The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-06-27
OLIVE OATMAN.
THE APACHE CiPTITE.

81 much interest has been manifested IN the
<.o-g 0ftbp captivity of Olive Oatman, that ye
VISITED 5s7 trsv days since, when she gaze Us
aa,atyiG-5ae account of her adventures, which
s.pre embedded. This account wt obtained on
{, BY asking questions, as her timidity and want
"a. confidence prevented her from giving the
5Eab anas<isted. Her faculties have been
san.ahat in paired be her way of life, but her
.-ra3s assured us that Ia the short time she
les been among them she has made very per-
c-ri3ie Improvement.
Give has faund good friends al the Monte.
20 The families Of Mr. Ira Thompson and Mr.
Dlv.I Lewis, aud is regarded aid treated as
n-n5er Of their families.
Tb- Oalmaus started from Iowa in company
With the hmiIy Of Mr.. Thompson, with whom
they travelled together as far as Tucson, in So
g19, where Mr. T. resolved 10 lay by TO re-
cga ITS cattle and wait for other trains to
caar up, 50 as 70 insure The SAFETY Of the road
tynaabers. But the Oatmans pushed on, i'm
latjrrt togrt through, and met their fate on
'l- ella about two hundred miles from the Co
hraio While at Tucson the Thompsons had
many opportunities Of noticing the terror which
TIE ApachrS excited in the people. One even
m- Spanish woman arrived IN the village,
saving sh- had iust escaped from the Ionio
APaches, where she had been prisoner. She
related that day or two before, the band re-
turned to camp from killing and plundering a
party Of Americans, and also bringing IN prlSo-
Hars. She was left alone with the threat that
u shr attempted to escape she would BE- killed.
That night while they were dancing the war
4rra che, /
by comparing dates they were satisfied this was
'ae Jand that attacked the Oatmans. loqu-
a7s were made at the time, bot nothing could
taFnrd concerning the captives.
Olive is rather pretty girl, with skin as
la' as most persons who have crossed the plains.
H'r face Is dsdgnrrd by tatooed lines on the
sa'a, running obliquely and Pprpendlcnlarly
lom her mouth. Her arms were also marked
@ similar manner by one straight linr on
facA. The operation consisted in puncinring
lie skin and rubbing dye or puIverized char
Goal into The wounds.
It was about sunset when the attack was
made, which resulted in the capture Of herself
''4 ter little sister, Mary Ann. Olive was
~"'ten, aod Mary Ann seven years Of age
Zoe Indians stripped her other shoes and near
all other clothiDg-her sister had no shoes
"o al the time-and they started off with the
<P-rd OF horses in no.lherly direction into a
mountainous region. They travelled all night
".'aout resting. At noon next day they stoPped
lew minutes 10 breathe, and then hurried OF
again until uight-iaIi, when they came into
'anp She thinks they travelled hundred
niles She was barefoot, and the sharp stone:
IaceTa'gd her feet, and her blood sprinkled tbs
"noIe distance. Whenever she Jagged, they
"oaIa Come behind and beat her, TO urge b4
94, Her sister gave out, bot being small, th'
Igalans carried her in their arms. The reasor
=. 'neir horrylng on so rapidly, was fear les
"sy might be pursued.
i9e Clothes left to her were worn out, ant
II 'Ton Der back in two weeks, and then sh'
matted together the bark of trees and tied
-,oand her person like the Indians. It was
5''so' covering, but it did not leave her entire
y exposed.
Among these Apaches Olive snpposes they
,c'alaed one year. Al any rate, the sam
SlAo ol SEASON returned as that when she arriv
~ Tine among the Indians is not noted. ]
'''F note II at all, il is only by moons. The com