Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-09-10
The Sturp Teller,
A STORY OF ADVENTURE
AND
Suffering in the Far West.

Early in January, 1851, Mr.. Royse Oat-
man "a native of New York; and his family
entered that portion of the Mexican terri
tory now called Arizona. in company with
an emigrant party, of which he was men,
ber. Originally the party numbered some
eighty or ninety persons, but disagreements
had divided them during the journey Mr..
Oatman and his friends took the Indian
route from the Rio Grande, with train
consisting of eight wagons and some twenty
persons. After a series of continued hard
ships and disasters they reached Tucson
entirely destitute of provisions, their stock
broken down, and most Of them unable to
proceed.
Mr.. Oatman saw nothing but utter desti-
tuition before him if he tarried there, and
he was sorely embarrassed what to do. His
stock had been reduced to two yoke of
cows and one of oxen, and was so jaded
after the long Journey that it was not prob
able they would hold out much longer.
Nearly two hundred miles of desert coun-
try lay between him and Fort Yuma and
beyond the Colorado there was still a terri
BILE desert to pass before he could reach the
southern counties of California. While suf-
fering the tortures of anxiety and suspense,
with the gloomiest prospect If they remain
ed, DR.. Lecount, who had extensively ex-
plored the Pacific coast arrived from Fort
Yuma, and reported the route safe. He
had seen no hostile Indians, and had heard
of no recent depredations on the way.
Encouraged by the information, Mr.. Oat-
man determined to push forward at once
for California, and, accordingly, on the 11th
of March, he set out with such slender out
fit of provisionsas he could procure. Trav-
cling for seven days under great difficulties,
his family on the verge of starvation, his
cattle scarcely able to drag the wagon, he
was overtaken by DIR. Lecount and Mexi-
can guide. 1t was evident from the exhaus-
ton of his team that he would be totally
unable to reach Fort Yuma without assist
fast as possible and send back assistance
from the fort, which was still distant about
ninety miles.
The first night beyond the Oatman camp
an attack was made by band of Indians
upon Lecount and his guide, and their ami
mails stolen. Left on foot, without any
means of subsistence, they were compelled
to hurry on or starve. The Mexican was
sent ahead to procure assistance. 1t was
thirty miles back to the Oatmans. Lecount
saw no alternative but to rush on after the
Ously fastened to tree, stating what had
occurred, and warning the emigrant party
behind to be on the lookout for the Apaches.
Although the Oatmans camped at the same
spot they failed to see the notice; or, as some
suppose, Mr.. Oatman saw it and concealed
it from his family, in order that they might
not be uselessly alarmed.
On the 18th of March they spent a dread
full night on little island in the Gila river.
A terrible storm blew the water up over
them; their scanty supply of provisions was
through, and the starving animals driven
nearly frantic with fear. 1t was a wild
and desolate place, many days journey
from any civilized abode. Hitherto, Mr..
Oatman, naturally a man of Sanguine tenn
perament, had borne every disaster and
braved every danger cheerfully and with
out finching; but the presentiment of some
terrible doom seemed to have fallen upon
him at this place, and he was seen by some
of the family to shed tears while sitting in
the wagon. The next day they proceed
ed but short way, when the jaded animals
utterly refused to move. 1t was impossible
to urge them on with the loaded wagon !;
their strength was spent, and the faithful
creatures seemed ready to lie down and die.
By unloading the wagon, and pushing the
wheels from time to time, the distressed
emigrants succeeded at length in getting
upon narrow flat, bordering on the river,
where they halted to recruit.
Mr.. Oatman was greatly detected. 1t
was observed by the family that he looked
anxiously down the road over which they
had passed, and that he never before SEEM
ed so utterly respondent. The sun, which
had blazed upon them fiercely all day was
now fast setting. They were beset by diff
culties. Before them lay vast desert; be-
hind and to the right a wilderness of noun
tains. 1t was starvation to stay, and al
most inevitable disaster to go forward.
Mrs. Oatman, the noble wife and mother,
always patient, hopeful and enduring, bus
led herself in attending to the wants of the
children, and in uttering words of encour-
agement to her husband. He, however,
seemed utterly overwhelmed with gloomy
forebodings, and continued to look back
upon the road, till, suddenly, an expression
of indescribable horror was observed in his
face, and the next moment band of
Apache Indians was seen leisurely approach
ing along the road. The children perceiv-
ing instinctively that their father-to whom
they had always been accustomed to look
for prOtectiOn-WaS agitated by no Ordina-
ry emotions, became alarmed; but he sue
ceeded by a strong effort in maintaining an
appearance of composure, and told them
not to be afraid, that the Indians would
not hurt them.
When the Indians came up, Mr.. Oatman
spoke to them kindly in Spanish, and mo-
toned to them to sit down. They sat down
and asked for tobacco and pipes, which he
gave them, and they smoked while in
token of friendship. They then asked for
something to eat. Mr.. Oatman told them
his family were nearly starving-that they
had long journey before them, and could
;lI cnarn any norton of their Scanty stock.