Olive Oatman Quotes

“Before Stratton, the LA Star, based off their conversations with Olive, described her time as: “Arrived among the Mohaves (sic), the Chief, whom she calls Espanesay, took them into his own family, and they were treated in every respect as his own children. Two blankets were given to them (Olive and Mary Ann) for covering; food was divided with them, they were not obliged to labor, but did pretty much as they pleased.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Olive and Lorenzo were living in the Oregon territory while Olive became a national figure. It was not long before the opportunity presented Olive, and Stratton, to further capitalize on her celebrity. In March of 1858, Olive and Stratton sailed from San Francisco to New York, where Olive began having speaking engagements about the book and her experiences with the Yavapais and the Mohave.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Two more editions were printed, with slight additions by Stratton, the next year. In just two years since publication, thirty thousand copies of Stratton’s book were sold.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“He traveled to meet with Olive and Lorenzo to get their stories, and while they spoke, he wrote down what they were saying. Once he had compiled his interview notes and added his own storytelling, Stratton brought his manuscript into a San Francisco publishing house. In 1857, Stratton’s Captivity of the Oatman Girls was published, and it immediately was a hit.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“The new life of Olive Oatman began in February of 1856. She was reunited with her brother in March, and by early June, she was traveling through San Francisco on her way to Oregon. A cousin of Olive, Harrison B. Oatman, lived in Oregon, and upon hearing of Olive’s rescue, had rushed to Fort Yuma. He intended to care for his kin on his land in Oregon, which did raise some interesting questions. Where had Harrison been since the 1851 massacre? Why had he not been caring for Lorenzo all along? Why does he now want to be a part of their lives? Harrison Oatman is a good example of the kinds of relationships that Olive would have for the rest of her life. Her experience being a captive of the Native Americans had made her a celebrity with a story to sell.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“On March 8th, Lorenzo opened up a copy of the Los Angeles Star newspaper, to read a headline that shocked and delighted him. An American Woman rescued from the Indians! —A woman, giving her name as Miss Olive Oatman, has been recently rescued from the Mohave, and is now at Fort Yuma. Lorenzo took off immediately for Los Angeles.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“On February 22, 1856, Francisco and Olive rode in through the gates of Fort Yuma to a cheering crowd and booming cannon. She was presented to the captain of the fort to wild applause and celebration. For the Americans at Fort Yuma, this was a major victory. The Los Angeles Star sent reporters, and Olive became headline news.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Needless to say, the debate raged on into the night, but ended with the Mohave decision to keep Olive. Ultimately, Francisco returned to Fort Yuma emptyhanded, but vowed to return for Olive.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Francisco, the Yuma Indian trader, recognized the opportunity that lay before him. His two primary partners, the whites at Fort Yuma, and the Mohave, found themselves in a strange position regarding Olive Oatman. Of course, upon hearing the news, the Americans at Fort Yuma told Francisco to buy her back from the Mohave and return her to the fort. According to Stratton, the Mohave were not very keen on selling their prized captive.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Regardless of Olive’s true feelings, Francisco returned a few weeks later, this time armed with a letter from the American commander at Fort Yuma. The letter, dated January 27, 1856, read: “Francisco, Yuma Indian, bearer of this, goes to the Mohave Nation to obtain a white woman there, named OLIVIA (sic). It is desirable she should come to this post, or send her reasons why she does not wish to come.” This letter completely changed the calculus of the negotiations between Francisco and the Mohave. Francisco now had American backing in writing, which meant that the Mohave had to tread lightly or else face potential violent retribution from the Americans.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“The Mohave continually told Francisco that Olive wished to stay with them. This could have been a negotiating tactic, but it also could have been the plain truth.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“He wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Star newspaper to spread the word of his sisters condition. He created, and got many signatures on a petition that he sent to the Governor of California to organize men to go search for and rescue the girls. The petition was denied by the Governor because it called for “unlawful means” to rescue the girls.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Finally, in late 1855, Lorenzo received a letter from a friend in California. This letter would change the life of both Lorenzo and Olive forever. Lorenzo’s friend had made contact with a man named Rowlit, who had just come from Fort Yuma. Rowlit relayed that the word around Fort Yuma—that had been given to Fort Yuma by Francisco—that there were two white girls living among the Mohave who had been sold after their family was murdered.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“When Mary Ann was still alive, a Yuma Indian named Francisco had noticed the unusual presence of two white girls living with the Mohave. Francisco was a trader who had regular contact with the Mohave tribe.