Captivity of the Oatman girls; being an interesting narrative of life among the Apache and Mohave Indians, etc. Twenty-fifth thousand

Front matter

OLIVE OATMAN CAPTIVITY OF THE OATMAN GIRLS BEING AN |nttn»ting Dterrs.ti&.e of f Ut AMONG THE APACHE AND MOHAVE INDIANS. CONTAINING AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE MASSACRE OF THR OATMAN FAMILY, BY TH3 APACHE INDIANS, IN 1851; THE NARROW ESCAPE OF LORENZO D. OATMAN ; TnE CAPTURE OF OLIVE A. AND MARY A. OATMAN; THE DEATH, BY .STARVATION, OF THR LATTER ; TnE FIVE YEARS' SUFFERING AND CAPTIVITY OF OLIVR A. OATMAN; ALSO, HER SINGULAR RECAP- TURE IN 185G; AS GIVEN BT LORENZO D. AND OLIVE A. OATMAN, THE ONLY SURVIVING MEMBERS OF TUB FAMILY, TO THE AUTHOR, K. B. STRATTOJST. TWENTY-FIFTH THOUSAND. N£tu-i|ork : PUBLISHED FOK THE AUTHOR, BY 0AELTON & POBTEK, 200 MULBEEEY-STEEET. EOB SALE BY INGHAM & BRAGG, 67 SUPERIOR-ST., CLEVELAND, 0. ALSO BY J. H. 8EELEY, POTSDAM, ST. LAWRENCE CO., N. Y. 1860. Entered according to Act of CStrs&lB&JtXyezr 1857, by LORENZO D. OATMAN, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of the State of California.

Preface

TO THE FIRST EDITION. During the year 1851 news reached California, that in the spring of that year a family by the name of Oatman, while endeavoring to rea'ch California by the old Santa Fe route, had met with a most melan choly and terrible fate, about seventy miles from Fort Yuma. That while struggling with every difficulty imaginable, such as jaded teams, exhaustion of their stores of provisions, in a hostile and barren regioD, alone and unattended, they were brutally set upon by a horde of Apache savages ; that seven of the nine persons composing their family were murdered, and that two of the smaller girls were taken into captivity. One of the number, Lorenzo D. Oatman, a boy about fourteen, who was knocked down and left for dead, afterward escaped, but with severe wounds and serious injury.

But of the girls, Mart Ann and Olive Ann, nothing had since been heard, up to last March. By a singular and mysteriously providential train of circumstances, it was ascertained at that time, by per sons living at Fort Yuma, that one of these girls was then living among the Mohave tribe, about four hun dred miles from the fort. A ransom was offered for

PREFACE.

TO THE FIEST EDITION. her by the ever-to-be-remembered and generous Mr. Grinell, then a mechanic at the fort; and through the agency and tact of a Yuma Indian, she was purchased and restored to civilized life, to her brother and friends. The younger of the girls, Mart Ann, died of starvation in 1852. It is of the massacre of this family, the escape of Lorenzo, and the captivity of the two girls, that the following pages treat. A few months since the author of this book was requested by the afflicted brother and son, who barely escaped with life, but not without much suffering, to write the past history of the family ; especially to give a full and particular account of the dreadful and barbarous scenes of the captivity endured by his sisters. This I have tried to do. The facts and inci dents have been received from the brother and sister, now living.

These pages have been penned under the convic tion that in these facts, and in the sufferings and horrors that befell that unfortunate family, there is sufficient of interest, though of a melancholy charac ter, to insure an attentive and interested perusal by every one into whose hands, and under whose eye this book may fall. Though, so far as book-making is concerned, there has been brought to this task no experience or fame upon which to base an expectation of its popularity, yet the writer has sought to adapt the style to the character of the narrative, and in a simple, plain, comprehensive manner to give to the reader facts, as they have been received from those of whose sad experiences in adversity these pages give a faithful delineation. In doing this he has sought plainness, brevity, and an unadorned style, deem- PEEFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. ing these the only excellences that could be appro priately adopted for such a narrative; the only ones that he expects will be awarded.

