Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-02-17

A4oin tuo 81. LOUIS RtpuWicah.
In our paper Of yesterday, we gave the
nrfative Of Mr. Wilson. who recently made
ksf escape from the camanche Indians Her
sceouut Of suffering and IN treatment seems to
be almost Incredible. 1tis difficult to believe
thst At this day. and 10 this enlightened age,
there are any Tribes associated with the whites
who could be guilty OF such barbarities. We
learn, however, from Major Steen, Of the U.
s. Army, who has been stationed in New
Mexico and has had much intercourse with
these and other Indians, that the narrative is
not at al likely TO be oyer-wrought. lie has
given us narrative Of females whom he has
released from the Indians that even exceeds
Mrs Wilson's account Of suffering In one
instance, he released five Mexican girls, The
indians had attacked Mexican ranch, mur
dered the parents and men, and taken away
the women and children The boys they train
10 be more savage and brutal than them
elves; the women they use for oil kinds Of
drugery and the most licentious purposes.
IA The Major informs US that, among the Eve
taken from the indians, there was lite girl
OF about nine or ten years--that she has been
compelled to drive cattle, stolen from her
fathers ranch, distance Of more than three
hundred miles. She was bare-footed, and
the thorns of the cactus we're planted in her
feet seemingly as thick as the hair on man 8
head. The soles of her feet had burst from
the irritation, and some Of her toes were pro.
truding from the flesh and the bones were
exposed.--Her whole body was bruised and
manged from wbippings, and the piercings
Of the spears which the squaws carry. The
other four girls, older than this one, were in
nearly the same condition. With much diff
Guilty, he secured possession of them, and af-
ter proper treatment and supplying them with
necessary clothing, DC, which had to be done
at the private expense of the officers Of the
post, (the United States having no fund for
charitable purposes) they were sent to their
relatives in Mexico.
Major Steen succeeded, at his individual
expense and that OF another officer, in rescu-
ing from the Indians, a Mexican woman aged
about twenty eight years, who had been vel
and tenderly raised, and as well educated al
the country where she resided permitted, and
Of her son, small child. Her narration o
sufferings and indignities 10 which she was
subjected, can scarcely be described. Or
her occasion, the Major and another off
Ger hired a Mexican TO steal Mexican wo
man whom the Indians had in captivity, and
when she was delivered to them she was in
most deplorabe condition-destitute of cloth
ing and physically reduced to the merest skel
eton.
The persons thus rescued from captivity
were returned TO their relatives in Mexico
and up TO this time, the cost, labor and ex
peDse of capturing them from the Indians, o
medical treatment, and supporting them and
sending them home, has been paid out of tn,
private purses of the officers Is this just OF
right on the part Of the United States Gov
ernment?
Major Steen informs us that among the
band of The Camancbe Indians from which
Mrs. Wilson escaped, there are full two hun
dred white persons held in captivity, chiefly
Mexicans. The Indians justify their conduct
By alleging that the Mexicans steal their chill
dren and make slaves Of them.
Be this as it may, it must be admitted, tha,
il is the duty of the Government, promptly
and efficiently, 10 furnish the means Of put
ting en- end to this cruelty, and Furnishing the
Indians. In the early history Of our country
the Indian paid some respect 10 the virtue o
the female; in the progress of bis connexior
with civilization, he has lost even this attr
butte. He is now as beastly as he is savage
and The Government should provide The
means TO punish them whenever they violate
the laws Of humanity.