The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-02-22

'--@ s-tfAAAiS W cat AhlNes
there vas an abundance Of food, received
little or nothing. When any game wa,
killed, the Indians would tear out the heart
liver, and entrail, and eat them raw.
suffered exceedingly from thirst; | was no
allowed to drink except while in camp. We
! frequently crossed beautiful streams during
the day, and would beg the privilege o
dsmouDting to quench my thirst. But tht
Indians would always deny my reaues
with contempt. 1t was in vain pointed
to my parched tongue and head biistered
in the rays Of the sun. Nothing could sof
ten them into pity, and | ardently desired
death, that my torments might come to an
end
! We travelled every day; we usually star.
ted about ten o'clock in the morning, and
halted about four in the evening. The In
dians were accustomed to 90 to the tops OF
the highest hills and stand there gazing in
every direction. We always spent the night
on ahlll, and were thus exposed to the cold
autumn winds. We slept no the ground,
generally, without covering. When it rain.
ed, the Indians made tent of the blankets
and wagon.sheets they had stolen from us;
but was not allowed to take shelter in it.
preferred sleeping outside in the storm.
After nay mule had become so gentle that /
could ride it without being thrown, it was
taken from me and was obliged to travel
on foot. The road over which we passed
was often very rough and stony, and full ol
thorns. My feet were wounded and bfuis-
ed, till they were covered with blood and
greatly swollen. But still | was obliged to
keep up with the rarty; and III fell behind,
| was beaten till was nearly senseess The
Indians often urgei me on, by attempting
to ride their horses over ne; many mile
of that road is marked with my blood, and
many hill has echoed to my useless cries.
travelled thus on foot some Eve or six
days. After the party were ready to start IN
the morning, the direction of the route was
pointed out to me, and was required Ia
! ~ before tho others, in order not TO hinder
them. They usually overlook me before
Travelled far, | had always intended tc
make my escape as soon as found an op.
| Portunity. never expected to reach any
friendly settlement, but | did not wish &c
glYethe lnlfns the pleasure of seeing me
die. On the morning of the twenty-tflh
day. of my capture, | was sent On IN advance
| as usual .'.
had eaten no breakfast, and was very
weak, but .he hope OF escape now supported
me. | FASTENED on as fast rs | could and
fnding suitable hidiAg place, I turned a.
side and concealed myself in the bushes. -
After this, | awnothing more ofry captors
found afterwards, by The tracks Of the an.
imals, that they had searched for me-
nave no duubt the next time they pass
that way they Will look for my bones
My situation was now distressing beyond
all description; for | was alone, in an lndi.
an country, some hundreds Of miles from
the uea4st friendly settlements. | was
Without food, without shelter, and almost
without clothing. Ny body was full o
wounds and bruises, and my feet we're SC
swollen that could hardly stand. Wild
beasts we've around me, and savages more
wild than beasts roamed on every hand --
Winter WAS coming on, and death in its
paost terrible foIms, stared me in the face;
| sat down and thought of my lonely and
exposed situation. But could not wee p;
my heart was too full of woe.
After remaining three days in the place
where | first concealed myself from the In
dlans, | went to a grove about half mile
distant and built little house Of bushes and
grass. Here lived nine days, My only
food was the bhckberries which grew On
the bushes around. quenched my thirst
at spring near by, My wounds panied
exceedingly, and | was wasted to mere
| skeleton for want Of proper nourishment.---
1t rainedupon me seven nights in succession,
and my lttle house was unable to protect
me from the cold storms. I.. .. ..--...
More than once spent sIeepless night,
perfectly drenched in rain; while the wolves,
sometimes coming within FIVE steps of me,
would make the woodsring with their fright
ful howlings. They would also follow close
behind me. when | went to the spring du-
ring the day. l expected sometimes to be
devoured by them; Uut they are great COW
ards, and could easily frishten them away
When | slept, would dream OF seeing ia
bles spread with an abundance of every
kind OF food; but when stretched forth my
hand to satisfy my hunger, the effort would
waken me, and would find myself weep.
ing bitterly.
When absent from my hnuse, oa The
twelfth day after my escape; some New Mex.
lean traders passed by on their way to the
Camanchs settlements. While standing on
small hill looking after them IN order to
be sure they were not Indians, | was dis
covered by some three or four Of the party,
who happened TO be at some, distance be.
hind. They Immediately cathe towards ms
and soon understood my situation. They
kindly offered to take me with them, and l
gladly bade farewell to my house in the
woods. The Mexicans put me 6arro, and
and gave me q blanket and some mems
clothing, III which | dressed myself very
comfortably. s.@- #"S
Two or three DAYS after this we came il
sight Of u band of Camachcs, and, as it was
not safe to be seen oy them. I was left be.
hind in ravine, with the promise that the
Mexicans would return for met at night
AS they did not fulfill their promise, l start
ed towards their camp. About midnight;
while wandering among. the bushes, Cam
anche Indian passed within twenty Steps. -
thought i was caprve once more, but for
tunatety the savage did not SCENE. Threw
myself on the ground and waited for DAY.
lnthe morning | started again for the camp
.ofthe Nexicans. but before | reached it ]
was discovered BY one Of the trading party
who was herding the animals. This man is
a Pueblo lndian Of San. lldefenso, and is
named Juan Jose. To him, more t:,sn to
any other man ia the party, owe my pres.