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


named Miss Olive Oatman, from siaVish cap
tiyity by the Yuma Indians. The whole mar
ratlve is of painful interest;
STEAMER SEA BIRD, AT SEA, March 9, lS9o-
BY the last arrival from Fort Yuma, am
enabled to give you the details of the rescue
from the Mohave Indians ola youngiand beau
tiful American girl, who has been prisoner
for five years. Having made considerably in
quiry in Los Angeles and vicinity, have sue
ceeded in collecting all the facts attending her
capture, the,murder fherparents, &C., which |
are willingly placed at your disposal.
On the 10Th of March, 1851, family of en-
igrants, named Oatman, from Iowa, en- route |
for California, composed of Lorenzo Oatman, |
wife and seven children, dhree boys and four |
girls), while eucamped about one hundred and |
twenty-five miles from the mouth of the ella
river, were attacked by the Mohave 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
found, without hat shoes, and covered with
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 ssMontc,
| near Los Angeles, and distinctly remembers
| that horrible night.
| For years nothing had been heard ofthese
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 that the Yumao Indians
had offered to exchange two female prisoners
with the officers at Fort Yumao for beads,
blankets, &C., and that the latter had refused
to trade with or purchase the unfortunate suf-
| ferers from the Indians. Col. Nauman, Z. S.
| A., who was at that time en- route for Fort Yu-
mao, Immediately inquired into the subject,
! but found the charges against the officers Who'll
! ly without foundation and fearful that by
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 ofFrancisco, came in saying, ''He
could find young girl ten days travel from
the fort" Beads. blankets, &c, were imme
diately given him, and in twenty days he
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 ssOlive Oatman - is ta-
tooed on the chin, and bears the marks of hard
slavery. Her arms. wrists and hands are large
| ly developed. Was slave for two years with
the Mohaves, who sold her TO the Yumas.
| Her youngest sister died about six monthsvae-
| fo-a -4.E-.s S<eIysrt "a IN -S-15-s-
h'si 's Saasin s n--sssUIrve. The hair of the
7 young lady being of light golden color, the
Indians colorcd it black-using dye made
| from the bark of the meskeet tree She was
| then eleven years old when taken prisoner.
| which viii make her sixteen now though she
is more fully developed than many girls Of
twenty.
The officers at the Fort have clubbed togcth-
er making up a 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 will be
paid to aliher 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 to Indian lifc / |
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 |
syium Jos. A. FoRT.
Pacific Ex. Co. IS 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.
&~~s