Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-02-15

1t was announced short time ago that
an American woman had been rescued from
the Camanche Indians. The following is
her narrative of her captivity and suferings:
| was born in Alton, Illinois, on the 18th
day of June, 1887, and am, therefore, in
the seventeenth year of my age. My fa-
theirs name was VIM. Smith my mother 8
maiden name was Jane Cox. / had five
brothers and four sisters. think 1t was in
1916 that we moved 10 Missouri, and set
tied at boat landing or ferry called James
town. on the North Grand River. My ia.
ther kept the ferry.
About eight years ago we moved from
| this place to Texas, and settled near Paris,
in Lamar County. Here my father and
mother died within one day of each other,
leaving six orphan children behind them
Three of nv brothers had died before the
death of my parents. My eldest brother,
who was in ranging company, now came
to settle my fathers affairs and make pro-
visions for our support. He esecured homes
for us with different neighbors, but took the
Youngest sister, our pet with him to place
her with one of our aunts.
One days journey from the place where
he left us, he was attacked by the winter
fever, and died in one week. lived with
several neighhors until the first of last Feb
ruary, when | was married to Mr.. James
Wilson, young farmer ust beginning life
with little property, consisting in horses
and cattle. He was but nineteen when we
were married. We knew little of life for
was not vet sixteen. | fear we were crazy
in getting married while we were so young
| We had heard that people became rich
livery fast in California, so we concluded te
move and commence life in that distant
, lcountry. We gathered together the little
property we possessed and joined party
Of emigrants consisting Of 50 men. 12 wo
men and several children. The father ano
brothers of my husband were among thi:
number. There were in all twenty-five
wagons, and the whole company was placee
under command Of Mr.. Henry Hickman
: w. started from Hunt County on the 6tf
ofApri last, and took the route for FL Pa
so. We arrived at-the Guadalupe Noun
, tains about the 1st of June. Here tht
: Mescalero Apaches stole from us nineteer
J head of cattle six men started in pursuit
= buswer driven back by the Indians. W.
went thence to. Ell Paso.. My husband no
being able to travel web With Mr.. Hick
: mans train, he deterrhi 20 remaln at E
\ Pasohll tbesarrivd ofsn6fI psfty OF Cal
= ifornis emisraafsa. sFiivesof Mir H. . fnsl
) ) staid With us. Whiiea here, the Mexit5an:
= stole nearly all the property we had: .ant
: left usnnable to proceed on oaikjourney
\ We could do nothing now exceptthake. ou
: way back to Texas. Ssse
> About the last of July wesfted on ou
q return, with the fragments,ef odS sproperty
8 which tie thieves hadsspafed On the frs
u day of August my hasbaaa and his fathe
left us, aud fell into the hands of the lndi
= ans. / saw them no more after this.
was told that they had been murdered
Yogmay perhaps be able to imagine my
: Ifeshnsswhen found myselfthus bereavet
., and destitute in land of strangers. My
: misfort,ne seemed greater than | coulc
:, bear, but knew not that heavier trial:
: were in store for me.
Unable to continue my journey, return
ed to E Paso, where remained till Sep
8 tember s, when,I started once more fol
: Texas with my three brothers-in-law, in
, company with,a small party consisting o
: five Americans and one Mexican. Mr.
! Hart, who owned and commanded this
! tram, having some business in Texas which
required his immediate attention, travelled
very rapidly, and hoped in few days
more TO be in the midst of my friends.
As we ha1 seen only one Indian on the
route we Aattered ourselves that we should
not be molested by any Of the tribes which
infest this route. When near the borders
of Texas, some of our party stole three an
imals from Mr.. Hart, and ran off. MIR.
Hart, anxious to overtake the thieves, star
ted in pursuit, taking with him my eldest
brother-n-law, lad some fourteen years
of age, leaving myself Mexican, and the
two boys to follow as rapidly as we could.
We we're at this time within three days
Journey Of military post at Phantom Hill,
and were considered out of danger. A dis
f charged soldier being unable to keep up
with us was some distance behind, but l
saw nothing of HIM after this. The day
after Mr., Hart left us, as we were travel
ling, about noon, we saw two, Camanche
Indians charging upon US in 'front.' and at
the same time two others were seen dri-
wing up behind. We were all very much
: frightened, and the Mexican jumped out OF
the wagon and went towards the Indians
ir order, if possible TO gain their friendship
The mules of our wagon, four in num-
Der, becoming frightened by the war-whoop
Of the savages, turned out Of the road and
commenced running as fast as they could.
One of them fell down before we had gone
far, and the others were then obliged to
stop. The Indians now came upon us, and
Iordered the Mexican TO take the mules out
}of the harness While this was going oD,l
got out of the wagon, and looked on in
breathless suspense. After the mules were
Embarrassed, the Mexican was stripped OF
bis clothing, his hands tied behind his back,
and ordered to sit down upon the ground.
One of them went behind him and shot him
with gun, while another stabbed him sew
eral times with large butcher knife. His
scalp was cut off before he was dead, and
put into his own hat; the bat was then
worn BY one of his murderers. / was stu
pifed with horror as gazed on this spec
tacle, and supposed that my turn would
come next. But the Indians having Sc
cured the plunder Of the wago& mounted
us on the mules and ordered us 20 60 with
them.
As left looked back and saw the poor
Mexican weltering in his blood and still
| hre,fk;no