It would be but a playing with sober, solemn, and terrible reality to put the tinselings of romance about a narrative of this kind. The intrinsic interest of the subject matter here thrown together, must have the credit of any circulation that shall be given to the book. Upon this I am willing to rely; and that it will be sufficient to procure a wide and general perusal, re munerating and exciting, I have the fullest confi dence. As for criticisms, while there will, no doubt, be found occasions for them, they are neither coveted nor dreaded. All that is asked is, that the reader will avail himself of the facts, and dismiss, as far as he can, the garb they wear, for it was not woven by one who has ever possessed a desire to become expe rienced or skilled in that ringing, empty style which can only charm for the moment, and the necessity for which is never felt but when real matter and thought are absent. t That all, or any considerable portion, of the distress, mental and physical, that befell that unfortunate family, the living as well as dead, can be written or spoken, it would be idle to claim.

The desolation and privation to which little Mary Ann was con signed while yet but seven years old ; the abuse, the anguish, the suffering that rested upon the nearly two years' captivity through which she passed to an untimely grave ; the unutterable anguish that shroud ed with the darkness of despair five years of her older sister; the six years of perpetual tossing from tran sient hope to tormenting fears, and during which unceasing toil and endeavor was endured by the elder

PREFACE.

TO THE FIRST EDITION. brother, who knew at that time, and has ever since known, that two of his sisters were taken into captivity by the Indians ; these, all these are realities that are and itist forever remain unwritten. We would not, if we could, give to these pages the power to lead the reader into all the paths of torture and woe through which the last five years have dragged that brother and sister, who yet live, and who, from hearts disciplined in affliction, have herein dictated all of what they have felt that can be transferred to the type. We would not, if we could, recall or hold up to the reader the weight of parental solicitude or heart yearnings for their dear family that crowded upon the last few moments of reason allowed to those fond parents, while in the power and under the war-clubs of their Apache murderers.

The heart's deepest an guish, and its profoundest emotions have no language. There is no color so deep that pen dipped therein can portray the reality. If what may be here found written of these unspoken woes shall only lead the favored subjects of constant good fortune to appre ciate their exempted allotment, and create in their hearts a more earnest and practical sympathy for those who tread the damp, uncheered paths of suffer ing and woe, then the moral and social use prayed for and intended in these pages will be secured. Yeeka, 1857. 11 fE 63 E- B- Stkatton. Since issuing the first edition of the " Captivity of the Oatman Girls," which obtained a rapid and quick sale, the author has been in the northern part of the state, busy with engagements made previous to its publication, and which he considered he had ample time to meet, and return before another edition would be called for, if at all.

But in this he was mis taken. Only two weeks had elapsed before orders were in the city for books, that could not be filled ; and that but a few days after the whole edition was bound. The first five thousand was put out as an ex periment, and with considerable abridgment from the original manuscript as at first prepared. Con siderable matter referring to the customs of the In dians, and the geography and character* of the country, was left out to avoid the expense of publishing. Could we have known that the first edition would have been exhausted so soon, this omitted matter might have been re-prepared and put into this edi tion, but the last books were sold when the author was five hundred miles from his present home, and on returning it was thought best to hurry this edition through the press, to meet orders already on hand.

We trust the reader will find most, if not all, of the objectionable portions of the first edition expunged from this; besides the insertion in their proper places of some additions that were, without intention, left out of the former one. He will also find this printed upon superior paper and type; and in many ways improved in its appearance. We must remind the reader, that in preparing a work like the present there is an utter impropriety in resorting to any other than the plainest matter-of-fact style. This book is not a romance. It is not dependent upon an exorbitant fictitiousness of expression for enlisting the attention or interest of the sober reader. The scene is a reality. The heroes of the tale are living. Let those, if any there are, to whom reality is a serious obstacle to engaged and sustained attention and interest, and whose morbidly created taste, has given a settled disrelish for marvels in the facts, while it unceasingly clamors for miracles of the fancy; to whom plain things, said in a plain way, have no attraction, whose reading heaven is a mountain of epithet on flashing epithet piled — let such lay aside the book.

