Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-18
The STORY Teller.
A STORY OF ADVENTURE.

Early in January, 1851, Mr. Royse
Oatman, q native of New York, and
his family entered that portion of the
Mexican territory now called Arizona,
in company with an emigrant party,
of which be was a member. Original
ly the party numbered some 80 or 80
persons but disagreements had di.
vided them during the journey Mr..
Oatman and his friends took fhe In
dian route from the Rio Grande, with
a train consisting of eight wagons and
some 20 persons. After a series OF
continued hardships 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
destitation before him if he tarried
there, and he was sorely embarrassed
what to do. His stock had been re-
duced to two yoke of cows and one OF
oxen, and was so jaded after the long
Journey that it was not probable they
would hold out much longer. Nearly
200 miles of desert country lay be.
tween him and Fort Yuma; and be-
yond the Colorado there was still a
terrible desert to pass before he could
reach the southern counties of Cali
fornia. While suffering the tortures
of anxiety and suspense, with the
gloomiest prospect if they remained, a
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 depreda.
tions on the way.
Encouraged by the information, Mr..
Oatman determined to push forward
at once for California, and, according
ly, on the 18th of March, he set out
with such slender outfit of provisions
as he could procure. Travelling 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 DR.. Lecount and
Mexican guide. 1t was evident from
the exhaustion of his team that he
would be totally unable to reach Fort
Yuma without assistance. DR.. Lecount
agreed to hurry on as fast as possible
and send back assistance from the fort,
which was still distant about 80 miles.
The first night beyond the Oatman
camp an attack was made by a band
of Indians upon Lecount and bis guide,
and their animals 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 30 miles
back to the Oatmans. Lecount saw
no alternative but to rush on after the
guide. He left a card, however, con-
spicuously fastened to a 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
dreadful night on little island in the
Gila river. A terrible storm blew the
water up over them ; their scanty sup
ply of provisions was damaged, their
blankets and clothing wet through, and
the starving animals driven nearly
frantic with fear. 1t was wild and
desolate place, many days. journey
from any civilized abode. Hitherto,
Mr.. Oatman, naturally a man of san
guine temperament, had borne every
disaster and braved every danger
cheerfully and without flinching; but
the presentment 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
proceeded 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
seem ready to lie down and die. BY
unloading the wagon, and pushing the
wheels from time to time, the distress
ed emigrants succeeded at length in
getting upon a narrow fiat. bordering
on the river, where they halted to re-
cruit.
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 seemed so utterly despon-
dent. The sun, which had blazed
upon them fiercely all day was now
fast setting. They were beset by
difficulties. Before them lay vast
desert; behind and to the right a will
derness of mountains. 1t was starva.
ton to stay, and almost inevitable
disaster to 60 forward. Mrs. Oatman,
the noble wife and mother, always
patient, hopeful and enduring, busted
herself in attending to the wants of
the children, and in uttering words of
encouragement to her husband. He,
however, seemed utterly overwhelmed
with gloomy forebodings, and contin-
ued to look back upon the road, till,