Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-10


1851. family by the name of Oatman WAS at
tackled by the Apache Indians. while endea-
vOrug to reach California hy the old Santa
Fe route The family consisted OF the father,
mother and seven children. Four were muir
dered outright by the Indians. One of the
children, then lad of fourteen, was lett tor
dead, but subsequently, recovered, and, after
suffering incredible hardships, made his way
in safety TO California. Two daughters were
carried into captivity, and the younger died
while 10 the hands of the sa7ages. The other
was rescued two years since, joined her
brother in California, and they have recent
ly arrived together in this city. TINS brother
and sister are, therefore, the sole survivors
of family of nine persons. Their story is
simple and touching. We had yesterday,
an interview with them, aud derived some III
.eresting particulars of their bereavement
and subsequent suffering.
Toe girl Olive is near twenty years OF age.
She is modest, intelligent young woman,
but has evidently suffered greatly from the
hardships she has been compelled to undergo
during a captivity Of SIX years. Her chin
bears the "Chiefs mark" species OF tat
tooing, set 10 fine parallel lines, running
downwards from the lower lip. This savage
establishment does not materially enhance
the personal charms of the lady, but 1t Is an
indelibie evidence Of the scenes she has un-
dergone.
The brother, L>renzp D., is about 81 years
Of age, aud is fair specimen Ut Western
man. The whole family came originally
from Illinois. Lorepzo has suffered pains
and bruises enough to have killed an ordi-
nary man, but has apparently large stock
of vitality remaining. lie AYERS, however.
that be would be very unwilling 10 pass
again through the horrible scenes he has wit
messed.
The story of the massacre OF the Oitman
family has been but imperfectly told in for
mer accounts. The narrative OF owes cap
tivity among the Apaches and Mohayes has
not been given. 1t IL but rarely that
tale so full of remarkable incident tinds its
way into print from the lips of the party in'
terested. The history OF the family Is BRET
ly as follows:
Mr.. Royse Oltman, the father, was ma
tive of Western New York. Soon after be
came of age, his parents removed to the tow q
of Laharpe, in Illinois, aud tue son after
wards Joined them. In that place, the son
was married to Miss Mary Ann Sp.rry, ID n
girl OF Is. The young couple lived TOT two
years on farm near Laharpe, and having
accumulated some means, removed to a resi-
dence in the town, where Mr.. y !tman enter
ed into mercantile business. The crash vi
1887 destroyed his hopes OF success IN that
quarter; the competent fortune he had amass-
ed disappeared; and, at the suggs ton OF
! friends, he removed 10 Cumberland Valley,
in Pennsy lvania. His love for the free he
Of the Western prairres, however, drew him
back, and in 1916 the family returned 10 / !
iinois, settling in log-cabin, not far from
the village OF Fulton. In 1919. az effort
was made to organize party TO emlgrate to
that portion of New Mexico lying between
the Colorado and ella. Mr.. Oatman cast in
his lot with the company, and 10 the spring
Of 1850 started for his new home lnciud-
ing his own, nine families constituted the
party. In August they had progressed on
their journey as far as Council Grove, on the
old Santa Fe road. AT this point the first
dissensious broke out among the party. The
difficulties widened until finally the Oltman
family found themselves nearly Alone
Nothing dampeued, they pursued their jour
ney. At the Rio Graude they took the Cook
and Kearney route, and in February, 1851,
reached the Pimo village. The two families
who had remained with them thus far, now
resolved to stop. The Oltmans resolved, IN
happily for themselves, to continue their
route alone, hoping to reach Fort Yuma in
California. Gu the 18th of March, they
reached q camping ground on the ella River,
at point about eighty miles from Fort
Yuma. On the following day they forded the
river. While still encamped, q party Of
Apaches visited them, making professions Of
friendship, and desiring to smoke the pipe Of
peace. Mr.. Oatman made every exertlOn to
secure the good will of the savages, offered
them food, and gave them the best entertain.
ment his means Afforded. Their prying and
inquistive manner, however, excited his sus-
picions, and the withdrawal OF the party to
a short distance, and the holding OF coun-
Gil among themselves, confirmed his appre-
tensions. He had scarcely warned his fam
lily of their peril, when the savages burst
upon them with terrific yell, and without
the warning of moment, massacred the
father, mother, and four OF the chIidren.--
Lorenzo lone of the survivors, was left for
dead. The two younger girls, Olive aud
Mary Ann, we're reserved for another fate
With these captives the Indians departed,
after robbing the wagon and tent OF tie lam
ily Of all that was valuable.
The lad Lorenzo recovered his senses, alter
the departure of the of the Indians, only to
find a mass of ruins, amidst which lay the
bodies of the murdered family. lie was az
forwards met Ivy party OF friendly Indians,
one Of whom he bad seen before. lie was
bumanely taken into their protection. AZ
ter these indians had visited the scene of the
massacre, they returned with the report that
they could only distinguish the bones OF SIX
persons. Olive and Mary Ann were not
among them. Subsequently, L'renzo reach
ed Fort Yuma. where every kindness was
shown him His sisters, however, were now
beyond the reach of human help. Whittier
their savage csptor, had gone IT was impos-
sble to tell that O fate worse than death
awaited them was certain. For five years
one of these young girls was subjected TO all
the drudgery Of savage life, and endured
sufferirgs whichich lar guage is too feeble to
portray The younger OF the two, Mary
Ann, child of ouly eight years, died OF star
walton during the fret year Of their captivity,
while Olive, aged thirteen years, with great
er endurance, survived her suferings, and
lives to give the narrative OF them to the
void.
In the keeping OF thi, tribe, (tho Mohaves,)
Olive wandered toward the Pacific, and In
the year 1856 was heard OF by Lieutenant