The writer does not disclaim literary taste. Such a taste it is confidently felt is not herein violated. For its display these pages are not intended. These remarks are here penned for the reason that in a few instances, instead of an open criticism, founded upon the reading of the book, there has been a construing of the frank avowel of the real intention of this book, made in a former preface, into a confession of a literary weakness in the composition of this work. The writer for the last eleven years has been engaged in public speaking, and though moving contentedly in an humble sphere, is not without living testimonials to his diligence and fidelity, at least in application to those literary studies and helps to his calling which were within his reach. With a present consciousness of many imperfections in this respect, he is nevertheless not forbidden by a true modesty to say, that in a laudable ambition to acquire and command the pure English, from the root upward, he has not been wholly negligent nor unsuccessful ; nor in the habit of earnest and particular observation of men and things has he been without his note-book and open eyes.

During the years spoken of he has seldom appeared before the public without a carefully written compen dium, and often a full manuscript of the train of thought to be discoursed upon. But still, if his attainments were far more than are here claimed, it would by some be judged a poor place to use them for the feasting of the reader of a book of the nature of this record of murder, wailing, captivity, and horrid separations. The notices in the papers referred to have, no doubt, grown from a habit that prevails to a great extent, of writing a notice of a new book from a hasty glance at a preface. Hence, he who can gyrate in a brilliant circle of polished braggadocio in his first born, is in a fair way to meet the echo of his own words, and be "puffed!" But, unpretending as are these pages, the author, in his own behalf, and in behalf of those for and of whom he writes, is under manyobligations to the press of the State.

In many instances a careful per usal has preceded a public printed notice by an ed itor; and with some self-complacency he finds that such notices have been the most flattering and have done most to hasten the sale of these books. i The author, still making no pretensions to a serving up of a repast for the literary taste, yet with confidence assures the reader that he will find nothing upon these pages that can offend such a taste. Let it be said further, that the profits accruing from the sale of this work are, so far as the brother and sister are concerned, to be applied to those who need help. It was with borrowed means that Mr. Oatman published the first edition, and it is to secure means to furnish himself and his sister with the advantages of that education which has been as yet denied, that the narrative of their five years' privation is offered to the reading public.

Certainly, if the eye or thought delights not to wander upon the page of their sufferings, the heart will delight to think of means expended for the purchase of the book that details them. San Francisco, 1857. The second edition of this book (six thousand copies) was nearly exhausted in the California and Oregon trade within a few months after its publication. Numerous friends and relatives of Mr. and Miss Oatman, who had received copies of the work from friends in California, wrote to the writer, and also to the Oatmans, urgently requesting its publication for circula tion in the Atlantic and Western States. They had read the book, and loaned it to neighbors and friends, until each copy num bered a considerable circle of readers, and an almost unanimous opinion had been expressed that the book would meet with a large and ready sale if it could be put into the market at prices ruling on this side of the continent.

In behalf of those for whose special benefit the book is published, the writer can but feel grateful for the large sales that in a few weeks were effected in California. Eleven thousand were sold there in a short time, and the owner of the book has deeply regretted that it was not stereotyped at the first. Recently, to meet demands for the book already existing, especially in some of the Western States, where the Oatman family were well known, it was resolved to publish the book in New-York, in an improved style, and with the addition of some incidents that were prepared for the California issue, but omitted from the necessity of the case. The reader will find the book much im proved in its intrinsic interest by the addition of these geographical, traditional, and historic items. The matter added is chiefly of the peculiar traditions and superstitions of the tribes who were the captors and possessors of Miss Oatman.

Three new illustrations are also added, and the old ones newly drawn and engraved. Every plate has been enlarged, and the work done in a much improved and more perfect style. The reader will find this book to be a record of facts ; and these are of the most thrilling, some of them of the most horrid nature. Of all the records of Indian captivities we feel confident none have possessed more interest than this. Numerous have been the testi monies from California readers that it exceeds any of kindred tales that have preceded it. The Oatman family were well and favorably known in portions of Illinois and Pennsylvania, and a large circle of acquaintances are waiting, with much anxiety, the issue from the press of this narrative of the tragical allotment that they met after starting for the Colorado in 1850.

