Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-04-06
NO. IA.

Indian settlements in search Of the lost sis
ter, but in vain. The mother was finally
laid in the grave, and little Frances was al.
most forgotten
The brothers Of the child captive had be-
come aged men, and their grandchildren
were playing upon the very spot from
whence Frances was taken In the sum
mer Of 1887, fifty-nine years after her cap
ture, intelligence Of Frances was received.
Colonel Ewing, an Indian agent and trader,
in letter written at LoganspOrt Indiana
TO the editor Of the Lancaster Intelligencer.
gave such information that all doubts about
her identity were removed She had told
Mr.. Ewing that her name was Slocum that
her father was Quaker, and that she was
taken from near the Susquehanna river
when she was very young. The letter came
TO the knowledge of Joseph Slocum, when
he, and his sister, who carried him TO the
fort, journeyed to Ohio, where they were
joined by their younger brother Isaac.
They proceeded 10 Logansport, where they
saw Mr.. Ewing, and ascertained that the
woman he had written about lived twelve
miles from the village. She was immedi.
ately sent for, and toward evening the next
day she came into the town, riding spirit
ed young horse, accompanied by her two
daughters dressed in full Indian costume,
terpreter was procured for she could not
speak a word Of English), and she listened
seriously to what her brothers had to say.
She answered but little, and at sunset de-
parted for her home, promising to return
the next morning. The brothers and sis
ter were quite sure it was Frances, though
in her face nothing but Indian lineaments
were seen, her color alone revealing her
origin.
True to her appointment, said Mr. Slo-
cum, 'she appeared the next morning, ac-
companied as before. l mentioned mark
Of recognition which my mother had said
would be a sure test. One day, while play
ing with a hammer in a blacksmith shop
when about two and a-half years old, |
gave Frances a blow upon the middle finger
Of her left hand, which crushed the bone
and deprived the finger of its nail This
test l withheld until others should fail
When mentioned it the good woman was
greatly agitated, and, while tears filed the
burrows of her aged face, she held out the
dishgured finger, but said nothing. There
was no longer any doubt that we had found
our lost sister, and a scene of deep interest
ensued. Her affections for her kindred,
which had slumbered more than half a cen
tury, we're aroused and she made earnest
inquiries after her father mother brothers
and sisters. She opened her full heart to
us and gave us history of her life.
THE Indians when they took me from
the house, she said, went to a rocky cave
in the mountains. They were Delawares.
The next morning they departed for the
Indian country. That first night was the
unhappiest of my life but | was kindly
treated, and was carried tenderly in their
arms when | was weary. | was adopted in
an Indian family and brought up as their
daughter. l soon almost forgot my mother.
For years l lived a rowing life, and liked it,
was taught the use of the bow and arrow,
and became expert as a hunter and in all
out-of-door exercises. When l was grown
to wOmanhood both of my Indian parents
died, and l soon afterward married a young
chief of the nation and removed to the
Ohio country. ! was treated with more re-
spect than even the Indian women general
ly was taught TO ride on horseback and
was not required to cultivate the soil or
bear burdens. / always remembered my
carrying off and 50 happy was in my do
mestic relations that the chance of being
discovered and compelled to return among
the white people was the greatest evil that
feared. For l had been taught that they
were the implacable enemies Of the Indians,
whom loved. My husband died and my
people having joined the Miamis, l went
with them, and married one of that tribe.
| have children and grandchildren, and am
very happy.
when she had concluded her narrative,
she lifted her right hand in a solemn manner
and said
And this is as true as that there is a
Great Spirit in the heavens ="
Her second husband had been dead many
years. She was entirely ignorant of her
Datiya lar Gba raaaitaI ha
of Md-cOn-d-qltd or "a Young Bear, and
was pagan endued with a Christian spirit.
On the day after the second interview,
the brother and sister, with the interpreter,
rode out to the home of the found captive.
Her dwelling was u well-built log house in
the midst of cultivation. a large herd of
cattle and sixty horses were grazing in the
pastures. Everything betokened plenty
and comfort, for she was wealthy when her
wants and her means were compared Her
annuity from the government, which she
had received as one of the Miami tribe had
been saved, and she had about one thousand
dollars in specie. Her white friends tarried
with her several days, and not long after
their return home, Joseph and his daughter,
the wife of the Hon. Ziba Bennett of Wyo-
ming, again visited her and bade her the
last farewell. On that occasion she was in
duced to sit for her portrait TO an artist
named Winter, residing at Logansport,
whom met at Lafayette, Indiana, in 1860
1t was half-length life-size. At the time of
my visit it was hanging IN Mr.. Slocum's par
lor, and l was permitted to make a pencil
copy of it. The costume was very simple
an under dress of scarlet and a mantle of
black cloth, with large flowing sleeve on
one side
Frances Slocum-Ma-con-d- -qud-the child
captive of the Wyoming valley, died in
! 1874, and was buried with considerable pomp,
for she was regarded as a queen among her
tribe. When the Miamis were removed
from Indiana, the lost sister" and her
Indian relatives were exempted, The af-
fecting story of her life was laid before
| Congress, and so eloquenty did John Quincy
Adams plead her cause that he drew tears
| from the eyes of many members. Congress
gave her a tract of land mile square, to
be held in perpetuity by her descendants,
and there her children and grandchildren
were living at the time of my visit in the
Valley of Wyoming.
BENSON j. LOSING, LID.