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Regardless of what version of Olive’s story with the Mohave is true, the grief and pain of losing Mary Ann caused Olive to spiral back into thoughts of suicide,”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Modern historians, using other sources that pre-date Stratton’s well-known book plus an interview with a Mohave who lived with Olive during her captivity, give us an alternate to Stratton’s story. Historians have reason to believe that Olive was treated as a free, full and equal member of Mohave society during her time there. These sources report that Olive embraced her new Mohave identity and adopted their culture as her own. Some sources report that Olive was even married and had two sons before her repatriation.[3] The Mohave also had some well documented interactions with white travelers during these years, which meant that Olive would have come into contact with white Americans many times over her five years with the Mohave—a fact that was conveniently left out of Stratton’s book.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“So, he got up slowly; set the blankets aside, and without waking the two Pimoles, started on the trail again, alone. Four days after he woke up at the bottom of the massacre hill, Lorenzo struggled”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Lorenzo knew he needed to get back to Maricopa Wells. It was his best shot at survival, but it was also the only hope of a possible rescue of his sisters. He followed the wagon tracks from the days prior, descended the hill, and began retracing his own steps.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Strange as it may appear, scenes and woes like those pressing upon us had a power to bind all sensitiveness about our fate. Indeed, indifference is the last retreat of desperation”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“As this Comanche “pirate”—Olive refers to this marauding band of Comanche’s as “land pirates,” which is illustrative in describing the groups behavior—began to string up another arrow in his bow, he was attacked, disarmed, and detained by members of the Yavapais. The girls were whisked away, and a few Yavapais stayed behind to deal with this unexpected Comanche threat. Olive’s life had been saved.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Unbeknownst to Olive, the Yavapais trail was passing through an area that day that was frequently traveled by American wagon trains. The Yavapais were afraid of being seen with their captives because they feared a violent retribution from the American government.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Olive describes Mary Ann’s struggles by saying: “Little Mary Ann soon became unable to proceed at the rate we had been keeping, and sank down after a few miles, saying she could not go.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“To avoid leaving any footprints, Olive and Mary Ann were forced to remove their shoes, and would have to march barefoot. Soon, the girls had cut-up and bloody feet from stumbling through the rocks along the trail. Additionally, the Yavapais had a long way to go and wanted to move quickly to avoid detection by other settlers, so they marched the girls at a pace far too fast for them.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“They offered food to Olive and Mary Ann, who both refused. When they refused, the Yavapais laughed at them and taunted them, only adding insult to the pain the surviving Oatman girls were already feeling. The Yavapais were relishing in Olive’s grief. Mary Ann buried her head in Olive’s side, crying, incredulous as to what was happening. The Yavapais quieted her down by holding a club over her head as if they would strike her if she did not stop crying. It is hard to imagine what Olive must have been feeling at that moment.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Roys Oatman saw the danger in continuing, but he also had serious doubts about staying at Maricopa Wells. The area was in the midst of a serious drought, and the possibility that there would be no food at Maricopa Wells or the surrounding areas was a very real possibility.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“The southern route was about one hundred miles closer to Santa Fe, but also required crossing a sixty mile wide desert with no supplies or water. The northern route, while longer, was better supplied and safer. This decision served as the boiling point for the already growing division within the group.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Dissension began to fester within the group, and much of it spurred on by Roys Oatman. The group often had disagreements that would turn into explosive arguments, and Roys was typically right in the middle of it. Serious discord and division were brewing that threatened to break the group apart.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Roys sold the family farm and all of the possessions that they could not take with them for fifteen hundred dollars. Finally, in May of 1849, Roys Oatman, full of religious fervor, loaded up his wife and seven children into wagons and started southeast, to the Brewsterite rendezvous point; Independence, Missouri.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“At some point, likely in 1848, Roys and Mary Oatman decided to join James Colin Brewster. The “Brewsterites” were planning on making the trip to “Bashan” in 1849, and the Oatman’s had resolved to be a part of this first journey west.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End

“Roys and Mary Oatman were still devoted Mormons who worshipped and believed in Mormon texts, but they were without a leader that they believed in and would follow. Their prayers were answered when they met James Colin Brewster. Brewster was a Mormon prophet who, when just a boy living with his parents in Springfield, Illinois, began having visions of ancient Mormon texts.”
― Brent Schulte, Olive Oatman: Explore The Mysterious Story of Captivity and Tragedy from Beginning to End