Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-09-10

ty. Suddenly, with terrific yell, they
Jumped in the air and dashed with uplifted
clubs upon the doomed family. Lorenzo, a
boy fourteen years of age, was struck on the
head and felled to the earth the first blow.
Several of the savages rushed upon Oatman,
and he was seen for moment struggling
in their midst, but soon fell mutilated
corpse at their feet. Mrs. Oatman pressed
her youngest child to her bosom, and
struggled with a mothers heroic devo-
ton to save it, shrieking in piercing accents,
"Help! help! Oh, for the love of God, will
nobody save us 2"
A few blows of the murderous clubs quick
ly silenced the poor mother and her babe;
and in less than minute the whole family,
save Lorenzo, Olive and Mary Anne, were
living dead or moaning in their death strug-
giles upon the ground. Olive, girl of six
teen years of age, and Mary Anne, a frail
child of eleven, were dragged asideand held
in the iron grasp of two Indians. Lorenzo,
the boy, was stunned by the crushing blows
which had fallen upon his head, and lay
bleeding by the edge of the precipice. In
his narrative he states that he soon recov-
ed his consciousness, and distinctly hearo
the yells of the Apaches, mingled with the
shrieks and dying groans of his parents.
The savages, seeing him move, rified his
pockets and cast him over the precipice.
He must have fallen twenty-feet, and that
he was not instantly killed, or manned be-
yond recovery, seems miraculous. Strange
discorGant sounds he tells us, grated on his
ears, gradually dying away, and then he
heard ''strains of such sweet music as COM
pletely ravished his Senses"
Thus he lay until reason became gradu-
ally restored, when, with great difficulty he
crept back up the hill. The sight of the
dead bodies of his parents, brothers and
sisters, lying scattered about the broken
while he felt like one laboring under some
horrible phantom. He knew that his sis
ters Olive and Mary Anne had been taken
captive, and the fate to which they were
doomed was even more dreadful to him
than the sight of the murdered family.
Sick at heart, and faint from loss of blood,
he turned away and crept towards the river.
A burning thirst consumed him. He
thought he was dying. With incredible
difficulty he reached the river, where he
satisfied his thirst and slept few hours.
Thus refreshed, he resolved upon an at
tempt to reach the Pimo Villages, which,
though distant hundred miles, was the
nearest place known to him, where he could
hope to procure relief. During the next
two days he made his way along the road
sometimes walking, sometimes creeping on
his hands and knees, resting every few min
utes when he could procure the friendly
shelter of bush; at times delirious, and
constantly haunted by the horrible dread
that he might again fall into the hands of
Indians. He grew weaker every mile from
hunger, thirst and fever; and worn out at
last, lay down to die.
A strange noise aroused him from his
stupor. Upon opening his eyes he found
himself surrounded by wolves. He shouted
as loud as he could, and threw stones at
them. The nearest he struck with his hand.
Rising again, he pushed on, the wolves
following closely at his heels. About noon
of the second day, as he was passing through
dark ravine, two Pimo Indians, riding on
fine American horses, appeared before him,
and seeing so strange An object fixed their
arrows and raised their bows to shoot. He
addressed them in Spanish, telling them he
was an American, and begging them not to
kill him; upon which they lowered their
bows and manifested signs of interest and
sympathy.
When they learned what had happened,
thew gave him some aSh-baked bread and
a gourd of water. Then they told him to
await their return, and rode away. He
stayed little while, but fearful of treach-
ery started on again. Wandering along
the road until he came out of the ravine
and overlooked the plain, he discerned
some moving objects in the distance,
which he speedily recognized as two white
covered wagons. He knew they must be
Americans. Overcome by emotion, he sank
to the ground unconscious of all his suf-
ferings. The wagons contained friendly
American families who had started for
Fort Yuma. Next Gay the unhappy suf-
ferer was safe among the Pimos. The en-
ierants halted few days until he gained
sufficient strength to join them. He trav-
eled with them to Fort Yuma, which they
reached after a journey of eight or ten days.
AS soon as the Apaches had concluded the
massacre of the Oatman family, and plum
dered the wagon of its contents, they new
across the river, taking with them the two
captives, Olive and Mary Anne. These un-
fortunate girls had seen their parents, broth
ers and sisters cruelty murderad, and were
now dragged away, bare headed and shoe
less through a rude and desolate wilderness.
Ferocious threats and even clubs were used
to hurry them along. Sometimes the
younger sister faltered from sheer lack OF
strength ; but the savage Wretches, unmlnd-
full of her sufferings, beat her, and threaten
ed to dispatch her at once if she Jagged be-
hind.
Onthe third day of their journey, after the
most incredible hardships, having travelled
over two hundred miles, they came in sight
of cluster of low thatched huts down in a
valley. This was the Apache village, me
tribe consisted of about three hundred, ana
lived in the most abject condition of filth
and poverty. From this time, for many
months they lived life of servitude, work
ing from morning till night for their cap
tors. The scantest pittance of food was al
lowed them, and that they had to gather
themselves Often they were without food
for two days at a time, save such roots as
they could secretly devour while gathering
supplies for the lazy wretches who held
them in bondage. The youngest sister,
Mary Anne, was of a weakly constitution,
and gradually declined under the terrible
hardships to which she was subjected.
There is touching pathos in the gentle
ness and fortitude with which she bore her
sufferings. She seldom complained; and
it was her custom, when alone with her
sister to sing hymns and say she thought
heaven would take pity on them some
day and deliver them.
The sisters one evening sat hand in hand.
Mary Anne sang one of the faVorite hymns
she had been taught by her mother. Then
gazing with steadfast and loving eyes in
her sisters face, she said, 81 have been a
great deal of trouble to you, Olive. You
will miss me for while, but you will not
have to work so hard when | am gone"
The Indians gathered around in mysterl-
Gus wonder; but the dying girl saw them
not. n smile of ineffable happiness BEAM
ed upon her features. Peacefully she sank
to rest in her sisters arms. Olive was le1t
to bear the burden of life alone.
During several dreary years the brother,
Lorenzo, had vainly striven to procure the
release of his sisters. No aid was furnish