Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-04-04
FRANCES SLOCUM.
THE CAPTIVE SISTER OF WYOMING.

L iNAA4NN NIJfo ES14o&yoNI.
THE CAPTIVE SISTER OF WYOMING
Among the inhabitants of the beautiful
valley of Wyoming, at the period of its IT.
vasion by the blood thirsty band of tories
and savages who, with barbarity seldom
equalled, laid waste and destroyed every
vestige of that lovely settlement murder
ing the inhabitants and driving off their
cattle, was Quaker by the name of JON
athan Slocum, whose peaceful disposition
and many acts of kindness to the Indians,
saved bis dwelling from the torch, and his
family from annoyance, while his neigh.
bors were butchered, their houses burnt.
and their children taken captive. This
IImpunlty, however, was of short duration.
I Mr.. Slocum had son, Giles, who was In
the battle, and it is supposed that the In
dams. becoming aware Of the fact, deter
mined on bloody revenge. In the fami-
ly OF Mr.. s. was the wife of neighbor.
who had been taken captive by the In
dlans, and her two sons, one fifteen, the
other twelve years of age One morning
IN NoVember some four months after the
bloody massacre which made the valley
desolatlon, party of redskin warriors
was seen prowling around the vicinity of
Wilkesbarre Fort. The two boys had
gone to the grindstone to sharpen a knife,
and the women were engaged in their do
mestic duties, when Mrs Slocum was
startled by a shot, and shrek from one
of the boys. Stepping to the door, she
beheld a swarthy warrior, in the act of
scalping the oldest boy with the knife he
had been grinding. Horror stricken at
the sight; she staggered back, and was fol-
lowed by the Indian, with the still warm
and reeking scalp in his hands Locking
about him for plunder. he discovered moth
ing to tempt his cupidity, worth the risk
of carrying off, but little son of Mrs
Slocum. who stood in his way as he turned
to the door. Selling him in his arms, he
was about to depart, when Mrs. s., with
all a mothers feeling, caught him by the
arm and besought aim, in tones of earnest
entreaty, not to deprive her of her boy
" See !" said she, 8 he can do thee no good.
he is lame" Dropping the boy, be took
up little daughter of five years, who had
crouched in fear behind high backed
chair, and was making his way out when
the mother again stopped him and plead
for her child. In the most pathetic tones,
she implored him to leave her bright-eyed
darling the light Of her home, and the
Joy of her household. As we'll might she
have wasted her words upon the stern
rocks or the idle wind the rugged nature
Of the savage was not to be moved by the
earnest appeals of the pale-faced squaw-
Grasping with one hand the mantle which
enwrapped him, and with the other the
dress of her child, she clung to both with
al L. -,
plished her purpose. Finding himself
impeded in bis exit, and fearful of APP
preaching assistance the savage drew his
tomahawk and raised it to finish. at
blow, her importantly and her life Read
ing in his eyes his stern determination,
and wrought to a pitch of agony beyond
which her system refused to 90, she yield
ed her grasp, and sank in swoon at his
feet The Indian, relieved of her annoy
ance, now took his departure, with little
Frances IN his arms, and as he passed
through the yard, seized upon the other
son of Mrs. Kingsley, whom he also bore
off prisoner All this was but the scene
of a few moments, yet how much of ter
ror, and heart breaking agony was en-
braced within that short period of time
How many years of terrible suspense and
deep despair, had their birth in those few
brief mon ents. Mrs Kingsley. who had
stood, terrified beholder of the scene.
when she saw her second and only living
/ child torn from her and carried into cap
/ tiyity. sank under the afiliction and gave
/ herself up to stolid apathy. little short
/ of despair One of Mrs. Slocum's chill
dren bad, with sagacity beyond her years.
at the first appearance of the savages,
snatched up the youngest child and fed
to the Fort, where she gave the alarm. and
party started at once for the house, but
the Indians were already beyond the reach
of successful pursuit
In short time after the above mel
ancholy bereavement, Mrs Slocum was
called upon to part with her husband and
father, who were both shot and scalped by
a party of Indians, while foddering cattle
near the house. Thus, In the short space
of six weeks. was that happy household
broken up and destroyed, and its surviv-
ing members wrapped in misery as with
a mantle Her religion sustained Mrs.
Slocum IN her day of trial, and she threw
herself and her nine remaining children
upon the mercy of her Heavenly Father.
aud bowed her head, without a mnrmur,
to His DEGREES. For the dead she did not
mourn; they were at rest, and no sorrow
or useless repinings could restore them TO
her again. But her lost daughter, her