Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1873-01-22
4 Frontier Romance.


Many citizens of Topeka win reinem-
Der white-baired old man that represen-
ted Butler county in the Legislature tv o
winters ago, and whose seat was cor.es-
ted by Mr.. Baker. This old gentle
man, Mr. L S. Friend, large dealer in
Texas cattle, has for the last five years
been unremittingly engaged in an en-
dcavor TO recover his grandchild, who
mas, during that time, been captive
among the Comanche of Indians. The
grandfather has, in this labor of love.
Travelled over 10 900 miles, and expend-
cd over $1,000. The other day he pass
cd through Wellington with his grand
child in his possession, his mission of
years an accomplished fact, his toll re-
paid thousand fold.
The circumstances of the capture and
release are substantially these; The boy
Lea Temple Friend, was living with his
father, john Friend, in Leano county,
'Te-as, in Is6S, and was at that time
eight years old. The predatory Conan
ches made that rcgt'n their raiding
ground. and Mr. Frienl finally had a
fearful visitation from them, in which The
boy was carried off After many trials,
the details Of which ould form chap
ter of almost as pathetic interest as Mr..
Pegotty's search fer little Emily, Mr..
Friend became satisfied his boy was alive
and adopted into the tribe. 1t has been
the policy of the wild Indian of the
plains to hold women and children cap
t;ves. TO be used as hostages in any seri-
ou3 emergency. Such was the relation
Of this little fellow to the tribe, and his
pale skin might seal his doom in any
savage freak OF his captives.
In this fearful uncertainty the father
and grand father lived tor five years,
picturlng to themselves, no doubt, tho
darling of their hearts subjected to ty-
ranny and torture. All the agencies that
could be employed to reach hlm were un-
ceasiugly used, and msuy times they
have been upon tire very point of suc-
cess, when the Indians would break into
small bands, separate their captives, and
send them off to the wilds of the west,
and there clude capture.
In the latter part Of the fall, however,
it seems that the band that had this boy
were attached By party of troops un-
der Major NJ. Kinney, of the United
States army, and badly Gu, 20 pieces
Some twenty five of their warriors were
killed, and about one hundred and fifty
of their women and children captured.
This forced them to come into Fort
Still and give up their captives among
others this boy. The boy is rather small
of his age, and seems to have forgotten
almost all the experience of his early
childhood. lie remembers his name and
when recovered could talk few words
Of English. HIS grandfather says that
he picks up words of English very rap
idly. Notwithstanding his long captivity
he is a bright, intelligent looking boy i'll
the face, his walk and actions being those
of an Indian, and he talks Comanche like
a native brave. lie being young. it will
require but short time to bring back to
his memory the recollectiohs of the past,
and to divest him of the actions and hab.
its he has acquired by his long residence
with the savages. The mother Of the
boy died before his capture. The joy of
his father and friends will be boundless
on recovering their long lost boy-Ttpe-
ka COmmoareaW.