The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-06-13
Galfs. Skeitbes, 9netoutes, &c.
THE LOST SISTER OF WYonnrua.

THE LOST SISTER OF WYOMING
Numerous instances are on record 3
Indians abandoning their wiewarns. cast
ing ctf their habits and their religion an.
becoming creditable members of civilized
society Examples Of the opposits cham.
are rare; yet some few have occurred
But 1t has often happened that white chill
dren, when captured and brought up by the
Indians have forgotten early associations.
or It too young to forget, have often die.
| regarded the difference Of color ana beeo,ns
real indians. Experience IN tbese .c,s.,s c.sss
seems to prove that the adopted savage IS
harder 70 WIN back to civilization than are
ms dusky brethren; and If this be estab-
llsned, the comparative influence of nafu-
raj and artificial society over the affections
and happiness of man might form a verv
nice question for the philosophical iinou;z
rer. Whether the investigation va.,ld
| tend to disturb the complacency with
which we regard our own superiority N
this respect, must be left to the Judgment
of every reader.
In 1778, the family of Mr.. Jonatban
Slocum, near Wilkesbarre, (Campbelrs
wyoming, } Pennsylvania, was attacked by
Indians Within were two girls aged
nine and FIVE years, son of thirteen. !
little boy of two and q half. and their
mother. The men were WORKING IN ia
field and two youths were IN the porch
grinding knife. One of these was sbot
and scalped with bis own knife. The
eldest sister seized the little boy and ran
with him towards the fort. The Indians
displayed unwonted humanity. chasing HE
giri merely to frighten her and enjoy the
sight OF her running. They then took the
boy who had been turning The grindstone.
young Slocum. and his sister Frances. and
prepared to depart. Little Sloeum was
tame, and the Indians, instead of mur-
dering him. set him down and denarted |
One OF the party siung the little eiffl over |
his shoulder and its face covered with |
tears, half hidden by long curling hair.
was the last object which met the mothers I
gaze.
Nothing was heard of the Indians or
their captlves for more than month
but they then returned, murdered the aped
grandfather, and shot ball into the leo
Of the lame boy, which he carried to his
grave They then plunged into tbe
woods, and came no more Years passed
away, and nothing was beard of the little
girl and her fellow captive. When the
mother had died. andthe remaining BROTH
srs had grown to manhood, they resolved
. ascertain if possible the fate of their
sister They made every inquiry. wrote
etters to different tribes and agents and
raveled through the west and into the
!anadas All was in vain and for fifty
ight years the deep forests, true to their
avage inhabitants, buried amid their soli-
ude the little captive's fate.
All this time Frances was living. She
Vas introduced to the knowledge of civil
zed society by circumstance purely nc
identaI. The Hon. G.. w. EWING.
United States agent to Indiana territory.
Fhile travelling on the banks Of the Mis-
lssinewa, tI836,) lost his way. was
yertaken by night, and sought the shelter !.
neighboring wigwam. It belonged :
wealthy hunter and was profusely
.ored with skins, arms and provisions.
he agent was kindly received, and after
lpper entered into conversation with the 2
ostess. Ewing was soon surprised bv Q
deserving that her hair was fine and fiaxen
olored, and that, under her dress. her Z
in appeared to be white He received 7
ON her the astonishing story that she =
as the daughter of white parents: that P
e name was Slocum, that when Eve wears q
d she had been carried captive by the
ldians from house on the Susquehanna. :
II else was forgotten e
On reaching home the agent related e
s adventure to his mother. At her =
llcitatlon ne wrote an account of II. q
hlch ne sent to Lancaster for publication. g
trough some pnaceountable neglect it =
= IN the Office for two years, but when p
was published, It was in a few davs - =,
sn by MIR. Slocun, Of WiIkesbarre. the ns
tie boy saved by the girl of nine. sixty al
ars before. He Immediately started ie
Indiana, accompanied by the sister
70 had saved him, at the same f;ma
itlng to his brother to meet him at the :. .a
gwam. The little incidents con nected - -
th this most remarkable journey have = =
IN preserved with care, and NAV afford I :. =
,und for pleasurable reflection. ssT shall :. -
pw my sister, said the lady, ssbecause = =
] lost the nail of her first finger. Your - -
'ther hammered Il OFF IN the black =. =.
ith's shop when she was four wears -
I" On entering the cabin they beheld
Indian woman, apparently seventy-five | lik