Captivity of the Oatman Girls: Being an Interesting Narrative of Life Among the Apache and Mohave Indians. Repr of the 1857 Ed

By Royal B. Stratton

Book Overview

In 1851, nine members of the Oatman family -- on their way by covered wagon to California -- were savagely attacked by Apache Indians near Fort Yuma, Arizona. Two girls in the family, Olive Ann, 14, and Mary Ann, 8, were taken captive by their attackers. An older brother, Lorenzo, 15, was left for dead but managed, though gravely wounded, to make his way back to civilization. The rest of the family had been brutally massacred. The story of the Oatman girls -- their despairing life in captivity, the tragic death of little Mary Ann from shock, poor food, and severe conditions a year after their capture, and their brother's five-year search for them -- is vividly described in this riveting true-life story.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486280780
• ISBN13: 9780486280783
• Release Date: June 1994
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

book is a narritive taken from brother and olive

a very touching book that truely pulls at the heat strings. very acurately chronicles life traveling across the prarrie till there altimate fate, from their fathers poor decisions. it is truely a sda and true account of the treatmeant and hastility of the (Apache) Yavapi indians and passing to the Mohave tribe and eventual release. i wish it would have went on to tell a little of her life after captivity, marraige (lack of having a baby and adopting) and her surviving brother lorenzos life. i seached the internet and found some of it along with the massacre site. She is burried in sherman TX. Truely a courageous and strong young women.

OATMAN GIRLS....A TALE OF TRAGEDY

The book is very well written and the details make the reader feel as if he/she is present at each narration. The trauma and ordeals that Olive and Mary Ann are put through are enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes. The moral in the entire narration seems to be to appreciate what you have. Not everyone is fortunate enough to lead a "normal" life.