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De Shields, James T. (1976). Border Wars of Texas. Waco, TX; Texian Press. Finally, in June, 1837, Mrs. Harris was ransomed by American traders, acting under instructions from William Donoho, a philanthropic Santa Fe merchant. At the same time they tried to buy Mrs. Horn, but without success. A little later, however, Sept. 19, 1837, she was purchased at San Miguel, N.M.. by a Mexican acting for Donoho. But in a few days a grasping and heartless merchant of the place, disgracing the fair name of Hill, set up a claim that he had furnished goods for her release and that he should have her as a servant. He obtained a judgement in his favor from the alcalde, and kept her in brutal slavery for a short while -- allowing her barely sufficient food to sustain life. Hearing of her pitiable condition, a Mr. Smith, who lived at the mines, some distance away, sent an armed party, who brought her to his house, where his family tenderly cared for her. She was now soon conveyed from Taos, N.M., to Independence, Mo., by Messrs. Workman and Rowland, in 1838, and in October of that year became for some time, a guest of Mr. David Workman and family at New Franklin. In the autumn of 1837, Mr. Donoho escorted Mrs. Plummer (one of the captives taken at Parker’s Fort in 1836), and Mrs. Harris to Missouri. He left Mrs. Harris with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Lucy Dodson, in Pulaski County, Mo., took Mrs. Plummer to her relatives in Texas; and then in 1838, returned to Santa Fe. Mrs. Horn was ransomed during his absence, which accounted for his not being present to take charge of her when she was released by the Indians. He went to Taos to see her, but learned that she had recently departed for Missouri with Workman and Rowland, and several other persons bound for Independence. During the year Mr. Donoho wound up his business at Santa Fe and went to Missouri, where he resided until 1839, when he located at Clarksville, Texas, which was thereafter his home until his death. Some of his descendants ar still residing there and in Red River County. When he came back to Missouri, Mrs. Horn went to see him, learned who it was that had restored her to freedom, and thanked him with words such as only a poor captive could utter -- simple words but sweeter to have than all the incense that has ever floated upward from golden censers. Neither she nor Mrs. Horn lived long after their restoration to civilization. (pp158-9) After that she [Mrs. Plummer] was called "the fighting squaw," and was much better treated. After a captivity of one and a half years, she was ransomed by Mr. William Donoho, a Santa Fe merchant-trader -- the same generous, tender-hearted and noble gentleman through whose efforts the unfortunate Mrs. Horn and Mrs. Harris were rescued from savage captivity, as previously related. (p. 181) |