Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-07-15
THE APACHE CAPTiVES.
Brutal Treatment Of the Mexican
Women Rescued BY Crook.
Tortured by the Misunderstanding for
Want of Food and Water-lashed and
Tormented by the Wild
Red Men.

The five Mexican women and one
child, says Tucson dispatch, recap
tured from the Apaches by General
| Crook and brought here are nov in
charge Of Consul Tuleli who has teie-
graphed his government for instructions
as to what disposition to make of them.
They are from the city of chihuahua,
snd are wives of soldiers in the Next
can army. The command to which
their husbands were attached had been
stationed three hundred miles north
west of the city of Chihuahua, at place
on the Mexican frontier hear Ell Car
men. The troops had been ordered
home, and the women followed their
husbands at a distance of about two
days journey, travelling on foot. On
the tenth ofMay they were surprised by
band of Apaches under the personal
command of Geronimo. The Indians
suddenly rose from behind rocks and
bushes. The women were greatly
frightened and
Began 10 Scream,
when Mexican captive named Jose,
who had long been with the Indians,
came forward, and addressing them in
Spanish, assured them no harm would
come if they would surrender and follow
the Apaches. There was nothing else
for them to do but to follow.
The Indians then came forward and
asked great many questions through
Jose. They were anxious to know the
number of Mexican soldiers, their
whereabouts and intentions to all Of
which the women answered as best
they could. There was another woman
with them at this time, whom the H.
dian subsequently, sent to Chihuahua
for peace, as they said. The Indians,
with their captives, travelled in cessantly
the remainder of that day and all night.
The place where
They Were Captured
is known Us Cerritos Cuates, and is half
way between FL Carmen and Plain del
Elamo. They calculated that the next
morning after their capture they were
at least 100 miles distant, though they
cannot tell in what direction, For
three days they were without water,
but after that it was found in abund-
ance. The country through which
they passed was wild beyond descrip-
ton. At times they were compelled to
crawl upon all fours. Their thirst for
the first three days nearly drove them
crazy, and the Indians would whip and
lash them up, and compel them TO trav-
el. Toward the last of ther captivity
their food commenced giving out, aud
they were put upon rationS, small
piece of raw be, FLEEING all that was CIV
en- them. This had to be divided
among the six. MIS-. Antonio Herman
dcZ all this time carried her little child
in her arms.
The Indian Children
took great pleasure in t0rmenting him,
pinching him and jabbing sharpened
sticks into his sides, giving him great
pain. When they demonstrated, Ger
0nimO and his men only laughed at her
misery. The last two days Of their
captivity they had no food at all. There
was snow on the mountains. The cold
was intense, and the women suffered
greatly, almost freezing The Indians
never remained quiet in one spot day,
but were continually moving. They
travelled nearly one hundred miles
day, going in every direction, but tend
ing generally nearly westward. The
captlves We're abused and maltreated in
every possible manner. They were
made to work heavily wehnever camp
was made, and were general object of
abuse and ridicule. The Indians would
take up Mrs. Hernande2's little boy,
threaten to kill him, and woald throw
stones at him, to the
Great Mental Anguish
Of his mother. One Of the women was
sent as hostage of some sort to Chi
huahua to make peace. The exposure
to cold, thirst. famine and exhaustion
from travel and fear of torture was hav-
ing an effect on the poor women. The
first thing they knew they were hur-
ried one day further into the noun
tains. The next day brother of the
chief, Chatte, delivered them up to
General Crook. AS one Of them ex-
pressed herself W hen she saw General
Crook and the soldiers: at seemed rs
if the sky opened and heaven appear
ed" Their pitiahle condition drew
deeply OH the sympathies of the brave
boys i'll blue, and they did everything
in their power to alleviate the suilerings
of the women. a mule was given to
each woman to ride. This was one rea-
son of the slow return of Gen. Crooks
command. The women cannot find
words to express themselves for the
gratitude they felt towards the Ameri-
can soldiers. When the women started
On the toilsome journey on foot, 300
miles frora FL Carmen to Chihuahua to
low their husbands home, they had
10 idea there were Indians on the road,
blinking they were all in the noun
Al. rln1- h,.,- N,t.,