The Nevada journal., 1854-03-17


was too full of woe l rememberd the event
of the few proceeding weeks The husband q
my choice had been murdered. and was no
allowed the melancholy privilege of CLOSING
his eyes, and seeing his remains decently inter
red My little property had been stolen am
when within a few days march of sympathizin
friends, / was captured by savages, and afte
three weeks of indescribable suffering, foun
myself wandering solitary and destitute in tn
midst of the wild prairies- cup was file
to overhowing, but resolved to live in hope
if died in despair.
After remaining three days in the place, wher
/ first concealed myself from the Indians, wen
to grove about half mile distant and built
little house Of bushes and grass. Here livet
niue days. My only food was the hackberrie
which grew on the bushes around | quenchet
my thirst at spring near by. My wounds
panied me exceedingly, and wasted to mere
skeleton for want of proper nourishnient i
rained upon me seven nights in succession, anc
my little house was unable to protect me from
the cold storms. More than once | spent g
sleepless night, perfectly drenched in rain while
the wolves, sometimes coming within five steps
of me, would make the woods ring with their
frightful howlings. They would also follow
close behind me when l went to the spring dur
ing the day ; l expected some time to be de.
voured by them but they are great towards
and could easily frighten them away.
When | slept would dream of seeing tables
spread with an abundance of every kind of food
but when l stretched forth my hand to satisfy
my hunger the effort would awaken me, and l
would find myself weeping bitterly.
When absent from my house on the twelfth
day after my escape some New Mexican traders
passed by on their way to the Camanche settle
ments. While standing on a small hiIf look
ing after them in order to be sure they were not
Indians, was discovered by some three or four
of the party who happened to be some dstaDce
behind They Immediately came toward me,
and soon understood my situation. | gladly
bade farewell to my house in the woods. The
Mexicans put me upon burro, and gave me a
blanket and some mems clothing, in which /
dressed myself very Comfortably.
Two or three days after this we came in sight
of band OF Eamanches, and as it was not safe
for me tc be seen by them, / was left behind in
ravlne, with the promise that the Mexicans
would return for me at night. AS they did not
fulfill their promise, | started toward their
camp; about midnight while wandering among
the bushes, Camanche Indian passed within
twenty steps. | thought | was captive once
more, but fortunately 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 reached
it was discovered by one of the trading party
who was herding the animals. This man is a
Pueblo Indian, of San Ildefonso, and is named
Juan Jose. To him more than any other man
in the party l owe my present freedom.
He told me the camp was full of Camanches,
and if they saw me it would be impossible for
the party to save me- He made me lie down
on the ground while he covered me with dried
grass. lay here all day, and at night crept
forth to quench my almost intolerable thirst.
Juan came and brought me some bread, and
told me not by any means to leave my hiding
place the next day. The day Jagged slowly
along, and could hear the dreaded Canaan
ches passing and repassing and shouting to each
other. At night Juan returned, bringing
another blanket and several loaves of bread
and told me that | 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
saw the party disappear the next day, and it
seemed as if my hopes of rescue disappeared
with them. But resolved to wait till the ap-
pointed time was up.
In ravine near by found large log which
had been left burning this fire kept alive day
and night till the Mexicans returned, and with
out it | should probably have frozen to death,
as the weather had become very cold. cov-
cred hollow cottonwood stump with bark and
leaves to keep out the cold wind. This stump
was my house during my stay here. When 1
could endure the cold no longer would leave
my house and run to the fire, but was afraid to
stay there long lest the Indians should 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.
The hackberries were very scarce here, ard 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.
But on the 9Th heard several persons calling
to each other. feared they were Indians, but
they belonged 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 my attention.
was SO overjoyed that rushed to them un-
mindful of briars and sore feet. Juan gave me
a fine horse to ride, and the whole party treated
me with the utmost civility and kindness. On
our thirty-fourth day of our return toward New
Mexico, we reached the town of Pecos. Here
I met Major Carleton and Mrs. Adams of the
U. S. Army, who took the deepest interest in
my comfort. Here l laid aside mems apparel,
and was furnished with supply from Mrs. A. 8
wardrobe. After remaining at Pecos a few
DAYS was conducted to Santa Fe by the sob
of Gov. Merriwether.
The past seems like horrid dream. l have
related nothing but facts and no language that
can use can fully express the sufferings OF
mind and body which have endured. My two
brothers-in-law are still captives aad unless re-
claimed will become as savage as the Indians.
The Mexicans saw them with the Camanches,
but were unable to procure their freedom One
is twelve and the other ten, and unless the
strong arm of Government is lifted up for their
redemption there is no hope for them
Pencil SAarpener.-The Aha says "we
are indebted to Messrs. Lecount d Strong
Al Ac noorhinoru nj