Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-07-12
NUMBER SO
The Five Captive women.

Inc story tOlQ Uy TIE uVo moAIC0u
women who were rescued by General
Crook from captivity among the
Apaches is one of the many strange
romances that are incident to life on
the frontier, and to the mode Of war
pursued by the savages. They were
the wives of soldiers. The companies
to which their husbands were attach
ed were quartered on the frontier at a
place called Ell Carmen, some 800 miles
from chihuahua. The troops were or
dered to the capital. Two days after
their departure the women set out to
follow their husbands, travelling ON
foot. On the 10th of May, while pur-
suing their way without suspicion of
danger, they were surprised by tho
sudden appearance of q baad OF
Apaches that emerged, like an appar-
alton, from their concealment among
the rocks and chappareal by the way
side. The chief of the band was the
noted Geronimo. The women were
frightened almost to death, but became
calmer when captive Mexican named
Jose, who had been q long time among
the Apaches, advanced and assured
them that if they would yield and go
with the Indians they would not be
maltreated. Having no choice In the
premises, they did 80. The savages,
using Jose as an interpreter, subjected
them to severe inquisition respecting
the movement Of the soldiers, appear.
ing anxious to ascertain their number,
the object of their march, where they
were and the intention of the command
ers. To all questions the poor women
answered as we'll as they could, but
their own lack of information probably
displeased the savages more than any
information they were able to give.
After this colloquy, the Apaches show
ed great ingratitude, and set out on q
march which continued without rest q
day and night. According to the ac-
count Of the unfortunate wsmen, they
covered in this first march not less than
a hundred miles. After brjefrepose the
march was resumed. During three
days they found no water; their suf-
ferings seemed beyond endurance, and
induced the desperation and despond-
ency of approaching madness. The re-
gion traversed was of the most rough
and desolate character. and in many
places to advance farther seemed inn
possible. The women became greatly
debilitated, and to make them keep up
with their captors, the inhuman
wretches whipped them continually.
To intensity their misery, the provis-
ions began to grow scarce, and the on
ly ration given them was little piece
Of raw meat, to be divided among the
five women and q child. Antonia
Hernandez, the mother, carried the
child in her arms to save 1t from the
cruel torment which the savages in
flicted by prodding it with sharpened
sticks. The complaints Of this inhu-
man treatment, made by the mother
to the savage chief, served only to clio
| it the mockery of that venerable .sgood
Indian" and his great-hearted braves.
During the last two days Of their cap
tivity, the savages gave them nothing
whatever to eat. Thecold Of the Sierra
was almost at the freezing point, caus-
ing to the debilitated and half-starved
captives intense suffering. Thesavag-
es never remained quiet day; were
continually moving, crossing and re-
crossing their course in every direc-
ton, but with general movement to-
ward the West. The captives were
compelled to work when they camped,
and were continually objects Of ridi-
Guile, abuse and maltreatment. When
the savage genius for inventing other
modes of tormenting the wretched
Sonora Hernandez had been exhaust
ed, a brutal brave seized her child and
made :eint Of dashing it to pieces
against a rock-a gentle display of
Apache humor. The cold, the hun
ger, the thirst, the march, continued.
The fear, the torment, the maltreat-
ment, have wrought terrible effect up
on these women, whose captivity, be-
ginning on the 10th, was terminated
by the sudden appearance Of Crooks
soldiers about week later. One Of
the unfortunates expressed herself
thus: "When saw Gen. Crooks SOL
diers q door opened in the clouds and
/ saw Heaven" The lamentable con-
dition of these unfortunate women ex-
cited the liyeliest sy mpathy among the
boys in blue, who did all in their pow
er to alleviate their su1erings, and gave
to each one of them q mule taken from
their captors. The redeemed can not
find words to express their gratitude
to the deliverers.
It is reported that tho Chillians will
withdraw from Lima on tho first of
A August