Seven of their number have fallen by the cruelties of the Indian ; two, a brother and sister, are now in this city. There are sketches and delineations in this volume touching the region lying to the West and Southwest, as also of the large aboriginal tribes that have so long held exclusive posses sion there, which, in these times of the un paralleled westward-pushing propensities of our people, are clothed with new and startling interest day by day. In the purchase of this book the reader will add to his private or family library a volume whose chief attraction will not be merely in the detail of horrors, of suffering, of cruel captivity, which it brings to him; but one which his children will find valuable for reference in the years they may live to see, and which are to be crowded, doubtless, with an almost total revo lution in the humanities that people the region lying between the Pacific and Texas, and between Oregon and Mexico.

These dark Indian tribes are fast wasting before the rising sun of our civilization ; and into that history that is yet to be written of their past, and of their destiny, and of the many interlacing events that are to contribute to the fulfilling of the wise intent of Providence concerning them and their only dreaded foe, the white race, facts and inci dents contained in this unpretending volume will enter and be appreciated. R. B. Stratton. New-York, April, 1858. CONTENTS

Chapter I

The first Encampment — The Oatman Family — Their checkered Allotment up to the Time of their Emigration — Mr. Oatman — His Ill-healtli — Proposes to join the Party organized to form an American Colony near the Gulf of California, in 1849 — The 10th of August— Discord in Camp, owing to the religions Prejudices of a few — First Danger from Indians — The Camanche Band — Two Girls taken for " Injins " — The Grape Dumpling — Mexican Settlements — The Hunt for Antelopes, and its tragical End — Charles refuses to fight "Injins" with Prayer — Moro — Scarcity of Provisions — Discontent and Murmurings — Mr. Lane — His Death — Loss of Animals by the Apaches — Mrs. M. in the Well — Santa Cruz and Tukjon — Some of the Company remain here — Pimole — The only traveling Companions of the Oatman Family resolve to remain — Mr. Oatman, in Perplexity, resolves to proceed Paoe 21

Chapter II

Mr. and Mrs. Oatman in Perplexity— Interview with Dr. Lecount — Advises them to proceed — They start alone — Teams begin to fail — The Roads are bad — The Country rough and mountainous — Compelled to carry the Baggage up the Hills by Hand — Overtaken by Dr. Lecount on his way to Fort Yuma — He promises them Assistance from the Fort — The next Night the Horses of Dr. Lecount are stolen by the Apaches — He posts a Card, warning Mr. Oatman of Danger, and starts on Foot for the Fort — Reach the Gila River — Camp on the Island late at Night — Their dreary Situation, and the Conversation of the Children — The Morning of the 29th of March — Their Struggle to ascend the Hill on the 29th — Reach the Summit about Sunset — The Despondence and Presentiments of Mr. Oatman — Nineteen Apaches approach them Profess Friendliness — The Massacre — Lorenzo left for dead, but is preserved — The Capture of Olive and Mary Ann , CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IH. Lorenzo Oatman — Conscious of most of the Scenes of the Massacre — The next Day he finds himself at the Foot of a rocky Declivity, over which he had fallen — Makes an Effort to walk — Starts for Pimole — His Feelings and Sufferings — Is attacked by Wolves — Then by two Indians, who are about to shoot him down — Their subsequent Kindness — They go on to the Place of Massacre — He meets the Wilders and Kellys — 'They take him back to Pimole; — In about one Month gets well, and starts for Fort Yuma — Visits the Place of Massacre — His Feelings — Burial of the Dead — Reflections — The two Girls — Their Thoughts of Home and Friends — Conduct of their Captors — Disposition of the Stock — Cruelty to the Girls to hurry them on — Girls resolve not to proceed — Meet eleven Indians, who seek to kill Olive — Keasons for — Apaches defend he'r — Their Habits of Fear for their own Safety — Their Reception at the Apache Village — One Year — The Mohaves — Their second coming among the Apaches — Conversation of Olive and Mary — Purchased by the Mohaves — Avowed Reasons — Their Price — Danger during the Debate. .Page 90

