Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-02-23

i Mexican. Mr.. Hart who owned and com
manded this train, 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 had seer
only one Indian on the route we fattered
ourselves that we should not be molested
by any of the tribes which infest this
route When near the borders oi
Texas, some of our party stole three
animals from Mr.. Hart, and ran off,
Mr.. Hart, anxious to overtake the
thieves, started in pursuit taking with
him my eldest brother-in-law, lad
some IA years of age, leaving myself,
a Mexican, and the two boys to follow
as rapidly as we could. We were at
this time within three days journey of a
military post at Phantom Hill, and we're
considered out of danger. A dis
charged soldier being unable to keep up
with us was some distance behind, but
1 saw nothing of him after this. The
day after Mr.. Hart left US, we were
travelling; about noon, we saw two
Camanche Indians charging upon US in
front and at the same time two others
were seen driving up behind. We were
all very much frightened, and the Mexi-
can Jumped out of the wagon and went
towards the Indians, in order, if possi-
bic, to gain their friendship. The mules
in our wagon, four in number, become
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 ordered the Mexican
to take the mules out of the harness.
While this was going on l got out of
the wagon, and looked on in breathless
suspense. After the mules were un-
harnessed, the Mexican was stripped of
his 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 with a butcher knife. His
scalp was cut off before he was dead,
and put into his own hat; the hat was
then worn by one of his murderers. l
was stupi6ed with horror as l gazed on
this spectacle, and supposed that my
turn would come next. But the Indi-
ans, having secured the plunder of the
wagon, mounted us on mules and
ordered us to follow them. AS l left,
l saw the poor Mexican weltering in his
blood and still breathing.
We took northwest direction, and
travelled till sunset, when we encamped.
Here the plunder, consisting of blank
cts, bedding, clothing, brides and some
money which 1 had in my pocket, was
divided among the Indians. Some ar
ticles considered useless were thrown in
the fire. My clothing was taken away
except barely enough to cover my per-
son. In the distribution of captives the
eldest boy, about 19 years old, was
claimed by the chief, 1 became the
property of one of the others. Ishould
have mentioned that one of our captors
was Mexican who had been stolen from
the State of Chihuahua when an infant.
He was now as savage as the Indians,
and claimed the youngest boy for his
prize. The scalp of the Mexican was
then stretched on a stick and dried be-
fore the fire.
After giving US some meat for our
suppers, they began to secure us for
the night. The boys, with their arms
tied behind them, were taken in charge
by two of the savages. Ny feet were
tied together, and l was obliged to lie
between the other two. did not sleep
any all night, for 1 was afraid of being
killed.
The next day we resumed our jour
ney, and travelled in the same direction.
The boys were mounted on good ami
mails, and had bows and arrows. Their
faces were painted Indian fashion, they
appeared to enjoy this new mode of life,
and were never treated with excessive
cruelty. / was mounted on a good
horse, but being obliged to sit astride
the animal, the journey was exceeding
ly painful. H8x eo9e
l had a fine head of hair, which /
valued very much. But the chief or
dered it to. be cut off; l was little
mortified at seeing it decorating the
head of the heartless savages. Ny
head was thus left entirely unprotected
from the intensely hot rays of the SUM-
Nothing of interest occurred, except
repeated acts of inhumanity towards me,
until the 18th day after my capture.
At this time we were Joined by two In
dian men and squaw. These were all
the Indians saw till after my escape.
Up to this time my suffering had been
SO severe as to take from me all desire
to live, but now they were greatly in
creased. The squaw, from whom l
might have expected some compassion,
was evidently the cause of all the new
cruelties which 1 now began to expert
ence. My horse was taken from me,
and l was mounted on an unbroken
mule without bride, I had saddle
but it was worn out and good for nothing
except to torture me. This animal
would frequently top me over Its head
of its own accord; but not being wild
enough to crafty the malice of the In
dians, the chief would sometimes shake
/ the Loco-o he ar-oc