The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-03-02

mounted on good horse, but being G
bligcd to sit astride the animcl, the jour
ney was exceedingly painful.
i had fine head of hair, which [ val
ued very much but the chief ordered it t
be cut off; | was not little mortified i
seeing it decorating the heads of tn
heartless savages. My head was thu
left entirely unprotected from the intense
! ly hot rays of she sun.
Nothing of interest occurred except re
peated acts of inhumanity towards me
until the twelfth day after my capture
At this time we were joined by two Indi
an men and squaw. These were all tn,
Indians | saw till after my escape. Up t.
this time my suferings had been so sever,
as to take from me all desire to live bu
now they were greatly increased. The
squaw from whom | mi ght have expected
some compassion, was evidently the cause
of the new cruelties which | now begar
to experience.
My horse was now taken from me, and
| was mounted on an unbroken mule
without bride. had saddle, but it
was worn out and good for nothing but to
orture me. This animal would frequent
ly tip me over its head Of its own accord
but not being wild enough to crafty the
malice of the Indians, the chief would
sometimes shake the Mexican's scalp be-
fore its eyes. The beast would then rear
and plunge 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 dozen
times day, and once [ was SO stunned
that lay considerable time before my
senses returned. My repeated falls
greatly amused the Indians whose horrid
peals of laughter might have been heard
at great distance.
| never saw them exhibit the first sign
of pity toward me. 1t made no difference
how badly l was hurt, if l did not rise
Immediately, and mount the animal which
had just thrown me, they would apply
their riding whips, or gun sticks, or the
end of lariat to my unprotected body,
with the greatest violence. The squaw
would help me to rise by wounding me
with the point Of spear which she car
ried. You may understand one object
the Indians had in view in putting me up
on this wild animal and causing me to be
thrown so often, when | tell you | expec-
ted to become mother in few weeks
They understood my situation, but instead
Of softening their hearts, it only made
them more inhuman and subjected me to
greater sufTerings.
was obliged to work like a slave
while in camp; while there was any SER
vice to perform [ was not allowed mo-
ment's rest. | was compelled to carry
large loads of wood on my back which,
being destitute Of sufficient clothing, was
mangled till the blood ran down to my
feet. had to chase the animals thro'
briars and bushes, till what little clothing
had was torn to ribbons. brought the
animals to camp in the morning, and had
to watch them tillthey were ready to start,
and if one more wild than the rest ran off,
| must chase him back, and then be
knocked down by the chief for my want
of skill. When all were ready to start,
had to catch and saddle my own wild
mule without assistance. Ii the party
did not start Immediately, | was compel
led to pull at the end of lariat which
the Indians would fasten to bush
They seemed to study every method Of
putting me to death by piecemeal.
/ Exhausted by incessant toll and suffer
ing and extreme anguish from my wounds
| could not work as fast as the Indians
desired, and often when scarcely able to
stand, and hardly knowing what | was
doing, | have been required to do the
work of the strongest mau. And because
of my inability to accomplish my task
satisfactorily, l have been whipped til
my flesh was raw. Large stones were
thrown at me. | was knocked down anC
stamped upon by the ferocious chief, who
seemed anxious to crush me like worn
beneath his feet. My head sometimn:
fell under the horses feet and then the In
dians would try to make the beas
kick me. After all was ready for tn,
days journey, was obliged to travel al
fast as the others, riding sometimes over
rocks and through bushes aching ant
sore from head to foot, and exposed alik,
to cold and heat, sunshine and storm.
have gone two days at time with
out tasting food. The Indians depended
on hunting for their subsistence, ant
sometimes had nothing to eat themselve
unless there was an abundance Of foot
| received little or nothing-when an,
game was killed, the Indians would tea
out the heart, liver, and entrals and ca
them raw. | suffered exceedingly from
thirst; was not allowed to drink, excep
while in camp. We frequently crosse,
beautiful streams during the day, and
would beg the privilege of dismountin!
to quench my thirst. But the Indian
would always deny my request with con
tempt. 1t was in vain | pointed to m,
parched tongue and head blis!ered in tn
rays of the sun. Nothing could softel
them into pity, and | ardently desire,
| death that nv torments mirht come To a.