Chapter IV

The Journey of three hundred and fifty Miles to the Mohave Valley — The Means of Subsistence during the Time — The Conduct of the Mohaves compared with the Apaches — Arrive at the Valley — The Village — The Chief's Eesidence — Their Joy at the Return of Topeka, their Daughter — The Greeting of the new Captives — One Tear ot Labor and Suffering — The Overflowing of the Colorado — Theii1 Dependence upon it — Their Habits — Cultivation of the Soil — Scarcity of Provisions — Starvation — Mary Ann — Her Decline — Olive's Care, Grief, and Efforts to save her Life — Dies of Famine — Many of the Indian Children die — Burial of Mary Ann — The Sympathy and Sorrow of the Chiefs Wife — The great Feast— The killing of the two Captives as a Sacrifice 160

Chapter V

The Mohaves — Their Sports — An Expedition of Hostility against tee Cochopas — Its Design — Tradition concerning it— The Preparation — Their Custom of sacrificing a Prisoner on the Death in War of one of their own Number — The Anxiety of Olive — They depart — Their Return— The Fruit of the Expedition — The Five Cochopa Captives — Nowereha — Her Attempt to escape — Her Recapture and horrid Death — The Physicians — Evil Spirits — The Mohave Mode of Doctoring — The Yumas — "Francisco," the Yum? Indian — Hopes of Es- ■sape CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

Lorenzo Oatman — His Stay at Fort Yuma — Goes with Dr. Hewit to San Francisco — His constant Misery on Account of his Sisters — Dark Thoughts — Cold Sympathy — Goes to the Mines — Resolves to go to Los Angeles to learn, if possible, of bis Sisters — His earnest but fruitless Endeavors — The Lesson — Report brought by Mr. Roulit of two Captives among the Mohaves — The false Report of Mr. Black — Mr. Grinell — Petitions the Governor — Petitions Congress — The Report of the Rescue of Olive — Mr. Low Page 238

Chapter VII

Francisco goes over the River, and spends the Night — Persuades some of the Sub-Chiefs to apply again for Permission to let Olive go free — His Threats — The Chiefs return with him — Secret Council — Another General Council — Danger of a Fight among themselves — Francisco has a Letter from the Whites — Olive present — Francisco gains Permission to give her the Letter — Its Contents — Much alarmed — Speeches of the Indians — Advice to kill their Captive — Determine to release her — Daughter of tho Chief goes with them — Their Journey — At Fort Yuma 251 Illustrations, Page Portrait of Olive Oatman 2 Map 20 First Night's Encampment 24 The Massacre Vide 85 Lorenzo returning to the Place of Massacre 99 Lorenzo attacked by Cototes and Wolves 102 Lorenzo rescued by friendly Indians 105 The Captives at the Indian Camp-Fire 119 Attempt to shoot Olive A3nd Mary Ann 129 Reception of the two Girls at the Apache Village 133 Indian skulking to hear the Conversation of the Girls 155 Death of Mary Ann at the Indian Camp 195 Horrid Death of the Indian Captive 229 ( )live at the Indian Council 258 Arrival of Olive at Fort Yuma 273 Portrait of Lorenzo Oatman Vide 278 s CAPTIVITY OP THE OATMAN GIRLS.

Chapter 1

The first Encampment — Tho Oatman Family — Their checkered Allottmcnt up to the Time of their Emigration — Mr. Oatman — His Ill-health — Proposes to join the Party organized to form an American Colony near the Gulf of California, in 1849 — The 10th of August — Discord in Camp, owing to the religious Prejudices of a few — First Danger from Indians — The Camanche Band — Two Girls taken for " Injins " — Tho Grape Dumpling — Mexican Settlements — The Hunt for Antelopes, and its tragical End — Charles refuses to fight "Injins" with Prayer — Moro — Scarcity of Provisions — Discontent and Murmurings — Mr. Lane — His Death — Loss of Animals by the Apaches — Mrs. M. in the Well — Santa Cruz and Tukjon;— Some of the Company remain here — Pimole — The only traveling Companions of the Oatman Family resolve to remain — Mr. Oatman, in Perplexity, resolves to proceed.

