Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-25
INDIAN cAPTVEs.
The Capture Of the Fitzpatrick Girls il
Texas by KioEa lndisas--The kur-
der Of their Psrents---RheTe-
ahouts of Their Relations.

MONTAGUE, TEX, February II, 1870.
In this distant part of the country,
where the mails are not very trust
worthy, it is not surprising that only
recently l saw a letter from Washing
ton, dated in November, 1869, giving
an account Of the release Of two little
girls who had been captured by the
Indians, and their arrival at the ma
tional capital, under the care OF Col.
Levenworth, TO whom they were III
debted for their release. As from the
disposition proposed to be made OF the
children, it would appear that they
are without relatives, L desire TO mar
rate the circumstance attending their
capture, so that their surviving friends
may be enabled to take them home, If
desirOus of so doing.
The parents of the girls, whose cor
rect names are Alice and Susan, were
named Thomas Jefferson and Martha
Fitzpatrick. They lived on Clear
creek, some eighteen miles southeast
of this place, and were persons in
moderate circumstances. On the 6th
OF January, 1868, neighbor OF theirs
"A. II. Parkhill-arrived at their
farm with tine intelligence that band
of KiOwa Indians were on a raid near
by, killing and scaiping all who fell
into their power, and burning houses.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, with his wife, the
two girls aud an infant boy Of two
wears of age, accompanied by Mr..
Parkhill, Immediately started for the
home of the latter, about half mile
distant, closely pursued by the In
dians. They had not gone far when
the savages came up with the fugluves
and attacked them. The two men
fought with the greatest desperation,
but were finally OverPOwered, killed
and scalped and their bodies horribly
mutilated. Mrs. Fitzpatrick was
/ scalped alive and stabbed twice in the
back, the Indians leaving her for
dead. On their departure she
wrapped her head in part of her
dress and endeavored TO reach MIR.
Parkhill's house. She walked a short
! distance and fell. When found she
was dead. The tragedy occurred
about five o'clock in the evening, but
the bodies sof the three victims were
not discovered and brought in until
the next morning.
The babe was carried by the indians
about half a mile, when the wretches
dashed out its brains and flung its
/ corpse on the road. The girls, how
ever, were borne off uninjured, being
consigned to the care of a squaw. As
soon as infOrmrti0n reached the citi-
Zens Of the presence of the Indians,
they organized a band and started in
pursuit; but the night being very
cold, and the sleet falling heavily,
their trail was repeatedly lost, and
they succeeded in soon making theiI
escape. The dead bodies were buried
in one grave, beside a number OF
others who had lost their lives at the
hands of the same band of savages.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick was, l think, ma
! tive of Indiana. He had been twice
married, and by his first wife had two
daughters, who resided at last ac-
counts in Tennessee. His father was
residing here at the time of his muir
der, but returned to Indiana soon af-
1 ter, and is doubtless there now. 1t Is
not unlikely that he is ignorant of the
fate of his grandchildren, and il
would be well for the authorities to
ascertain his whereabouts and restore
them to his keeping, as the legal and
most appropriate guardian for the or
phans.