in
hreathless suspense. After the mules were
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 a 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 his murdcrers. | was stu
piGed with horror as | gazed on this spec
Iaele, and supposed that my turn would
come next. But the Indians having secur-
ed the plunder of the wagon, mounted Us
On the mules and ordered US to 90 with
them. As | left | looked back and saw
The poor Mexican, weltering i'll his blood,
md still breathing.
We took a northeast direction and trav-
,led slowly till sunset, when We encamped.
Here the plunder, consisting Of blankets:
bedding, clothing, brides, aud some money
which l had in my pocket, was divided
,mong the Indians. Some articles cnnsid T.
,red useless were thrown into the fire. Ny
clothing was taken away, except barely
.nough to cover my person. In the dis
ribution of the captives, the eldest boy, |.
.bout l. years of age, was claimed by the /
,hief; | became the properly of one of the I,
,thers. | should have mentioned that one
If our captOrs was a Mexican, who had
been stolen from the State of chihuahua !
when an infant He was as savage as the
indians, and claimed the youngest boy for
lis prize. The scalp Of the Mexican Was
stretched on stick and dried by the fire.
After giving US SOME meat for our sup |
,er, the Indians began to secure Us for the
light. The boys. with their arms tied
iehtly behind them, were taken under !
.uard by two of the savages. My feet |
we're tied together, and | was obliged to
lie between the other two. l did not sleep
nv during tue night, for | was afraid Of +.
being killed.
The next day We resumed our journey, /,
md travelled in The same direction. The .
BOYS were mounted on good animals, and
lad bows and arrows. Their faces were (,
,aintcd Indian fashion, and they looked /
ike young savages. They appeared to Gu
oy this new mode OF life, and were never
rcated with excessive cruelty. was
on good horse, but being obi
;etl to sit astride the animal, the journey
vas exceedingly painful. /
had fiue head of hair, which | valu- !
ID very much, but the chief ordered !. to
De cut of; l was not little mortified IN
ieeing it decorating the heads OF the heart |
ess sayages. My head was thus left en-
ircly unprotected from the intensely hot
rays of the sun.