Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-15
The Indian Captives-Mrs. Pages Personal

TuDAc, April 9-The following thrillln:
details of captivity, savage barbarlty, suffer
ing, and final restoration to her friends, 0
one whose misfortunes have lately filled TIT
public ear, will be read with interest. The
writer has taken the story as it fell from be,
own lips, and gives it to the public Withou
embellishments:
NARRATIVE OF Mrs. LARSENA A. PAGE.
had been married but u little over two
months. and was living with my husband
Mr.. J. II. Page, in rude cabin at the moutl
Of the grand canon leading to the pinery o
the Santa Rita mountains. Our family con
sisted of myself and husband, little Mex
can girl eleven years of age, Misare Kirk
land, and Mr., Vim. Randall, who was EN-
gagged with my husband in the lumber bust
ness.
On the morning of the 10th of March
after an early breakfast my husband left Us
at camp for the purpose of putting some
Mexicans to work, and Mr. Randall going
to kill a deer, Msare and myself were let
quite alone. As it was washing-day, haC
started to procure some water, when the little
girl screamed and said the Apaches were OF
US. They came up in run. Having SIX
shooter Colts revolver) in my hand, turn
ed to fire ut them. but they were already sc
close that before could pull the trigger they
had rushed upon me and secured the weapon
They then proceeded to plumber, seizlng on
every thing they could carry Otf--f1our
blankets, clothing, Sc, and, not satisfied witt
this, they DESTROYED the balance. We halo
ed and screamed for assistance, but the In
dams struck me with their lanccs, and told
us to keep quiet, or they would Kill U.S.
They pac kcd up what they could take, and
marched us off, hand in hand, in hurried
and barbarous manner. After proceeding
thus for quarter of II mile, they separated
us, in order to prevent our talking together
the little girl being little in advance of me
We travelled all day, over very rocky
and mountainous road, penetrating deeper
and deeper into the mountain, and finally
almost reaching the summit. Having suffer
ell much from recent attacks oil lever anu
aguc, was in Il very entcebled condition, TO-
tally inadequate for the tatgues "l such ii
Journey and my inability to travel at thu
speed which they desired, was the cause OF
my receiving the most brutal treatment II
their hands They several times pointed
six-shooter at my head, as much rs to say
that my fate was already decidcdupon, and
that was to bcmade Il victim of savage bar,
bar,v. The little girl, who was ahead, would
occasionally fall back, crying, and tell mt
that the Indians were going to Kill me. They
spoke but little Spanish, yet enough was un
derstood to awaken my fears and fill me viii
apprrhcusions knew that my strength
which was rapidly failing, would admit Of
my proceeding but little further, and that
unless my husband and other parties were
following to rescue us, | must fall victim
as soon as my strength entirely failed.
We had proceeded thus about sixteen
miles, rs nearly as my limited ideas OF dis
lance will enable me to judge, aud | now
Jagged behind SO much that my savage cap
tors grew inpatient and resolved to Kill me
They stripped me of my clothing, including
nv shoes, and left me but Il single garment
They then thursi their lanc"S AT me, ini1Icl
ing eleven wounds in my body, threw mt
over :. ledge of rocks, or precipce, some SIX
teen or eighteen feet high, and hurried large
stones after me, to make sure of their victim
and then left me, surprising that must die
and too barbarnuS to end my misery by on
tirey extinguishiug the spark nt life. This
occurred near sunset. had nine lance
wounds in my back, aud two Ill my arn
and my head was cut in several places by
the rocks which were thrown alter me, but
most Of the latter glanced without striking
me.
had aliyhtel on bank Of snow almost
in u state of nudity, and in il senSeless con
In. m ~
before reaching home, think | must hay,
laid there in il state of unconsclousncss ton
near three days. When came to, | took
some snow and put on my wounds. rec
collected the direction travelled and the pA,
siton OF the sun. from camp at sunset, and
with these guides | started for home. My
feet yaye out the first day, and was compel
led to crawl the most Of the distance. DID
not dare to 90 down to the foot Of the noun,
tain, for fear could find no water, and
was therefore compelled to keep i'll the steep
and rocky mountain. Sometimes after crawl
ing up steep ledge, laboring hard for hall
a day, | would lose my footing and slide
down lower than the place from which
started As | had no fire, and no clothing;
| suffered very much from the cold
was ut q point said to be six thousand feet
above the sea, and only wonder that l did
not freeze. scratched holes in the sand ~
night in which to sleep, and before could
travel was obliged every day to wait for the
sun to warm me up. travelled what could
every day, and in the meantime had to sub,
sist on grass alone. On the fourteenth day
| reached IA camp of some workmcm IN the
pincry which was nntenanted. There
found a little food and some -four which had
been spilled on the ground. The fire was
not quite out, and kindied it up. Scrapcd
up some OF the flour and made me a little
cake, the first food had tasted since | lelt
home. was now near the workmcn in the
pucry. and within two miles Of my home
but was too weak TO 20 on. | could hear
the men at work. and sometimes saw them
but could not attract their attention. AZ
length crawlcd along to the road owe!
which they must pass, and was found there
and carried home, after being out sixteen
days.
Punch" on the Mill
SERIOUS GoyERNoR.--"I am surprised
Charles. that You can take any interest II
these reuulsiyc detai!s--how many rounds
II hclieyn Won term theml do YOU say these