The 9th of August, 1850, was a lovely day. The sun had looked upon the beautiful plains surround ing Independence, Missouri, with a full, unclouded face, for thirteen hours of that day ; when, standing about four miles south of westward from the throb bing city of Independence, alive with the influx and efflux of emigrant men and women, the reader, could he have occupied that stand, might have seen, about one half hour before sunset, an emigrant train slowly approaching him from the city. This train consisted of about twenty wagons, a band of emigrant cattle, and about fifty souls, men, women, and children. Attended by the music of lowing cattle, and the chatter of happy children, it was slowly traversing a few miles, at this late hour of the day, to seek a place of sufficient seclusion to enable them to hold the first and preparatory night's camp away from the bustle and confusion of the town.

Just as the sun was gladdening the clear west, and throwing its golden farewells upon the innumerable peaks that stretched into a forest of mountains gradu ally rising until they seemed to lean against the sun clad shoulders of the Rocky Range, imparadising the whole plain and mountain country in its radiant em brace, the shrill horn of the leader and captain suddenly pealed through the moving village, a circle was formed, and the heads of the several families were in presence of the commander, waiting orders for the camping arrangements for the night. Soon teams were detached from the wagons, and with the cattle (being driven for commencement in a new country) were turned forth upon the grass. Rich and abundant pasturage was stretching from the place of their halt westward, seemingly until it bordered against the foot-hills of the Indian territory in the distance.

Among the fifty souls that composed that emigrant band, some were total strangers. Independence had been selected as the gathering-place of all who might heed a call that had been published and circulated for months, beating up for volunteers to an emigrant company about seeking a home in the Southwest. It was intended, as the object and destination of this company, to establish an American colony near the mouth of the Gulf of California. Inducements had Deen held out, that if the region lying about the iuncture of the Colorado and Gila Rivers could thus be colonized, every facility should be guaranteed tbe colonists for making to themselves a comfortable and luxuriant home. After a frugal meal, served throughout the various divisions of the camp, the evening of the 9th was spent in perfecting regulations for the long and dan gerous trip, and in the forming of acquaintances, and the interchange of salutations and gratulations.

Little groups, now larger and now smaller, by the constant moving to and fro of members of the camp, had chatted the evening up to a seasonable bedtime. Then, at the call of the " crier," all were collected around one camp-fire for the observance of public worship, which was conducted by a clergyman pres ent. Into that hour of earnest worship were crowded memories of the home-land and friends now forever abandoned for a settlement in the "far-off South west." There flowed and mingled the tear of regret and of hope ; there and then rose the earnest prayer for Providential guidance; and at that hour there swelled out upon the soft, clear air of as lovely an evening as ever threw its star-lit curtain upon hill and vale, the song of praise and the shout of triumph, not alone in the prospect of a home by the Colorado of the South, but of glad exultation in the prospect FIRST night's encampment. of a home hard by the " River of Life," which rose to view as the final termination of the journeyings and toil incident to mortality's pilgrimage.

Now the hush of sleep's wonted hour has stolen slowly over the entire encampment, and nothing without indicates remaining life, save the occasional growl of the ever-faithful watch-dog, or the outburst of some infant member of that villa-camp, wearied and worn, and overtasked by the hurry and bustle of the previous day. Reader, we now wish you to go with us into that camp, and receive an introduction to an interesting family .consisting of father, mother, and seven children; the oldest of this juvenile group a girl of sixteen, the youngest a bright little boy of one year. Silence is here, but to that household sleep has no welcome. The giant undertaking upon which they are now fairly launched is so freighted with interest to themselves and their little domestic kingdom, as to leave no hour during the long night for the senses to yield to the soft dominion of sleep.