The Ordeal of Olive Oatman: A True Story of the American West

by Margaret Rau

Book by Rau, Margaret

Genres: Nonfiction, History

112 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 1850. At the age of twelve, Olive Oatman and her family decided to follow the Santa Fe Trail west to start a new life on brand new land. They left their home in Missouri and traveled with a guide named Jim Brewster and a band of about 50 other pioneers with their covered wagons and livestock. Olive's family only had one covered wagon for supplies and passengers, so Olive walked most of the way, which she considered an adventure. When they reached The Forks in New Mexico, most of the band decided to try their fortune there and go no further. But the Oatmans decided to press on all alone, and were attacked by Apache Indians in Arizona, at a place now called the Oatman Flats. Olive and her younger sister, Mary Anne, were taken captive by the Apache and treated like slaves. Two years later, they were sold to the Mohave Indians who tattooed their chins so all the other Indian tribes would know who to return them to if they tried to escape.

This is a moving story of America's past—one we don't often hear very many details about. It gives an insight into the lives of two of the tribes of American Indians and their greatest joys and struggles, as well as how Olive survived this great ordeal.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe this may have been a kids book, but I didn't realize that until I brought it home from the library. That's ok though, it was a quick and interesting read and I learned a little more about Olive Oatman. I first became interested in the story after watching the show on AMC called Hell on Wheels. One of the characters in the show was a woman named Eva who had the same tattoo on her face that Olive had. According to the character description on their website Eva's character was loosely based on the story of Olive Oatman. She was kidnapped by an Indian Tribe and tattooed to show she was a slave and how much she was worth. However there is where the similarities stop. Eva became a prostitute and Olive did not.

Olive's story starts in 1851 as she and her family were traveling the Santa Fe trail on their way to California. They had been warned about crossing Apache territory, but chose to continue. Eventually the families luck ran out and the majority of the Oatmans were killed in a massacre from a offshoot tribe of the Apaches called The Tonto Apaches. The ones that were left alive were Olive, her sister Maryann, and unbeknown to anyone else, her brother Lorenzo. Olive and Maryann were taken captive and forced to work as slaves for the tribe. Based on some of my readings about this offshoot tribe of Apache, I come to understand that they were a very violent tribe who spent most of their time at war with other tribes. According to the research I uncovered on my own this particular tribe were not very nice to it's own member especially the women and the children. The girls were half starved and beaten on a daily basis. They tried to come up with a plant to try and escape, but were too scared and had no idea where they were. This is where Olive received her facial tattoo branding her as a slave and what her worth was.

Eventually another tribe of Native Americans, The Mojaves, came along and the girls were purchased by the daughter of the tribal chief because she felt sorry for the conditions they were enduring. Olive and Maryann went on to live with that tribe and were treated a bit better until a famine hit. Maryann died during the famine, but Olive stayed alive. During the time of the famine the members of this tribe did not treat her any better than her previous captors except for the Chief's wife and daughter.

The story of a white slave girl reached one of the Military Forts and they set out to rescue her. After the rescue Olive discovered that her brother Lorenzo survived the attack and they were reunited. Olive eventually went on to marry and died in 1903.

Many rumors speculated that during her time with the Mojave's she was actually married to one and had given birth to two boys whom she left behind. No evidence of this rumor was ever found and Olive vehemently denied it stating that, ""to the honor of these savages let it be said, they never offered the least unchaste abuse to me".

[M T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, paired with a little research into the family's religious background, makes for a quick and interesting read.

[PottWab Regional Library]

A

[Ellsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a new point of view. Being from an Native American family; I have only been told the stories from one side. Olive Oatman was a very brave child. Though I understand why the Native Americans hated the whites, it is just as terrible from the whites side--or at least from this point of view. Great read and peak into the life of History.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, paired with a little research into the family's religious background, makes for a quick and interesting read.