Washington sentinel., 1854-02-09

was hurt, II did not rise lnmeulaleiy, anu
mount the animal which had just thrown me,
they would apply their riding whips, or gun
stock, or the end of a lariat to my unprotected
body, with the greatest violence. The squaw
would also help me to rise by wounding me with
the point of spear which she carried You
may understand one object the Indians had in
view in putting me upon this wild animal, and
causing me to be thrown so often, when tell.
You / expected to become a mother in a few
weeks. They understood my situation, but, in!
stead Of softening their hearts, it only made
them more inhuman, and subjected me to
greater suierings.
was obliged to work like slave while in
camp; while there was any service to perform,
was not allowed moments rest. was COM
| PEELED 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 through briers and
bushes, till what little clothing had was torn
| to ribbons / brought the animals to camp in
| the morning, and had to watch them till they
were ready to start; and If one more wild than
| the rest ran off, l must chase and bring him
back, and then be knocked down by the savage
chief for my want of skill. When all were
ready to start had to catch and saddle my own
wild mule without assistance. If the party did
not start Immediately, was compelled 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 suffering
| 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 man, and be-
cause of my inability to accomplish my task
=, baya haa,, uh;nnad I'll
was raw Large stones were thrown at me.
was knocked down and stamped upon by the
ferocious chief who seemed anxious to crush
me like worm beneath his feet. Ny head
sometimes fell under the horses feet and then
the Indians would try to make the beasts kick.
me- After all was ready for the day. journey,
was obliged to travel as fast as the others,
riding sometimes over rocks and through
bushes, aching and sore from head to foot, and
exposed alike to cold and heat, sunshine and
storm.
have gone two days at time without tast-
ing food The Indians depended on hunting
for their subsistence, and sometimes had moth
ing to eat themselves unless there was an
abundance of food, received little or nothing.
When any game was killed, the Indians would
tear out the heart, liver, and entrails, and eat
them raw. ] suffered exceedingly from thirst;
was not allowed to drink except while in
camp. We frequently crossed beautiful streams
during the day, and would beg the privilege
of dismounting to quench my thirst. But the
Indians would always deny my request with
contempt. 1t was in vain / pointed to my
parched tongue and head-blistered in the rays
of the SUM- Nothing could soften them into
pity, and / ardently desired death, that my tor
ments might come to an end.
We travelled every day; we usually started
about ten o'clock in the morning, and halted
about four in the evening. The Indians were
accustomed to go to the tops of the highest
hills and stand there gazing in every direction.
We always spent the night on hill, and were
thus exposed to the cold autumn winds. We
slept on the ground, generally without cover,
ing. When it rained, 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 my mule had become so gentle that
could ride it without being thrown, it was taken
from me and was obliged to travel OH foot.
The road over which we passed was often very
rough and stony and full Of thorns. My feet
were wounded and bruised, till they were COW
cred with blood and greatly swollen. But still
was obliged to keep up with the rest of the
party; and if / fell behind, was beaten till
was nearly senseless. The Indians often
urged me on, by attempting to ride their horses
over me; many mile of that road is marked
with my blood, and many a hill has echoed to
my useless cries.
I travelled thus on foot some FIVE or six days.
After the party were ready to start in the morn
ing, the direction of the route was pointed out
to me, and / was required to 60 before the
others, in order not to hinder them. They
usually overlook me before / travelled far |
had always intended to make my escape as
soon as / found an opportunity. | never ex-
pected to reach any friendly settlements but ]
did not wish to give the Indians the pleasure
of seeing me die. On the morning of the
twenty-ffth day of my capture, | was sent on
in advance as usual.
Ihad eaten no breakfast, and was very weak
but the hope Of escape now supported me. |
hasteRed on as fast as | could, and, finding
suitable hidng-place, ] turned aside and con-
cealed myself in the bushes. After this, | saw
nothing more Of my captors | found after
wards, by the tracks of the animals, that they
had searched for me- They probably thought /
would die, and therefore took less trouble to
find me. / haYe no doubt 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 Indian
country, some hundreds of miles from the near
est friendly settlements. | was without food,
without shelter, and almost without clothing.
Ny body was full of wounds and bruises, and
my feet were so swollen that could hardly
stand. Wild beasts were around me, and saw
ages more wild than beasts roamed on every
hand. Winter was coming on, and death, ir
its most terrible forms, stared me in the face;
sat down and thought Of my lonely and ex-
posed situation. But could notweep; my heart
was too full of woe.
After remaining three days in the place
where first concealed myself from the In
dians, went to grove about half 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 spring near
by. Ny wounds panied me exceedingly, and | ,
was wasted to mere skeletonfor want ofproper
nourishment. 1t rained upon me seven nights
in succession, and my little house was unable
to protect me from the cold storms.
More than once / spent sleepless night