Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-04-26
Captured by Apaches.

that their owner had seen more than
her share of suffering and anguish.
The woman was Mrs. Rosina Layton,
and she had come direct from New
Mexico to this city, where she had a
married sister living. During the
past eight years of her life she has
lived through what few members of
her sex have been called upon to un-
dergo. Each one of those wrinkles
which now mar what was once
handsome face were gathered while
she was suffering captive in the
hands of the cruel Apache Indians.
To reporter who visited her in her
sisters cozy little cottage in the mis-
sion, Mrs. Layton related the story
of her life, the terrible trials and pain
borne through eight miserable years,
and the details of her final escape
from her british captors.
''In 1872" said Mrs. Layton in a
subdued tone of voice, which occa-
sionally quivered as if recalling the
past awoke emotions which she could
hardly restrain, "Jonn, that was my
husband, and I moved from Leaven-
worth. Kansas, to Santa Fe. John
worked there for long time, and
we were very happy. He then got
an idea IN his head that he could do
better if he struck out for himself
and went into stock-raising. He had
some money, and l thought with him
that it would be a good move. So
we packed up all our things in big
prairie schooner, and in this, with
two children, | rode with John and
a scout, who kindly volunteered to
see US fixed in some place, drove the
cattle. Our march was long and
weary one, and / cannot remember
how we went, but l know that at
last we stopped at place the guide
said was called White Water. All
around was short stubble grass, and
where we were camped some one had
dug we'll. The guide said we would
have to stop here for at least two
weeks, as he did not care to push on
until he had heard from fort whether
the Indians were off their reservation
or not. l did not like the place a
all. 1t was so dreary, and when tht
guide left us to gain the information
he wanted | was very nervous indeed
John, however, said the guide hat
assured him that we were in the SAT
est place in the Territory at White
Water.
Three days passed away, and w
had heard nothing from the absen
guide. On the evening of this day
John, who had taken long tramp
came home looking quite fiurried, an
after repeated questions he at las
told me he was afraid Indians wer
near, as he had observed a stra
mustang roaming over the plai
grazing on the bunch grass. | aG
vised him to harness up the horse
: at once and drive on, but he sal
that would be sure way to run int
them. Oh, how we'll recollect job
| saying that to me. l folded til
e children up in their blankets tn;
!. night, and over their slumberin
e forms | prayed that we might NJ
fall victims to the blood-thirsty Ii
dians. | could not sleep and la
tossing about, starting up at ever
k moan of the night wind that swe]
# over the prairie. John, too, W;
Il wakeful. 1t must have heen abol
e midnight when our dogs began
bark. and we could hear the catt
moving. | was paralyzed with tie
ror, but John sprang up and locke
lie olt. In another moment he gave
gasping cry, and said to me:
1t Ellen, the Indians are upon US. ,
is Oh, God how can l relate VIII
Sc followed. There were demons
!" shrieks that seemed to rend the q
mosphere. John fired his pistols al
- there were return shots. and in t
h. blaze of fire | fell over my childr
le in faint
lg The recollection was too vivid ,ar
Mrs. Layton leaned her head upt
ld the table by which she was sitti
le and wept piteously. After a ft
- moments she composed herself al
T resumed, in broken tones; when
came to | was in the arms of he
es rible brute of an Indian, and aroul
a me were score more. Our wag,
e. was a blazing mass, which lit up t
u scene with Its light. The India
" were hastily gathering our cattle t
gether, and | knew they were goil
aS to leave. | cried out aloud for 10
he and the children, but the beast th
ed held me only jeered at me and sho
lie me. Then l struggled to get aw
~ from him. In doing so l turn
around and beheld-oh, God, it
- horrible-my dear husband and ch
dren. They were lying on the grou
so dead. dead, dead yes, and bleed
ur and scalped. From the belt of t
up wretch that held me dangled t
white silky hair of my little girl a
the brown locks of my little be
:. That is all | can recolIect. I
an came a maniac, believe, and das
is ed my fist again and again in |
ed face of my captors until | sank |
'"' conscious from exhaustion.
NV life after that wac hut tho n