The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-08
A STRANGE STORY.
An Indian Cnptivc-Four Years Among She
Savages.

From the Colorado Tribune.l
We saw at the Planters House yesterday woman
named LIZZIE Blackburn native OF Mount Jackson,
5. c., who claims to have been prisoner among
different tribes Of Indians about four years. She Is
twentyeght years old, and is a cripple from the
loss OF both OF her limbs, which have been ampu-
lated twice. the first time at the ankle joints and
again about three inches below the knee. Her story
OF her capture and imprisonment Is about follows,
commencing with how she came to DO In the Indian
country:-When she was FIVE years old her father,
Thomas Blackburn, emigrated from South Carolina
and joined the Mormons a. Nauvoo, III. lie accom-
panied them to Florence, Nebraska, and finally emf
grated 10 Utan with the earliest emigrants, and
preached among them. In 1888 or 1854 the father,
having become somewhat disslpated, and having for
some time been accustomed TO living among the
s MoInI Two yoanScr ssier aSed Iaspeeyely
ten ana fourteen years, concluded TO run
away from him and the Mormons, aud II possible
reach California. They took with them only what
they could pack about their persons and with a
rifle and some ammunition started westward from
salt Lake, wandered for nine months, when they
were captured by the Digger Indians. Lizzie was
sold by the Diggers TO the Foxes. The mother and
two remaining sisters when they learned Of Lizze,s
sale ran away from the Dig1ers and were pursued
When found they had starved and frozen TO death
and were buried on Horse creek The Foxes sold
Lizzie 10 the Snakes. Then she learned OF the death
OF her mother and sisters and saw them buried.
She ran away from the Snakes but was captured
She was badly frozen In the attempt aud was after
wards again fro2er. she SAYS that two hall breeds,
named Iowantinus and Pachanatah, took her TO
Washington, ID. c., where her linbswere amputated,
and that she was returned 10 the Snakes by her fa
theirs direction, be being among them al kind Of
chief at the time She says that her father has so
spent most OF his time among the Indians for seven or
eight years. and IL of them now. lie Is with the
Arapahocs or Cheyennes. Tie Snakes traded her TO
the Arapahoes, from whom she escaped about one
year ago, by the assistance OF Fred. Jones' govern
ment scout, and was brought to Ellsworth. AT The
time OF her escape the Arapahoos were camped at
the big bend OF the Arkansas. portion OF ner time
since her escape she has been engaged as scout
but for tho last few months has been doing house
work Of q stage station down on the SMOKY Hill
road. Fred. Jones' her rescuer, was discharged
from the government employ last spring Just before
the outbreak on the Solomon In Kansas and az he
threatened to 90 with the Indians It was supposed
he was with them at that time. She says she count
ed $50 white men In Indian camp which she Wis
there are great many among oil the tribes The
Dggers treated her most cruelty. and all treated her
very roughly. Her father though, often protected
an uncle living somewhere on the North Platte river
and she IL now on her way 70 him. She expected 70
leave this morning.