The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-05-24
MISCELLANEOUS,
TRUTH sTANGgR THAN FICTION
RESCUE OF MISS OLIVE OATMAN.

several years duration among the Indians Of
Southern California. Miss Oatman is recog
nized by JudgeM Sperry, of Chill, Monroe CO.,
N. Y, as daughter of his sister, who re-
moved with her husband, Mr.. Oatman, to
Iowa. The interesting particulars of tb,
murder of most of the family and the rescue
of the daughter from Indian captivity, arc
as follows:
Late in $780, or early in 1851, the Oal-
man family 20 lsiSting of the husband, wife,
and three boys and four girls, left Iowa BY
u g over land route, with the intention oi
settling on the banks Of the Colorado river -
The subsequent history Of tie family as far
aStheh known is thus detailed in San Diego
letter, pubiished in the San Francisco Her
ald'of April 26, 1851:
iron the 2lst Of Of F, bruary, 3rtvet NJ jor
Helm zelman received letter complaining
OF Indian aggres,iJns. With this letter, h,
re tceived another from Mr.. Roys Oatman da-
ted l7tb February, representing the distress
ed onditon of his family, consisting of nine
persons, and on the point of being ST fur.
ther increased. The supply of fool was not
sulicit Mt for the journey, and could last only
till the most speedy relief could be sent -
Four days elapsed without any action being
taken. More urgent representations were
then made to Major Hentzeman, who finally
sent two men with a small supply of Frovis-
ions. Eleven days afterwards these men re-
TUNED, reporting that on the road, 100 miles
from the post near the Gila, they found
wagon with much properly scattered in con
fusien around srd' in neighl orng pile Of
stone two decomposng human bodies. Let
tera addressed to the Oatman family were
picked up, and the prints Of naked feet, ap
parently Americans, led backward from the
spot.
ION the 31st of March, two emigrant fam
lies arrived, bringing sen Of Mr.: :Oatman
boy of fifteen years of age, who was
brought across in the government train. He
told that the family, on the morning of 10Th,
was met by party Of Indians. who called
themselves Yumas, from the Colorado, and
said that their nation we're nov friends with
the Americans. After smoking quietly for
some time, upon the signal from the chief,
they rushed upon the interpreting victims,
and in an instant all were struck down with
clubs The boy was only stunned, and, on
recovering his senses, was compelled to lis
ten to the shrieks of his sisters. without the
L, possibility of aiding them. To feign death
was his only chance of escape. Before leav-
ing, the Indians dragged him over the stones
many Yards, but without his show ng any
symptoms of life. Towards evening, scarce
ly able to move, he crept to the edge of The
.hiu % aud rolling down, concealed himself
among some bushes. At night he Travelled
back slowly in the direction OF the Primo'
villages, and in few days was so fortunate
as to meet 8, me emigrants, who fastened for
ward to bury the bodies. Portions, supposed
to b, long to SIX, were found. The remainin!
two-girls of eight and thirteen years-wer
doubtless carried off by the Indians"
This boy is now living at tie Monte nea
Los 'Angeios. The circumstances, whcl
led to the rescue of the surviving girl ar
thus narrated, in letter from Mr, Frost 0
the Pacific Express Company.
For years nothing had been heard o
thcte two young girls, and their fate appear
ed to be wrapt in mystery. About fv
months since an article or lette. was pub
lished in the Los Angeles Star, stating tha
the Yumas Indians had offered to exchang
two female prisoners with the officers at FoI
Yuma, for beads blankets, DC, and the LAT
tcr had refused to trade with or purchase th
unfortunate sufferers from the Indians.
.Cbl. Nauman U. S A, who was at thf
time en- route for Fort Yuma Immediately ii
uuired into the subject, but found the charge
against the officers wholly without iound'
ton and fearful that by sIme possibility
there might be some prisoners never betol
heard of, sent off runners to various tribe
Offering heavy ransom for their recover
in answer to which a Yuma Indian, OF Il
name of Francisco, caGe in, saying that
could find young girl within ten days ira
el of the fort Beads, blankets, &c, we
Immediately given him, and in twenty da..
he returned with Miss Oatmau. Nht
brought in she was dressed as all the
macs of the Yuma Mohave Indians, and {
a white man approaching, threw herseIfPro
atrate on the sand and would not rise un
thitable female garments were tro"g
her.
''She has almost entirely forgotten h
native tongue, being only able to speak tV
or three words. Being asked in the lndi
language her name, shC re lied 'Oliye o.
man : is tatteed on her chm, and bears t
marks of hard slavery. She was slave I
two years with the Mohaves, who sold h
to the Yumas. Her youngest sister di
about six months before the rescue OF Nj
Olive. The hair of the lady being of a lig
golden color, the Indians colored it black
usi2g dye made from the bark o: the Ke
keet lr,e. She was eleven years old VIII
tai:sn prisoner, which will make her si5te
nos, though she is more fully develop
than many girls at twenty
"The 5fficers of the fort have clubbsd
ge,her making up a purse for her. and f!
nishing such clothing as is necessary a!
have placed her in charge OF female resi-
ing there, and where every attel. ton Will
i'd to all her wants, and u1Nl any relate
may come forward to relieve tie po2r, g
from her present dependent position, ana
deavor to wean her from all savage taste