The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-02-21
Higrrllanrult5.
Mrs. Wilson, the Indian Captive.

Mrs, Wilson, the Indian Captive.
We have already announced the escape and
return Of Mrs Jane Wilson Of Texas, to San
Ia Fe, who had been taken captive by the "a
manc he Indians, und subjected to the most en-
traurdnary cruelties. The affair has very just
ly excited the greatest indignation IN Ne"
Mexico against the Indians.
From Mrs Wilson's narrative, 1t appears
she is but II years Of age. About year ago
she was married to young farmer IN lexas'
and in April they joined party OF hf'y TWO
emgrant<, bound for California. ihey were
attacked by Indians and the party WAS com
PEELED to return to Texas; but MIR. and Mrs
Wilson remained at Ell Paso, where their hor-
ses being stolen, they were compelled to give
up the plan of going to California, and set out
on their return to Texas in July. In August
Mr.. Wilson and his father fell into the hands
of Indians and were mur urdered. Mrs. w. re-
turned to Ell Paso, and again in September
started for Texas, with her three brothers III
law and small party. When within three
DAYS Journey of Phantom Hill, an American
Military post, they were attacked, by Canaan
ches while some of their men were ott in pur-
suit of some of their horses that had been sto'
lon. Mexican who was with Mrs. Wilson,
was brutaIly murdered and lped before her
ewes and she and her two brothers-ln law, lads
of some ten or twelve years, were siczed,
bound and carried of, with the entire property
of the party.
The Indians, with their captves, proceeded
in a northwest direction, each being approPrI-
ated rs the property OF one or other OF the
chiefs. They were stripped of nearly all their
4 -, hrut, Iv frp1 cd
Wilson, although expecting soon to become
mother, was subjected t" every conceivable
cruelty and indignity; beaten and bruised ex-
posed to a,gues OF all kinds her flesh larrr'.
ted by Iarats and whips, or by the loads OF
wood she was obliged to carry "n her bare
back; compelled to d" the work OF men, or
punished for her inability, by being stoned
knocked down and tramp ped on almost Gu
trel, deprived of food aud all this lasted l"r
twenty five days. At this time She wa sent
in advance in the morning as usual, when She
determined to attempt an escape, which She
succeeded in accomplishing by >ecreting her
self in >,tne bushes, till the Indians passed
For twelve DAYS she wandered through this
Indian country, subsisting upo.. her'l :, when
she fortunately fell in with some New MeX'cdE
traders. who furnished her with some mems
clothing and blanket. In consequence q
their lncr,ing with a Camanrhe, they had TO
leave her behind, and she narrowly escaped {"
second capture. But b. the subsequent aId OF
one OF the traders Il Pueblo Indian, She was
enabled. after hiding herself for eight days, t"
escape At the expiration ct TINS 'tIile she
was rescued bv the traders, furnished WITH ii
horse. and brought to the town OF Pecos, y.
Mckee. where Major Carleton and others, OF
the army, took care nf her, and enabled her t"
proceed to Santa Fe.
This is but an outline of a terrible story, the
counterpart of which, in all except the escape,
are said to be frequent a letter from Santa
Fe says hat the white captives among the Ga
manches are as numerous rs the Indians them
selves. The same letter mentions the escape
of a Young Mexican woman, whn returns alter
wears terrible captivity, expecting to become
the mother of an infant whose father is wild
Indian The Camanches practice cruelty IN
its utmost refinement towards their capuve>.
Children are trained to be more savage than
they are themselves, and women are subjected
to outrages too horrible to be mentioned.
The Santa Fc Gazette says: the two broth
ers of Mrs. Wilson are yet in captivity, and
unless soon reclaimed, will imbibe taste tor
the wild life of the Indian and be forever lost.
There are many hundreds. and, we may ven
ture to say, thousands of captives among the
Indians of New Mexico, principally women
and children the former are forced to become
slaves of the men, and the letter are trained
for warriors
When Governor Merriwether came ont, he
was fortunate enough to rescue two Mexican
girls from the Camanchcs-one sixteen and
the other eighteen years of age. They had
been captured from near Chihuahua, one three
wears. and the other ten months before. They
were sent to the Governor of that State, VIII"
acknowledged the conduct of the Governor OF
New Mexico in very handsome terms. They
said there were large number of Mexican
women in captivity. and they saw one AmcrI'
can woman with a small child that an Indian
one day when they were travelling on horse
back, took the child from its mother, threw 1t
up into the air, and as it came down caught 1t
on his spear, and that others rode at full gal.
Top, took it on their spears; and SO passed
it around among the party
Surely our government will not permit such
outrages to 90 unpunishcd, even if it he neces-
sarv to cxtcrninate the whole tribe of these
brutal savagcs.
LIFE WITHOUT An AIN.--'rhosc Of you who