New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-02
A NARRATIVE

ep TYR surFrsiSGs or JANE ADELrsE WILSON. DUR
He HER CAPTIVITY AMONG THE cANtNcHE INDIANS
Us. ho,n 1, Alton Illinois on the eth day of June
1857 and am therefore in the seventeenth year OF my age
Nv fathers name was VIM. Smith my mother $ nader
name Jane Cox had i've brothers ana -FOUR sisters
Ithipk II was in the that moved to Missouri, anc
settled Al bost landing or ferry called Jamestown on the
North Grand River Ny father kept the ferry;
sai near in Lamar county, Here
father and mother died within one day of each ether eav
ms six orphan children behndthem Three ofmy brothers
had died before the death of parents My eldest brother
who in ranging company, now came to settle my
fathers affairs and make provisions for our support he
secured homes for with different neghbor but took the
youngest sister pet with him to place her with one oil
cur aunts.
One days o1rney from the place where he left u.s. he
was attacked Sy the winter fever and died in one week
have three sisters older than myself Their names are
Elizabeth, Cynthia and Caroline. My brother James and
sister Ellen are younger than myself Ellen was four
wears old when my parents died Caroline is dwarf and
the reghbors thought that the medicine the doctors gave
her STOPPED her growth She dear child and we all
ioyed her because OF her misfortune. Here Jane was
unable 70 restrain her feelings and burst into tears L
lived with several neghbors until the first OF last FEB
rusry when married to Mr.. James Wilson, young
farmer lust be ginning life with little property consisting
in horses and cattle He but nineteen years of age
when we were married. We knew but little OF life, Tor
was not vet sixteen. / fear were crazy in getting
married while we were young. Poor girl! when her
thoughts went back to this period Of her life she wpt as
IL her heart would break.
We had heard that people became rich very fast in Cali
fornia 30 va concluded to and commence life in that
distant country We gathered together the little property
we possessed and joined party OF emgrants consisting
Of fifty twelve women and several children Inc
father and brothers of my husband were among this mum
hey There were in all twenty-five wagons and the whole
company was placed under the command OF Mr.. Henry
Hickman We started from Hunt County on the 9th Of
Anil last and took the route for FL Paso We arrived
At the Guadalupe Mountains about the LIST Of June Here
the Mescaero Apaches stole from nineteen head of cat
tie Elk started in pursuit but were driven back by
the Indians We went thence 70 III Paso MY husband
~ all Mr m an q
he determined 10 remain at FL Pas0 till the arrival of
another party Of California emigrants Five of Mr. IL 8
men stad with While here the Mexicans stole nearly
al the property had and left unable to proceed on
our journey We could do nothing except make our
way back to Texas.
About the last Of July we started return, with
the fragments Of property which the thieves had
spared On the first day Of August my husband and his
father left u.s. and fell into the hands of the Indians
saw them after this was told that they had
been murdered You may perhaps be able to imagine my
feelings when found myself thus bereaved and destitute
in land of strangers. My misfortune seemed greater
than could BEAR but knew not that heavier trials were
in store for me.
Unable TO continue my journey, returned to FL Paso
where remained till September g. when started once
more for Texas with my three brothers inlaw, in com
with s %ho ew0e
ed this train having business in Texas which re
eured his immediate attention, travelled very rapidly
and hoped in few days more to be in the midst OF my
friends
As we had only Indian on the route we flat
tered ourselves that should not be moested by any Of
the tribes which nest this route When near the borders
Of Texas Of party stole three animals from Mr.
Hart and Off MIR. Hart anxious to overtake the
thieves started in pursuit. taking with him my eldest
brother in law lad some fourteen years OF age leaving
myself Mexican and the two boys to follow rapidly
as we could. We were at this time within three days
journey Of military post at Phantom Hill and were con
sdered out of danger discharged soldier being unable
10 keep up with distance behind, but saw
nothing Of him after this The day after Mr. Hart left
az we travelling, about noon we saw two Camanche
Indians charging upon us in front and at the same time
two others seen driving up behind. We were all
very much frightened, and the Mexican jumped out OF the
wagon and toward the Indians in order possible
70 gain their friendship.
frightened by the whoop of the savages, turned out
of the road and commenced running fast they could
One Of them fell down before we had gone far and the
Others were then obliged 10 stop. The Indians came
upon ne and ordered the Mexican take the mules out
harness While this going got out Of the wagon
and looked in breathess suspense After the mules
were embarrassed the Mexican stripped OF his cloth
ing his hands tied behind his back AMI ordered TO sit
down upon the ground One of them went behind him and
shot him with gum while another stabbed him several
times with large butcher knife His scalp cut OIL
before he was dead aud put into his hat the hat was
then worn by one of his murderers supplied with
horror gazed this spectacle and supposed that my
turn would come next But the Indians having secured
the punder of the wagon, mounted the mules and
ordered us togo with them.
AS left look ed back and saw the poor Mexican weller
ing in his blood and still breathing
We took north east direction and Travelled slowly till
sunset when encamped Here the plumber, consisting
Of blankets bedding, clothing brides and some money
which had in my pocket was divided among Inc Indians
Nv clothing taken away, except barely enough TO
cover my person In the distribution of the captves the
edts, boy about years of claimed by the chief
became the property of OF the others. should have
mentioned tina. of captors was Mexican, who
had been stolen from the State Of chihuahua when in
FAINT He savage as the Indians, and claimed
the Youngest boy for his prize The scalp OF the Mexican
ga stretched on stick and dried by the FIRE.
x,,er giving &c some meat for supper, the Indians
becan 10 secure us for tns The boys with their arms
tied tightly behind them were taken under guard Two
OF the savages My feet tied together, and was
obliged 10 lie between the other two. did not sleep any
durng the night for l was afraid OF being killed
The next day we resumed our Journey and travelled IN
the same direction The boys were mounted on good ami
mails and had bows and Their faces were painted
Indian fashion and they looked like young savaes They
appeared to enjoy this new mode of life and were never
treated with excessive cruelty. mounted on good
horse but being obliged sit asrde the animal the jour
exceedingly painful.
had a fine head OF hair, which valued very much,
but the chief ordered IL TO be cut off was not little
mortified seeing decorating the heads of the hearess
savacts My head thus left entirely unprotected from
DE intensely hot rays of the sun.
Nothing interest occurred except repeated of
humanity toward me, until the twelfth day after my cap
tre At this time were Joined by two Indian and
n sousw These were all the Indians till after my
sscane In 70 this time my suffering had been so severe
,s 10 take nom me all desire TO live but now they
greatly increased The squaw, from whom might have
xpeced some compassion was evidently the cause OF the
~ cruelties which, now begsnto experience.
Nv horse was taken from me, and was mounted on an
rrh,okep mule without a bride. had saddle but n
WI 80 ON. and good for nothing except to torture me
This animal would frequently top me over its head Of u
own accord but not being wild enough to CRAFTY IN
malice OF the Indians the sometimes sn1Se ,
Mexcans scalp before its eyes ihe oeas' "ouiu tne'
rear and plunge in the utmost fright, and would b
throvn upon the ground with great violence l hay'
heeu tossed from the mules back as many as nan doze
times a day and once was so stunned thai Jay con
sdSrable fine before my senses reurned Ny repeated