WHITE WOMEN TORTURED BY INDIANS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2147, 7 February 1880, Page 3

WHITE WOMEN TORTURED BY INDIANS.

A,despatch to,the. “ New,York Herald,” dated Lbs Pinos Agency, Colorado October 25, says Captain Kilnc and Majors Sherman and Saunders, arrived last night with Mrs and Miss Meeker, and Mrs Prince and her two children, a little :girl of ■: four and a nursing babe. The captivity of 22 days through which they had passed, had been a terrible trial, and its scenes and incidents will never be They were delivered over •tb General Adams on the 21st instant, in a camp on a tributary of the Grand liiver. after a council lasting five hours. The council was very heated, and at one time it was thought that the Indians would refuse General Adams’ demand. On the approach of General Adams, the captives were laid in the bush a short distance irom the camp. During the council, Susan, a sister of Ouray and a squaw of Johnson, made a speech, strongly advocating the release of the prisoners, the first instance on record of a squaw’s appearance, iu an important council. The history of the prisoners during their captivity forms a most pathetic chapter. After the killing of Agent Meeker, the women attempted to escape into the bush from the burning buildings. Mrs Mocker was fired at and received a flesh wound in the hip, Jin. in length. The Indians called tb Miss Meeker and Mrs Price in the following words ; “Indian no shoots white woman stops. Indian no hurt;” After being secured they were mounted on ponies. Miss Meeker, with Mrs Price’s eldest child tied behind ; Mrs Price, with her infant in her arms , and Mrs Meeker,who is 04 years of ago and lame, were compelled to accompany their captors. When they struck camp at midnight Mrs Meeker, was dismounted, and fell to the ground unable to move, and the Indians surrounded her and added to the misery of the situation by jeering and taunting “ the old squaw.” The next morning • they were separated, Douglass taking charge of Mrs Meeker, Pcrsaue of Miss Meeker, and Mrs Price and children being guarded by an Uhcomphagrc Ute. The sufferings of Mrs Meeker were.indescribable during her stay with Douglass, whose squaw abused her b} T neglect, and by pushing, striking, and taunting her. On one occasion Douglass throw down some blankets and compelled Miss Meeker to dismount, saying they were going into camp. He then said they were going to stab them, and exhibited the butcher knives to be used for the purpose. Then lie placed the musket to his forehead, and said, “ Indian going to shoot.” The eouragous girl never flinched, and laughed at the burly savage. He asked her if she was afraid, ami her ready response, “ I am not afraid of Indians or of death,” elicited the admiration of the red-devils. They turned their derision upon Chief Douglass, and lie slunk from her presence. Soon after the captives were placed in charge^of Chief Johnson/ and through the in'strumentality of Johnson’s squaw; their condition was very ranch improved, and further indignities prevented. Apprehensions as to the treatment of the captives to a fate worse than death have happily proved to be unsustained by facts, and they arrived hero in safety, although worn out by the indignities they suffered. Susan proved to be their guardian spirit, and had it not been for her intercession, the fate of the women would have formed one of the blackest pages of Indian devilry. Throughout the fearful ordeal of captivity Mrs Price and Miss Meeker almost fought for poor old Mrs Meeker. They could use a little Spanish and Ute, and their defiance of intruding Indians and their readiness to resent insults to the old lady challenged the respect of even the ’bloodthirsty aborigines. They would push the savages right and left when interferml with, and on making complaints to Susan were always able to'foil them in their brutal attempts. Susan laid down the law in a favorable manner, and woe unto the warrior who dared to murmur. The bravery of these ladies lias been unexampled, and to rhis fact may be attributed the favor which they otherwise could hot have received. The Indian runners, prior to the release of the captives, reported the white squaws were Jieap brave.” The statements of the captives have been taken in detail for official use.