Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-30
A CAPTIVE RESCUED.

rescue OF a beautiful young American SrI,
naiAed Miss Olive Oatman, from slavish cap
tivity L. the Yuma Indians. The whole mar
ratlye is or painful interest,
STEAMER SEA BIRD, AT SEA, March ., 1856.
By the last arrival from Fort Yuma, am
| enabled to give You tho details of the rescue
from the Mohave Indians GA youngIand be1er
tiful American girl, who has been a prisoner
| for five years. Having made considerably in
quiry in Los Angeles and vicinity, have sue
ceeded in collecting allthe facts attending her
capture, theimurdor other parents, &C., which
are willingly placed at your disposal.
On the 10Th of March, 1851, family of en-
igrants, named Oatman, from Iowa, roafe
for California, composed of Lorenzo Oatman,
wife and seven children, (three boys and four
girls), while eucamped about one hundred and
twenty five miles from the mouth of the Gila
river, were attacked by the Mohavc Indians,
and all but one boy and two girls massacred
in cold blood. The boy, in the dark, succee-
ded in escaping, and was picked up on the
following day by company of emigrants, a
bout forty miles from the scene of the murder.
The little fellow was perfectly exhausted when
blood. After recovering sufficiently to tell the
tale, some of the men started on TO ascertain if
anything could be done, and on arriving at the
fatal place found the boys version was, alas !
too true, the bodies being then half eaten by
cayotes. Enough, however, WAS ascertained
to show that the two youngest girls were mis-
sing. The boy is now living at the ..Monte, .
near Los Angeles, and distinctly remembers
that horrible night.
For years nothing had been heard of these
two young girls, and their fate appeared to be
wrapped in mystery. About five months since
an article OF letter was published in the Los
Angeles Star STATING ti~. -thf''''r prisoners
with the officers at Fort Yumso for beads,
blankets, &c, and that the latter had refused
to trade with or purchase the unfortunate Suf-
ferers from the Indians. Col. Nauman, L. 5.
A. who was at that time ca route for Fort Yu-
mao, Immediately inquired into the subject,
but found the charges against the officers who'll
" without foundation ; and fearful that hy
some possibility there might be some prisoners
never before heard of, sent out runners to the
different tribes offering heavy ransom for their
recovery, in answer to which Yumao Indian,
of the name of Francisco, came in saying, SHE
could find a young girl ten days travel from
the fort.'' Beads, blankets, &C., were imme-
diately given him, and in twenty days he re-
turned with Miss Oatman.
When brought in she was dressed as all the
females of the Yuma Mohavc Indians, and on
a white man approaching, threw herself pros
trate on the sand, and would not rise until
suitable female garments were brought her.
She had almost entirely forgotten her native
tongue, being only able to speak two or three
words. Being asked, IN the Indian language,
her name, she replied '.Olive Oatman;" is Ia
tooed on the chin, and bears the marks of hard
slavery. Her arms. wrists and hands are large
" developed. Was slave for two years with
the MohaveS, who sold her 10 the Iumas.
Her Youngest sister died about six months be-
fore the rescue of Miss Olive. The hair Of the
young lady being of light golden color, tho
Indians colored it black-uSing dye made
from the bark of the meskeet tree. She was
then eleven years old when taken prisoner,
which will make her sixteen now, though she
is more fully developed than many girls of
twenty.
The officers at the Fort have dubbed togeth-
er making up purse for her, and furnishing
such clothing as is necessary also, have pla-
ced her in charge of female residing there,
and where every care and attention viii be
paid TO allsher wants, and until any relations
or friends may come forward to relieve the
poor girl from her present dependent position
and endeavor to wean her from all savage
tastes or desire to return 10 Indian life. /
hope that some of our philanthropic San Fran
cisco ladies will offer their services to either
provide home for her, or use their influence
in procuring her admission TO the Orphan AS
sylum. Jos. A. FoRT.
Pacific Ex. Co.'s Messenger, Southern Coast.
The Sisters of Mercy, of San Francisco, have
notified the friends of Miss Oatman, the young
lady recently rescued from the Indians, tina,
they will receive her into their care.