The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-11-10

Silver City (N. NJ Chronicle
Don Gerenemo De Vega came up from
! Carazallo, on Sunday, bringing with him
! Antonio Jose Montaya, boy who was
/ taken prisoner by the Indians in Valencia
county, a month ago, and mape his escape
! from the Indians last week Antonio is
about ten years of age, and is quite intelli-
gent. He related the story OF his captivity
! in a straightforward way. His people
/ reside at Las Padllas, a few miles above
| Lunas. He says he is quite certain it was
! Navaios who took him prisoner but this is
very doubtful OF course he could be easily
deceived, as he says he knows the Navajos,
| but never before SAW any Apaches.
! While in our Office the little fellow ex-
pressed great anxiety to hear from his rela-
! tives at Las Padillas. At the time he was
| taken prisoner he was engaged with his
uncle, Bentura Sanches, aud his brother,
| Andraes Montaya, in herding sheep, about,
about forty miles west of Las Lunas. The
| Indians, about thirty in number, came upon
them about 10 o'clock in the forenoon,
while they were driving the sheep in the
direction OF the ranch or general camping
ground. They were Immediately surround
Ell, and made no attempt at all to defend
themselves The Indians gathered in q
circle around them, and, after what seemed
to be a consultation, his uncle and brother
were both shot through the head, and left
dead on the ground. Antonio was then
stripped of such clothing rs the Indians
took a fancy to, Gnd being placed on horse
the band started south. lie thinks there
were fifty Indians in the party He says
the Indians had six other prisoners at the
time; one woman, who had been captured
at Rito Comado, but he could not learn her
name, as he was not allowed to speak 10 her.
They also had five Mexican boys, three
smaller than himself These boys he occa-
sionally got a chance TO talk to- and learned
that four of them lived at the Rito Comado,
and the other on the Gallo. He remembers
the names of only three of these boys
Meleton, Tolesiero and Alcoquino. The
captives seldom got chance to speak to
each other, the Indians keeping them sepa-
rated As much as possible, aud he never
spoke to the woman during the whole time
he was with them. Antonio says the Iudi-
ans treated him very badly, often beating
! him with sticks and rocks. At one time an
| Indian threw stone at him which came
near breaking his leg. They had plenty Of
mule and horsehesh and adola To eat.
The Indians killed several people in tho
mountains while he was with them. He
don't know how many When the Indians
si.,l w., a;,,tod With tbe country tbrougb
which they passed. They were frequently
| in sight Of houses, ranches and herds of
stock. They crossed the railroad south Of
Demming.
Antonio made his escape probably about
! fifty miles south of Carazaillo At tho
time he escaped he was in charge of three
men behind the main body of Indians.
These men were driving pack-mule, and
when night came on he was some distance
ahead of them. Finding himself all alone,
he left the trail and hid in the brush until
all the Indians had passed Uy. He then
took the back track and with only a cam
teen of water and nothing to eat, the poor
boy wandered for three days over the plains.
He finally struck the Janos road and follow
ing it up to Carazalillo, where he met MIR.
De Vega and several Americans, who, no
said, treated him very kindly and gave him
something to eat. The little fellow was
almost crazy, aud it was some time before
he could give an intelligent account OF
himself.
On his arrival in Silver City the kind.
hearted Mexican people gave him good
| suit of cIothes-he was nearly naked-and
| he is being well cared for at Mr.. De Vegas,
Mr.. DE Vega has written to his friends,
and he will be sent home as soon As possible.
He SAYS his fathers name is Maeoas Montoy,
and lives at Las Padilas, He also has four
brothers living there, and among his neigh.
= bors he mentions the names Of Vicenti
/ Padilla, Silvestro Padilla, Viceuta Chaves,
} and number Of others lie says the sheep
belonged to his uncle, brother and brother
in-law. The latter, Juan Bdal Chaves, also
resides at Las Padillas