The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-02-27


solved to live in hope, if I died in despair.
After remaining three days in the place
where | first concealed myself from the In
dians, went to a grove about a mile dis
tant and built little house of bushes and
grass. Here lived nine days. My only
food was the blackberries which grew on the
bushes around. | quenched my thirst at a
spring near by. My wounds panied me ex-
ceedingly, and | wasted to mere skeleton
for want of proper nourishment. 1t rained
upon me seven nights in succession, and my
little house was unable to protect me from
the cold storm. More than once / spent
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
went to the spring during the day. Iexpected
sometimes to be devoured by them but
they are great towards and | could easily
trghten 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 myself weep
ing bitterly.
When absent from my house on the
twelfth day after my escape, some New
Mexican traders passed by on their way to,
the CamaEChe settlements. While stand
ing on a small hill looking 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 distance.
behind. They Immediately came towards.
me and soon understood my situation. TheT
kindly offered to take me with them and L
gladly bade farewell to my house in the.
woods. The Mexicans put me upon a burro.
and gave me a blanket and some mems cloth
ing in which | dressed myself very comfort,
ably.
Two or three days after this we came in
sight of band of Camanches, and as it was
not safe for me to be seen by them, | was
left behind in ravine, with the promise I
that the Mexicans would return for me at
night. As they did not fulfil their promise, (
| started towards their camp about mid }
night 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 L
reached it was discovered by one of the /
LidullIS purity WIN war lICLlllllS ILlC
This man is Puebla Indian, of San Ildel- |
fonso, and is named Juan Jose. TO him
more than to any other man in the party,
owe my present freedom.
He told me the camp was full of Canaan
cheS, and if they saw me it would be i'm
possible for the party 10 save rae. He made
me lie down on the ground while he covered
me with dried grass. | lay here all day,
and at night crept forth 10 quench my al
most intolerabe thirst. Juan came and
brought me some bread and told me not by
any means to leave my hiding place the
next day. That day dragged slowly along,
and could hear the dreaded Camanches
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
for seven or eight days longer, as the party
were obliged to go further on, and could not
take me unless | was willing to become
captive once more. saw the party disap-
pear the next day, and it seemed as if my
hopes of rescue disappeared with them. But
resolved to wait till the appointed time
was up.
In a revine near by | found large log
which had been left burning; this fire |
kept alive day and night till the Mexicans
returned, and without it should probably
e Il IL.