TO THE COCO-MARICOPA VILLAGES. 203 
where we descended to the second terrace or bottom, 
we saw numerous fragments of trunks, boxes, clothing, 
wagons, with human bones and skulls, showing that it 
had been the scene of some terrible disaster. A soldier of 
the escort from Fort Yuma revealed to us the mystery. 
In March of last year (1851) a party of emigrants, © 
in crossing the continent, stopped at the Pimo villages. 
Among them was a Mr. Oatman and his family, con- 
sisting of his wife, two daughters from 12 to 15 years 
of age, and a son of 12 years. Mr. O. had with him 
one or more wagons, and a variety of merchandise; 
and, contrary to the advice of his friends, he set off 
from the village in advance, the rest of the party not 
being ready to accompany him. Some days after, his 
little son found his way back to the Pimo Indians, a 
distance of some seventy miles, having crossed a de- 
sert of forty-five miles without water on his way. He 
reported that the party had been attacked by In- 
dians, his father and mother killed, and his sisters car- 
ried off. He himself had been badly beaten by the 
savages and left for dead. After lying some time, he 
revived; when he saw the mangled bodies of his pa- 
rents before him, his sisters gone, and the wagon plun- 
dered of its contents. The party soon after set out 
on their journey, accompanied by the lad and some 
Maricopa Indians. On arriving at the scene of the 
disaster, they covered the remains of Mr. Oatman and 
his wife with stones (for it was impossible to dig a 
grave), and then continued their journey to Fort Yu- 
ma, where they informed Major Heintzelman of the 
occurrence. 
The Major immediately despatched a party of sol- 
