Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1858-05-15
Six Years. Captivity Among the Indians

+, Narrative of Miss Olive Oatman.--
II NAV be recollecied that in the Spring
Of 1851, family by the name OF Oa'man
was attacked by the Apache Indians while
endeavoring 10 reach California by the oIo
Santa Fe route. The family consisted OF
. the father, mother and seven children
Four were murdered outright by tne In
dams. One of the children, then lad
of fourteen, was left for dead, but sub$e-
ouenty recovered, and, after suffering IN
credible hardshps, made his way IN safely
TO California. Two daughters were car
RED into captivity, and the younger died
while in the hands Of the savages. The
other was rescued two years since, joined
her brother ir California, and they have
recently arrived together in this city
This 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.
and derived some interesting particulars
of their bereavment and subsequent suffer
ing.
The girl Olive is near twenty years Of
age. She is modest, intelligent young
woman, but has evidently suffered greatly
from the hardships she has oeen compel
led TO undergo during captivity OF SIX
years. Her chin bears the "Chlei's
mark" species of talooing, sci in fine
parallel lines, running downwards from
| thr lower Up. This savage establishment
does not materially enhance the personal
charms of the lady, bu! il is an IndeIIIbIeI
evidence of the scenes she has undergone.
The brother, LorenzoD.. is about q
years of age, and is a fair specimen Of a.
Western man. The whole family came
Originally from Illinois. Lorenzo has snf-
fered pains and bruises enough TO have
killed an ordinary man, but has apparently
large stock of vitality remaining. de
AYERS, however, that he would be very I'm
willing 10 pass again through the horrible
scenes he has witnessed.
The story Of the massacre Of the Dat
man family has been but imperfeclly 'old
in former accounts. The narrative OF Oh
ives captivity among the APaches and
Mobaves has not been given. II is but
rarely that tale so full Of remarkable in
cidenl finds its way into print from the lips
of the party interested. The history OF
the family is briefly as follows:
Mr.. Royse Oatman, the father, was a
native of Western New York. Soon al
Ter he came Of aye, his parents removed to
the town of Laharpe, in Illinois, and the
son afterwards joined them. In that
place, the son was married TO Miss Mary
Ann Spery, then girl Of IS. The
Young couple lived for two years on a.
farm near Laharpe, and having accumuIa-
ted some means, removed TO residence
in the town, where Mr.. Oaiman entered
INTO mercantile business. The crash oil
1887 destroyed all his hopes of success
in that quarter; The competent fortune he
had amassed disappeared; and, at the sug'
gestlon of friends, he removed 10 Cnmber-
land Valley, in Pennsylvania. His love
for the free life Of the Western prarIes,
however, drew HIM back, and in 1916 the
family returned 10 Illinois, settling in al
log cabin, not far from the village of Full
ton. In lS49, an effort was made to or.
ganize a party to emigrate TO that portion
Of New Mexico lying between the CoIora-
do and Gils. Mr.. Oaman cast in his
lot with The company, and IN the spring oil
1850 started for his home. Including
his own, nine families constituted the pa
ry. In August they had progressed on
their Journey as far as Council Grove, on
the old Santa Fe road. At this point the
first discussions broke out among the par
Iy. The difficulties widened, until final
lv the Oatman family found themselves
nearly alone Nothing dampened, they
pursued iheirjourney. Atthe Rio Grande
they took the Cook and Kearney route,
and in February, 1851, reached the Plmo
village. The two families who had re-
manned with him thus far, now resolved
to stop. The Oatmans resolved, unhaP'
PLY for themselves, 10 continue their route
alone, hoping to reach Fort Yuma in Cal
lfornia. On the 18Th of March, they
reached camping ground on the ella Xiv
er at APPOINT about eighty miles from Fort
Yuma. On the following day they ford
ed the river. While sdll encamPed, a.
party of Apaches visited them, making
professions Of friendship, and desiring to-
smoke the pipe of peace. Mr. Oatman
made every exertion TO secure the good
will of the savages, offered them food, aud
gave them the best entertainment his
means afforded. Their prying and IN
quisilive manner, however, excited his
suspicious, and the withdrawal OF the par
,y 10 short distance, and the holding OF
council among thems elves, confirmed his