New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1880-07-14
An ABDUCTED TEXAN GIRL,

y
who has had a remarkable experience.
Her career during the last three years
has been one of romantic adventure and
narrow escapes from tragic death. She
is now on her way home after pro-
tracted absence, which had led her
friends to suppose she was dead, as she
has been unable to communicate with
them since leaving home until very NJ
Gently. In relating her story she said
her name is Annie jackson; that her
father and mother live on ranch near
the village of Iberia, Mavcric County,
Tex, which is located in the south
western corner of the State, and on the
Mexican border. MIR. and Mrs. Jackson
removed from Philadelphia to Texas in
1869, at which time there was consid-
cradle emigration to that State, and
they prospered we'll under the influence
of an active demand for cattle, large
herds of which Mr.. Jackson accumu-
lated. Annie was then about nine
years of age. The family, embracing,
besides those mentioned, two sons a.
most grown, occupied pleasant home,
and no uneasiness was felt until the
Mexicans began to make raids in the
ANA{9AOOAAOON uuO uA1tO Ou SUOChs 1uCu
Mr.: jackson manifested a good deal of
solicitude for the welfare Of his wife
and children. But he did not desert
the place, which gradually became
more and more dangerous in conso-
quence of these forays by Mexicans and
the disturbing elements that were in
troduced among the Indians
The father and sons prepared to de-
fend their place by strengthening their
residence and providing better arms
for use when occasion required. The
jackson ranch was in the immediate
vicinity where several raids over the
border were made by Mexicans, and it
became the resting-place of the gallant
Major McKenzie's command when he
made his first chase of the greasers into
Mexico in 1872. This military COM
mand was joined by both of Annie's
brothers, who acted as guides and did
efficient service on the campaign. they
becoming conspicuous figures of the
party as they galloped along Mt the
head of the column, with rifles on their
shoulders, pistols and knives in their
belts, and dressed in the fantastic cos
tune of their calling-buckskin trousers,
sustained by rcd sash and tasscls.
coIOrcd shirts and cut-away jackets,
and wide white sombreros, which shaded
sunburned faces. Already Annie Jack
son was almost woman. She was tall
for her age, and muscular from the ne
cessities of the locality and tho Incl
dents of her life. There was from this
time a constant commotion on the bor-
der, which threatened danger daily.
Gradually she became familiar with
scenes which drove away all fear, and
prompted her to enter into rather than
avoid the intrepid experiences which
her father and brothers often endured.
She tells in her narrative of exploits on
the plains which would call forth the
admiration of the most successful
hunter, and of standing guard on vari-
Gus occasions when there were pros
poets of visits from the Mexicans of q
hostile character. She encountered no
actual harm, however, until she was
sixteen years of age, and then began
the trials and troubles which followed
one another in too rapid succession to
recount all in detail, but which, COM
bined, form one of the strangcst histo-
rlcS ever written.
On the I'd of May, 1877, which was
Wednesday, while sitting in vine-cov-
cred porch of her home, she was &C
cOsted by two genteel-looklng Ameri-
cans, who Immediately bound her hand
and foot and conveyed her, despite
screams and resistance, to place where
three horses were secured, and she was
compelled to mount one of the steeds
and ride between the two men all of the
afternoon. She knew that they were
going in southcastcrly direction, but
that was all; and when they halted at
small adobe cabin for supper, she knew
that she was on Mexican soil and miles
away from home. She was not per-
mitted to remain out of the sight of her
captors moment, although they offered
her no indignity, and refused to answer
any question as to what they intended
to do with her. The march was re-
sumcd after the necessary rest, and the
lady was conveyed long distance to
hacienda, where she was afforded COM
Portable quarters, but was retained
prisoner. This treatment was repeated
for four days and nights in succession,
her captors evidently knowing what
points to make in order to procure fresh
horses for the succeeding hours of
travel. On the Sunday morning follow
ing her abduction they arrived at large
town, the name of which Miss jackson
did not know, and here she was com.
mitted to the county Jail and held a
close prisoner for week. In the mean
time she was provided with clothing,
and every attention was paid to her,
but her freedom was denied. She
became convinced that some great
mystery surrounded the movements
OF her captors, for they were evidently
men of high authority and apparently
meant her no bodily harm, but their
purpose in spiritinS her away from
home she could not divine. The horse
back journey continued from day to day,
until they finally reached q mountain
GUS district, and then for the first time
Miss Jackson noticed that the men es-
corting her were becoming nervous
about something, holding whispered
conversations, stopping to closely in
spect the roads and the country, and by
their manner giving token of grave
concern. She concluded, as night drew
on some two weeks after she was taken
from her home, that they were lost; but
she had hardly framed the thought be-
fore up rode a body of Mexican soldiers
with general officer or Colonel at
their head, and by these she was taken
In charge and conveyed toward the
coast, while her kidnapers rode off in
an opposite direction. Not word was
said to give her any information as to
what was to follow. The chief officer
proved to be Colonel Jean Baptiste San
Miguel, Military Commander in the
eastern district of Chihuahua. He en-
gagged in conversation with the young
girl, and paid desperate court on the
spot, announcing to her, in conclusion,
that he was determined to make her his
wife. She, of course, declined the
honor, and with spirit demanded to be
released from captivity and returned to
her home. The Colonel smiled as he
remarked that sho was over four hum