The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1874-04-09

diana, ShOW1nG lncldeneall
many Or their Tradlllons, Cua
toms and Charaeser1sgScs, .
welt ~ their relations With
1hc Government.
By LAwRiE TATUM.
Late United States I,,dins Agent
tConcluded. from fast verk.)
As soon as recovered the four boy,
wrote TO General Anger, who com
manded the district of Texas, stating
that four boys had been recovcree
from the Indians, and requested tha,
four or FIVE Of the Indian prisoners b.
returned, as ! thought il would ena
BILE me the easier to recover others i
there we're more among them. He
~ once sent four to the agency, who
reported the kind and genteel treat
ment that they received from the sol
diers, which was great satisfaction
to the Indians.
The interpreters. and others, had
told me that it would be difficult to
induce captives who had been . year
or two with the Indians 10 leave them.
They gave several instances that had
come under their observation. in some
Of which it was only by compulsion
that they could be made to leave the
Indians; having become 90 fascinated
with nomadic hfe-riding ponies Sc.
But this was not my experience.
always commenced my acquaintance
with them by giving them q good
dinner, which appeared to have very
salutary effect upon them, and thev
made no objection To remaining with
me. The boys were all old enough
to herd ponies. and were virtually
slaves. each one knowing who was
his master. Captives are iot unfrc-
quently traded from one to another.
and sometimes from enc tribe to am
other.
believed that all the white children
were now recovered, but | thought
there might be some Mexican childrc,,
among them who would like TO leave.
There are nany who have grown ep
among them and have remained slaves
to them until they have stolen a lot
OF horses, or killed somebody; then
they are promoted from slave to the
dignity Of an Indian, and can marry
in the tribe. l had no Instructions
from the department in regard to cap
tives, and did not know how far l
should be sustained in compelling the
Mexicans to be brought in. there
fore told the Indians that ! thought
they might have some Mexican chill
dren who wanted to leave them and
20 to their homes, ard ii so they mus:
have the privilege. To this PROPOSE
tion the Indians At once assented, but
they said there were none among them
who wanted to leave, and might ask
any Of the Mexicans If they knew Of
any. was strongly of the impress
sion that there were some, but how
TO 6nd them out ! could not devise.
The white boys knew Of none. But
the Lord opened the way when
could not. Early one morning Mex
ican girl, about eighteen years old,
come to the agency and told me that
she had been captured by the Com
anches about one year ago, from near
San Antonio, Texas. and she wanted
to go home to her people. ] told her
that would send her. there. The
day before, ,as they came to the agency
for their rations, the Indians had ask
ed her if she would like to run away
to the white people. She asked them
what they thought she wanted Of the
white folks. They said that they did
not know what she might be thinking
of, but if she did go to the white folks
they would kill her. In the evening
she told the Indians that she could
not sleep, and if they could they
might, aud she would nerd the ponies;
which was satisfactory to them. In
the night she left tho ponies to take
care Of themselves, and she came to
the agency and remained quietly on
The portico, fearing to disturb us Lest
we should be offended At her.. But
as soon as. she heard a stir in the
house she came in. My wife and
two other women, with the assistance
Of the young woman, who could sew
nicely, made clothing for her that day,
and by evening she was neatly Dress
ed; instead Of shabby looking squaw
as she appeared in the morning, she
was a beautiful and happy young wo-
man in the evening, with no fear Of
being killed by any white man. There
was danger, however, from the In
dams who were going around the
house during the day, apparently
ready, and intending to shoot her if
they saw her, but she was kept out
Of their sight.
There was gentleman by name OF
Smith at the agency, who had come
from San Antonio for his son whom |
had recovered from the Indians. He
wished to take the stage or.home in
the evening, and she was also put on
under his charge. He was a relig-
ious man, and appeared very suitable
to take care Of her. 1t seemed prov
that there should be SO favor
able an opportunity to send her home
the very evening after she came to
the agency.
The next morning a large number
of Indians came into the Office and
told me that they had lost woman,
and asked if / knew of any stray one
| told them that / did. That one had
come to my house two nights before,
and told me that she had been stolen
by them in Texas, and wanted to 60
home. That ] had put her ON the
stage last evening and she was now
long ways from here, and you viii
never see her any more. They were
evidently surprised at my answer, for
they had no idea that she had left
They said that they did not care
much as she was not worth q great
deal, but they would like to be paid
for her. I told them that I was not
buying women,and | should pay them
for her. She had told me Of
two boys who were captured when
she was, who wanted to 60 home. !
told the Indians their names and tho
af. A. I. L.. ...le aIasl