The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17

preaching civilization, and the discovery of
dams were forced to retire before the APP
Colonel George w. Ewing. an Indian
trader, whose home was at Logansport,
Ind, CHANGED one night in 1885 10 be over
taken by darkness in the vicinity OF the
Usage camp, known as Deaf Mans Village,
In the western part OF Wabash county. He
applied at the home of the chief for lodg-
ing, and assigned the corner OF the
large room in the cabin occupied In COM
mon by the chief and his squaw. and the
two daughters. Ewing could not sleep, ana
as he watched the movements or the squaw
attending to the household duties he noticed
that her demeanor differed somewhat from
that of the Indians, and also observed.
when she raised her arms and the sleeves
fell away, that the skin was white.
Astonisbed at this, he questioned her In
the Indian tongue, and after some hesita-
ton she admitted that she was not of In
dian blood and spoke of her abduction ana
her journey from Pennsylvania west. Col.
other trip to Deaf Mans village, where ne
was again entertained by Frances, VINO
went further into the details OF her ro-
mantle life.
Colonel Ewing. with scarcely any hope of
finding her relatives. wrote letter to the
postmistress of Wilkesbarre, who was also
the editress of a local paper, but she paid
no attention to the story of Frances Slocum
or the inquiry concerning her relatives, and
threw the letter aside. Two years after
wards it was found by the editor of the
paper. John w. Forney, afterwards of the
Philadelphia Press, who printed the matter,
and, a copy of the paper falling into the
hands of friends of the Slocums, her broth
erS and sisters set out on pilgrimage 10
Logansport.
They were met by Colonel Ewing, who
accompanied them to Deaf Mans village,
where an affecting interview between them
and the lost sister took place. She was
Stolid and Indifferent and regarded the VS.
itors with suspicion. They questioned her
closely and she gave them the history of
her strange career. The brothers and sis
ters asked her to go with them to Peru, but,
refused They went away and returned a
day or so afterwards and pressed her to
give up her Indian life and go back to
pennsylvania, but she firmly declined to do
so. She said she was happy with her fam
lily and in the bosom of her tribe; that she
was growing old and a change of conditions
would shorten her days, and she desired,
when she died, pointing to the cemetery
where her body now lies, to rest with her
husband and children in that spot. Sor-
rowing, the relatives babe her adieu and
returned to Pennsylvania. One or two
visits were made her afterwards. but she
was not to be moved from her determine
ton, and she died in the desolate Indian
village In 1s47 and was inferred where she
had directed her remains to be buried.
Frances had two daughters-KickeseQua
who married Peter Bundy. Miami. and
Osawshequah, who married half-breed,
John Broulliette. Both daughters are dead,
but their children have often heard from
Frances's lips the story of her abduction.
This is the story as she told it:
1.-The Delaware Indians, after taking me
from the house. carried me over the noun
tains a long way and hid me in a cave.
They had blankets and bed of leaves, and
made me comfortable for the night. We
left early the next morning, the Indians
carrying me In their arms. They gave me
plenty to eat, and as felt better / stopped
crying. We finally reached an Indian viii
lage. where We staid some time. and the
chief, Tack-Horse. placed me on a horse
and we travelled a long ways. They dressed
me up In Indian garments and covered me
with bright beads. We went to Sandusky
and to Niagara and spent two years and
then went to Detroit. / was then about
thirteen years old. / was taught never to
trust the white men and to avoid them
at all times. When 1 saw a white 1 always
ran away out of sight. / became a good
markswoman with the bow and arrow and
engaged in all Indian sports. After three
years at Detroit we went to Fort Wayne
and staid there until after General Harm
er's defeat by the Indians, at which time
all the women and children were run of
to the north. / lived with the Delawares
and married Little Turtle, a chief. He was
cruel, and / left him and married Chepo-
kenah, Deaf Man," the Usage chief. / re-
member the defeat of the Indians by Gen.
eral Anthony Wayne. After peace we re-
turned to Fort Wayne, and then, after the
battle Of Tippecanoe, we came here to the
Missssinewa."
When the government order was made for
the removal of the Miamis west of the
Mississippi special act of Congress was
passed excepting Frances Slocum and her
family. She, in her last sickness, refused
all medical aid. Her death, March 8, 1S47,
was due to pneumonia. subsequently her
relatives held funeral services in San
dusky, one of her brothers. a minister,
preaching the funeral sermon.