Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-12-09

ment. AT the latter place aquarre sprang
up between the whites and the Indians, rel
alive to the possession of the white boy
The whites threatened the Indians that un-
less Matthew was allowed TO search for his
parents, they would rescue him by force
He has visited St. Paul's several times; the
first time being when that place contained
only six or seven French and Dutch houses
The tribe with which be travelled had com
pass and watch enclosed in a copper case
These articles they used in travelling, having
beer instructed in their use by the Russians,
who sold them to the Indians for equivalent
to hundred dollars.
In September, 1853, the annual train
left the Russian territory for St. Paups, and
with them came young Brayton. He had
become interested in tracing out his history
and had succeeded in getting an account
of the first eight years of his captivity, sim
liar to that we have already given. He was
then exceedingly anxious to seek out his
parents, and, after much solicitation, the
present chief granted him the requisite per-
mission. On the 10th of April this year
he left st. Paurs, accompanied by his In
dian brother-in-law, who was powerful
chief, six Indian 6raveS, three ponies, and
five dogs. AT Chicago he was taken sick
and remained to be cured. The Indians
returned to st. Paul's, after arranging for
his joining the next return train in July,
1860.
During his sickness his hair was cut
Short the paint scrubbed of, and he was
dressed in ordinary attire. On his recovery
he was permitted TO go at large, and at
once took his way towards the south
ern shore of Lake Erie, from which loca.
tion he supposed himself to have been stolen
ON THE TRAIL.
On the Goth of August last the "Indian
captive was brought to our office by some
persons to whom he had applied for infor.
nation. He told the story of his captivity
as we have narrated it above, and said that
at Fremont he was told by man who saw
him there, that one Joseph Todd, who form
erly lived in Cleveland, had lost boy
about the time the "Indian captive" sup
posed himself to have been stolen. Or
this information he acted, and proceeded tc
hunt up the Todds, but without success.-
His story seemed to us very extraordina
ry, but close and rigid examination failed
to shake his testimony in the least. Hi.
description of Indian manners and customs
and of the Geography of the far North
west, was perfectly accurate, as far as w
could learn. He spoke English tolerabl
fluently, though with some peculiarities.-
At times he would be at loss for the pror
er word, and would endeavor to illustrat
his meaning by objects in the room. Afte
once hearing word he never forgot it,
He said that he could remember nothing o
his life before he was stolen, nor of the frs
few years of his captivity. AT first w
were inclined to doubt his story, but wer
gradually convinced of its truth in some,
not all of the particulars. Next morning h
came again, having in the meantime sough
out and conversed with Thomas Hickey, VIII
had sailed with Kane in his Arctic Expedi
tions, and who was finally convinced of th
truth of his narrative. The result of tn
second interview was our publishing his sto
, ry, requesting information, if any could
given, in regard to the family of the wan
derer. The story was extensively cope
f throughout all parts of the United State
and Canada, and considerable interest wa
. awakened, despite the sneers of some pee
r pie who thought every story "humbug
! that did not exactly suit their ideas.
, The 'Gndan captive" remained in tn
. city several days, pursuing his enquire
] asking merely for information, and not seel
$ ing to make money by his story. Ga clio,
0 enquiry we discovered that he lived on ra
II meat, and devoured things which al
generally considered to be disgusting
His mode of living was also of decide
# Indian character, and utterly repugnant
n all civilized notions of comfort. After afe
{ days he found that the Todd family,
/. which he was in search, had removed
= Warren, Trumbull county, and thither |
=. went.
On arriving there he found that the pc
n sons he was after had most of them gor
c to camp meeting in the neighborhoo
G and he Immediately started to that spot
0 Here he found that he was no relative
,. the Todd family. He attracted consider
>. BILE attention among the members of Il
;. camp meeting, and was taken under Il
" care of the Rev. William Mcintyre, a c
1t cult preacher, who TOOK him to Conferen
X meeting, and afterwards around some pc
/ tions of his circuit. Whilst with this pc
q son the "Indian captive" experienced !
"a ligion." He broke his scalping knife
is two, giving half to the President of Il
IS Conference, and half to Mr.. Mcintyre. !
" this time, too, he learned the Alphab
n being utterly unable to read or write.
le AT the end of his wanderings, he h
of reached Warren county, North Pennsyl,
g MIA, where he resided with Mr.. Mcintyre.
r Here be calculated on remaining a she
y time, designing after that to make enquir
h among the Chatauque Indians, and if
G. trace Of his parents could be found, to crC
y, over to Canada, remain during the wiut
IN with the Canada Indians, and then reiC
his tribe in the summer.
of On the 26th of September, one mon
lg after the first publication of the narrati'
r. we received a letter from DR.. Asa Braytc
ID youngest son of the Elijah Brayton pre-
" ously referred to, and who was born af
rs the loss of Matthew, stating thrt he
at seen the HerGids article copied into ano
d. er paper, and giving some particulars of
I'd loss of his brother About week aft
m wards Mr.. Rufus Brayton, cousin of the /
m boy, called on us, and made some enquir
or relative to the "lndian captive" He ST
a