Delta chief., 1883-07-18
A Long Wee. In captivity.

From the chihuahua CMcSieol Mail.
The story told by the FIVE Mexican women
who were rescued by General Crook from cap.
tivity among the Apaehes, is one of the many
strange romnnccs that incident 20 life on
the frontier. and to the mode of warfare pur-
susJ by the sayages. They were the wives of
soMicrs. The companies To winch their hns.
bands were attached had been quartered on
the frontier at place called FL Carmen, some
three hundred miles from chihuahua. The
troops were ordered to the capital. Two days
after their departure the women set out TO fol.
low their husbands, travelling on foot On
the 10th Of May. while pursuing their way
without suspicion OF danger, they were sur
prised by the sudden appearance of band Of
Apaclies, that cm,rg i like an apparition
from their concealment among the rocks and
chapparel by the wayside. The chief Of the
band was the noted Geronimo. The women
were frightened almost TO death, bu, became
calmer when captive Mexican namei Jose,
who had been u long time among the Spaches,
advanced and assured them that if they
would yield and 20 with the Indians they
would not DE naltrcatei Having no choice
In the premises they did SO. The sayagcs,
using Jose for an interpreter, subjected them
TO a severe inquisition respecting the move
ments of the troops. appearing anxious to as
certain their number, the object of their
march, where they were, and the intention of
the commanders. To all questions the poor
women answered as well as they could, but
their own lack of information probably dis
pleased the savages more than any in.orma-
ton they were able 70 give.
After this coiloquy the Apaches showed
great ingratitude and set out on march,
which continued without rest for day and a
night. According TO the account of the un.
fortunate women. they covered in this first
march not less than hundred miles. After
brief reposc, the march was resumed. Dur
ing three days they found no water; their
suiicrings seemed beyond endurance, and in.
luced the desperation and despondency of ap.
preaching madness. The region travcrsed
was of the most rough and dcsolate charac.
ter, and in many places to advance farther
seemed impossible. The women became very
much dcbiltated, and to make them keep up
with their captors, the inhuman wretchcs
whipped them continually. To increase their
misery, the provisions began TO grow scarce,
and the only ration given them was little
piece of raw meet, TO be divided among five
women and child. Antonia Hernandez, the
mother, carried the child in her arms to save
il from the cruel torment which the snv.
ages Inflicted by prodding it with sharpencd
sticks. The complaints of this inhuman
treatment, made by the mother to the savage
chief, served only to elicit the mockery of
that venerable good Indian" and his great.
hearted braves.
During the last two days of their captivity
the savagcs gave them nothing whatever to
eat. The cold of the Sierra Madre was al.
most to the freezing point, causing to the de-
bilitatcd and half.starvcd captivcs intense
suffering. The savagcs Eever remained quiet
day; were continually moving, crossing
and rccrossiny their course in every direction
but with general movement toward the
west. The captives were compelled to work
when they campcd, and were continually OBJ
jects Of ridicule, abuse and maltrcatmcnt.
When the savage genius for inventing other