The weekly Minnesotian., 1856-05-10
| Rescue Of Beautiful American Girl from
Indian Captivity.

lmdlan Coptlvltys
NARRATIVE OF THE MURDER OF THE Oar
MAN FAMILY BY THE MoHAvE INDIANS IN
1s5l.-The San Francisco Herald has re-
ceived the following interesting account of
the rescue of beautiful young American
girl, named Miss Olive Oatman, from a
slavish captivity by the Yuma Indians
The whole narrative is of painful interest;
By the last arrival from Fort Yuma, l am
enabled to give You the details of the rescue
from the Mohave Indians of young and
beautiful American girl, who has been
prisoner for five years.
On the 10Th of March, 1851, family OF
emigrants, named Oatman, from Iowa, en-
ropfe for California, composed of Lorenzo
Oatman, wife and seven children, (three boys
and four girls,) while encamped about one
hundred and twenty-five miles from the
mouth of the Gia river, were attacked by
the Mohave Indians, and all but one boy and
two girls massacred in cold blood. The boy
in the dark succeeded in escaping, and was
picked up on the following day by COM
pany of emgrants, about forty miles from
the scene of the murder. The little fellow
was perfectly exhausted when found, with
out hat or shoes, and covered with blood
After recovering sufficiently to tell his 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 missing. The boy is now living
at the " Monte" near Los Angeles, and dis
tinctly 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 or letter was published in the
Los Angeles Star, stating that the Yuma
Indians had offered to exchange two female
prisoners with the officers at Fort Yuma for
beads, blankets, &C., and that the latter had
refused to trade with or purchase the unfor-
tunate sufferers from the Indians. Colonel
Nauman, U. S. A., who was at that time Ell
route for Fort Yuma, Immediately enquired
into the subject, but found the charges
against the officers wholly without founda-
tion and fearful that, by some possibility,
there might be some prisoners never before
heard of, sent out runners to the different
tribes, offering heavy ransoms for their re-
coyery; in answer to which Yuma Indian,
of the name of Francisco, came in, saving
" He could find a young girl ten days travel
from the fort. Beads, blankets, ETC., were
Immediately given him, and in twenty days
he returned with Miss Oatman. When
brought in, she was dressed as all the fe-
males of the Yuma Mohave Indians, and on
white man approaching threw herself pros
trate on the sand, and would not rise until
suitable female apparel was 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
tattoed on the chin, and bears the mark of
hard slavery. Her arms, wrists and hands
are largely developed. She was slave for
two years with the Mohaves, who sold her
to the Yumas. Her youngest sister died
about six months before the rescue of Miss
Olive. The hair of the young lady being of
a light golden COLOR the Indians colored it
black, using a dye made from the bark of
the meskcet tree. She was eleven years old
when taken prisoner, which will make her
sixteen now, though she is more fully devel-
oped than many girls of twenty. The off
GERS of the fort have dubbed together, MAX
ing up purse for her, and furnishing such
clothing as is necessary also, have placed
her in charge of female residing there, and
where every care and attention will be paid
to all her wants.
FALL OF SUSPENSION BRIDGE.-On the
30th ult., the new suspension bridge, over the
Falls Of Montmorcnci, near Montreal, gave
way, and the whole structure, with man,
woman, horse and cart, were carried over the
Falls