The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1854-02-18
Escape Of In. wilson from the Indians.

4
We copy the following ftotn tho San Anto-
nio Ledger Of che 18th Inst:
From Licat Thomas. who came from San.
Ia Fc, VIC learn that Mrs. Wilson,, who was
captured some months since near Eredericks.
burg, by tho Colnanchcs had dcscApcd, and was
IN Santa Fc, under Gov. Merriwsnthcr's care,
where she received every possible attention
from the lady residents.
Mrs. Wilson states that she is'thc daughter
Of Wm. Smith, formerly of Alto, Illinois where
she was born. Her father moved to Missouri
and then to Texas. In February last she mar
ricd James Wilson in tho town of Greenvllc,
Hunt county, Texas. Last summer her hus.
band, his father and two brothers joined par.
l ty OF California cmigrnnts and went nearly to
I III Paso, and there concluded, with several
others, TO return. a few days after they left
| ON their return, the party wns attacked by
Indians, and her husband and his father killed.
! lThcsc Indians were Pucbos, and had follow
cd the party to recover their cattle which had
been driven on
After this, the party continued their return
without any further attacks, untiln Frcdcr.
icksburg, when the Comanchcs charged upon
the wagon, which was in the rear, Killed the
driver, and made prisoners Of Mrs. Wilson and
the two boys, her husbands brothers. The
prisoners were taken To the Comnnchc camp,
where there wore largo number Of Indians,
when they stripped Mrs. W., and subjected
her to the most brutal and inhuman treatment.
She remained with the Comanchcs twenty
| five days, during which time they continued
their brutal and ficndish treatment at the end
OF which time she effected her escape. and
wandered about for twelve days, naked, and
with no other food than what wild fruit she
could find, She then fell in with a party Of
Mexicans who were on their way to trade with
the Comanches. They clothed and treated
her the best they could. and remained with
her until she had partially recovered from the
elects of hunger and fatigue. The traders
concluded to go on, and IL possible open q
trade for tho boys Knowing that it would
not do to take Mrs. Wilson back to the band,
they gave her food and concealed her in hol-
| low tree where she remained eight days.
prey to the kccncst anguish from FEAR Of the
Indians, the wolves, and the cravings of hun.
ger.
Alter an absence of eight days, the traders
returned, took Mira. Wilson from her hiding
place, gave her horse and conveyed her to
the house of a man who could speak English,
about twenty miles from Santa Fc, where they
len her, as she could proceed no farther. I'hc
traders then sent word to Gov. Mcrriwcathcr
OF her whereabouts and her condition, who
immediately sent his son TO see that she was
properly cared for, and to remove her to San
to Fc, as soon ms she wns sufficiently rccoy.
cred to travail. She reached Santa Fe on the
3lst of last month.
i Mrs. Wilson Is represented to be n young
woman of Tine personal appearance and intclli.
gent. Her suffering and present delicnto sit
nation gained her tho sympathy Of all who
have seen her.
j TmE FATE or GESius.---iIow precious few
people in tho world know cyon the name OF
tho author Of that stirring hcart-song Sweet
Home, though its melody has fell upon the
car and rested on the tongue of the million.
A correspondent, writing from Washington, al
luding to the life Of Payne, and IFS yieissitudcs,
says As sat In my garrct here in Washing.
ton, watching the course Of grcat men, md the
destiny ofparty, met oflcn with strange con-
tradction In this cycntful life The most re-
/ inafkablc was that Of j. Howard Payne. a,i.
thor Of Sweet Home" l knew him person
ally. Ilc occupied the rooms under me FOR
some time, and his conversation was SO capt.
waiting that ] often spent whole days in his
apartment lie was an applicant for office at
the tinc Consul 10 rInis from which he had
been removed. What sad thing ii was to
see the poet subject to all tho humiliation Of
oiiicc-secking On an evening we would walk
along tho streets. Once in while we would
see some family circle 40 happy, and forming
so beautiful group, tbatwc would both stop
and then pass silently on.
Tn such occasion hc would give history
of his wandcrings- his trials, aud all tho cares
! incident 10 his sensitive nature aud poverty
II How oiton,' said he once, Il have been In
the heart Of Paris, Perrin and London ,or some
I other city, and heapl persons singing or the
hand'organ playing Sweet Iio,nc,i without a
shilling 90 bmy tho next meal. or plgcc 10 lay
! my head. 'rhe world l,as literaliv sung nv
song until every heart Is familiar with It's mel.
ody. Vet, have been wandercr from my
boyhoos,
I Ny country has turned ne ruthless from
NY office and IN uy old age have Ia submit
!. 10 humiliation for hrvadf Thus be would
I complain of his lenless lot. Ills only wish
~ss - slEe Il. : eFsige iAs,.s. s4 l.o haiiea hy
/ stFaugcrS aud sleep ~ ohseufity.
= ~ 'Hcl him uue day ioeking unnu,slly sad
( Have yen gsss your coasalases' saii I.
4 fcS, and Ic&yo III week ftr Tuuis; I
shsli never tesuFn
"1sse last exprA<sea was unl political saisi
Far fftm H. poos lssyae his wssh MAS rial.
tax. hc slsel al IatnlS. sNheihes his srs..asns
have heen iaougt iothis country knep sses
They shoad sse, aud Il nosae others weukl SO
il, iet lhv hanfssss tlsresesa4t the wtsss.l xsse
ysenny, SIG ,aennngnt se lssyne. ksseaf
him. and via sive isy Psasy. So an sssttipsiass
Aks ,hs scsloNiae
Il nFng sss<
4 4 if0w ARD PAYNE.
Y4s stxtses ~ - Sexrt fssssf
4 ~asrssFsy Ia lifs 10 uhe4s ssasxs zs4s ssss,s
h exvsy ,essxsse. als8 fssssl ~ NSs2sa