Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-09-16

dirt has been thrown; no bird has upll he'd
a single note of shame. And now, with
nv hand on this medicine bag, ] declare,
o Yanktons, that no man shall ever call me
wife but he who shall be proclaimed the
best and the bravest warrior Of the tribe at
it's council fire, or who can make me cast
down my eyes at the ordeal Of maldens. ]
have spoken"
A deep roar Of appreciation went up as
the martial maid retired from a purgation
not less terrible than the trial by fire Of old
Each warrior ofrepuie now bethought him
how he should gain the name of the best
of his band. The young performed prodi-
gies. Those who slept in the shade of for
mer laurels, now aroused to fresh and more
terrible action. Never before was the wall
of Pawnee, Chippeway and Assinncboin
widows heard SO far and so widely. New
erheless, no Yankton obtained the envied
distinction. As it could only be given by
general suffrage it was impossible that it
could eyer be won by any individual Of
tribe of emulous and brave men. The
stratagem OF the fleet foot was completely
| successful.
A year passed, and the emulation Of the
Minerva of the tribe had excited gave rise
to savage order Of chivalry, in compare
son with whose reckless contempt of death
| the frantic valor Of the Crusades and the
desperation OF the assassins became reason
and common sense. Twelve warriors, ap.
proved the best and boldest of their race,
associated themselves for the avowed pur-
pose of winning the Fleet Foot and the
dangerous title she had proposed as the
price of her hand. The reputation being
equal, or nearly so, and the competition
being narrowed down TO themselves. it was
only with each other they could strive
We must describe the right of init iation
into their order and its rules in detail.
After fasting and praying three days and
nights, the band came forth before day
and performed a solemn dance before q
lofty pole. Mahtoe, or the Grizzly Bear
the most distinguished, was then stripped
up TO the waist and painted black. Two
oaken skcwers, each half an inch thick,
were then forclby thrust through the mus
cular parts of the arms. Two strong cords
were then attached to the skewers, and the
ends were drawn to the top of the pole.
At sunripe the initiate began to dance around
the pole with half his weight laceraled
arms, and chanting his former exploits. -
This agonising torture ne continued to in
hict on himself till sunset, without win
cling, when he was released, and The next
morning took his place. Let not the read
er think that we exaggerate the Indian
capacity to endure privation and pain
Such scene as we have described we have
witnessed, and have diminished rather
than increased its horrors.
The rules of the "Iron Hearted" were,
never, when on any military enterprise, to
turn one inch out of the direct line ofmarct
that led to its accomplishment for any dan
, ger whatever, until one or more are Killed
II opposed by superior force, they were
to cut their way through: il they came 10
precipice, one at least was bouLd TO wall
e over it, and in order Of precedence wa'
: to be settled by emulation.
The dress ofthe Yank:on brave is sin
n gularly picturesque. A tunic and pal
{ Of legoins, snow white, and ornamentet
e and frInged in wild profusion, n pair o
f moccassins and buffalo robe, covered will
/. hieroelyphics representing the wearer'
r exploits. are the main article. For ever.
8 wound received or given, slender pain
@ ed stick is thrust into the hair. For
G scalp taken or an enemy slam, a pair @
skunk skins are appended to the heels, an
!. a tuit of swans down and a war eagle
If feather placed on the summit of the hnat
a Hang round the warriors neck necklac
O of grizzly bears claws, 10 denote that h
|, has killed such an animal, mount him on
8 fine horse, with two or three sea ps dang
e ling from the bride rein, set him careerln
o over the prairie with lance and shield, wit
n his eagles feathers streaming in the wint
j. and YOU have Yankton desperate in flu
,e costnmc-none of the Metamoras of III
ir stare, but an arm to do, heart to dare a n
ir tongue to speak common sense, like an
q other person. Each Of the Iron Hearte
ID were entitled to wear all these decoration
ir Strange as it may seem, their Dor
n of brotherhood considered, the Iron Hear
10 ed were not extinct for three years, durir
&c which time one leaped over the bluff, thru
burned by the Pawnees. two persisted
or the flames Of a burning prairie, a seven
o walked under the ice Of the Missouri, al
ce four more died in battle and lost the
Is. scalps. Not one was known TO violate !
IS, desperate pledge. And now Mahtoe alo
n remained, after having braved as many a
IL as hard pers as any of his defunct col
I'm rades, acknowledged the best and brave
en- of the Yanktons.
be With no objection on the part of File
he Foot, her father offered the last of I
We Iron Hearted his daughters hand in f
council. The stole of the prairie, after
CIV decorous pause of about an hour, in orc
ht, to make up his mind, knocked the asl
ca out of his pipe, replied that all the use
six had for wife was to do the work of
ON lodge and to take care Of his children,
nd which the proposed lady was no way qua
-se fled. He had never he said the least it
ear of espousing the Fleet Foot--he had WI
ow enough already. quite enough for one mi
est His motive for joining the devoted ba
my had been that 1t made his heart sick
ac- have it doubted that he was the BRAY
man oil earth. That doubt was now
ou, moved, and with much gratitude he decl