Royal B. Stratton (1827–1875)

In 1851 the Oatman family was on their way from Illinois to California in a covered wagon when they were attacked by natives (the attackers are called “Apaches” but it’s not clear that this is the correct tribal affiliation). Six were killed, one (15-year-old Lorenzo) was left for dead, and two (14-year-old Olive and 7-year-old Mary Ann) were taken captive. Lorenzo staggered away after regaining consciousness and was helped by friendly natives and another party of immigrants. The sisters were traded to the Mohaves, where both were tattooed and where Mary Ann died of starvation. Olive remained a captive until 1856, when she was ransomed through the efforts of a friendly Yuma and reunited with Lorenzo.

Author Royal Stratton wrote this account in 1857, with the proceeds going to Lorenzo and Olive. It was apparently a success, going through several editions (possibly helped by the illustrations, all of which show the Oatman girls and their native captors naked from the waist up). Stratton disclaims any literary pretensions but the writing is pretty verbose and sensationalizing; the Oatmans are innocent travelers and their captors are brutal savages (well, I suppose beating six people to death probably does qualify as savage brutality). Olive apparently picked up enough Mohave to have philosophical conversations with her captors; she (or Stratton) notes that one (a chief’s daughter) was always kind to her while others were at worst indifferent; Stratton pointedly notes that she never suffered “the fate worse than death”. It’s not at all clear how much is factual and how much is Stratton making things up to sell books. Probably more of value as an account of 19th century white American values than of the anthropology of the “Apaches” and Mohave.… (more)