Travel and Exploration from Bestebreurtje Rare Books
- by Michael Stillman
The Hall sisters and Philip Brigdon are marched into captivity.
Item 37 is one of those dreadful books that go by the name of “Indian Captivities:” NarrativeoftheCaptureandProvidentialEscapeofMissesFrancesandAlmiraHall,TwoRespectableYoungWomen(sisters)oftheAgesof16and18whoweretakenPrisonersbytheSavages...WhenFifteenoftheInhabitantsFellVictimsoftheBloodyTomahawkandScalpingKnife;amongwhomweretheParentsoftheUnfortunateFemales. No author is stated, but it likely was William P. Edwards, as he is named in the copyright, and published other Captivities of dubious accuracy. The story is evidently based on a true incident in Illinois during the Blackhawk War, though the sisters were named Rachel and Sylvia, the author obtaining his information through interviews. However, he likely was more interested in descriptions that would help sell the book than in providing historical accuracy. A second Captivity is also described, that of a Kentuckian named Philip Brigdon, captured around the same time. Brigdon later escaped, while the sisters were ransomed. Published in 1832. €1,250 (US $1,617).
