Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-06-24
THE INDIAN CHIEFS BRIDE.

Ied from the Appendix OF the Gazetteer of Mis-.
souTi, now in press by the liarpers:
Blackbird was respectable warrior, and
had attained his early popularity by conquest;
but the distinction he most coveted was umli-
mited power in his own nation. What he had
attained this he became pacific towards the
Ineighboring nations. But partizan leader
had TAX en- Pawnee girl, who was, by the
command OF the medicine man, to be sacrif-
ICED at the stake. The son of Blackbird had
seen her, and interposed in council to save
her lille. He laid down all the movable pro-
Iperty hespossessed, and urged the purchase of
and persisted in his vow to sacrifice her to the
Great Spirit.
The council approved the vow. for Black
bird had permitted it. When, on the day alb
Ipointed, the captive was led out 10 execution.
young Split Cloud, the son of the chief. was
seen leading his Buffo-horse, not far from the
head Of the column where the victim was mar
ching. After the medicine-man, with the CAP
tive and few old warriors had crossed ra-
vine In the route and were rising to the plain
appointed for the sacrifice. the Young warrior
cut asunder the cords that confined the arms of
the girl, lifted her to his saddle, and with his
bow dashed his horse to full speed, before his
conntrymen could comprehend the meaning of
his movements. He was across the plain be-
lore pursuit was determined on: and then there
were no horses at hand. He had concealed
one In the next ravlne, and The fugitive esca-
ped tile lll-arranged and worse conducted pur-
suit OF the Omahas. A solitary runner came
within arrow-shot Of Split Cloud, but his race
terminated there. he was shot to the heart
The fugitives retired to the recesses of the
Black Mountains, and took up their abode
there, until home affairs should present more
inviting prospect. Their wedding was ihinly
attended, but the blush of affection glowed as
wildly on the cheek ofthe bride, as that which
NANTES over the neck more tastefully adorn-
ed. in civilized circles, on like occasions The
self-married pair passed year in the solitude
to which they had retired, content with the So
clety each was able to afford the other, when
| Split Cloud deemed it advisable to revisit his
nation. In this lone retreat he left his spouse,
with the purpose of retracing his steps in the
Driet space OF a few weeks. A sufficient sup
!piy CT dried meat was left in the cave with its
tenant, IL. the neriod o. his intended absence.
When Split Cloud reached his native vii
lage, he fonnd the whole tribe chanting the
death song over an infinite number of the dead
inhabitants Of the nation. The small pox had
reached the Omahas, and many had already
been swept off; very few recovered. The me-
dicine-man claimed to have power over the
disease, but his practice hitherto had been
unsuccessful. He looked grave and was evil
IDENTIFY suffering much alarm. The most COM
mon treatment Of the patients, when afflicted
with the inAammatory action of this disease.
was immersion in cold water. This usually
afforded speedy relief, and terminated all the
ills Of iie---with the extinction Of life itself
Atlast, after many new and imposing tricks,
death itself played the last mastery act on the
Iimposter-and old Medicine himself departed.
Blackblrd had lived modify apart from the
rest OF his tribe, and his dignity was like to
secure him against the infection. But when
his high priest died he attended his funeral OBJ
sequies. This was few days before the re-
turn of his son: Blackbird was considering
what disposition should be made of the prodi-
gal, when he was taken i'll.
| From the moment the first symptoms were
felt by the chief, he yielded to despair, and
made his arrangements for the hunting grounds
beyond the grave. He desired that he might
be buried with suitable variety of arms and
ammunition. that his enemies might pet no
advantage of him. He probably anticipated
meeting the poisoned warriors on the banks of
! the phlegethon. AS h. himself had appre-
hended, biach5ird was victim to the disease.
The funeral was grand and imposing. The
warrior was placed erect on his hunting horse,
and thus, followed by the whole nation. he
was conveyed into the grave tina, had been pre-
viously prepared on the highest point of land,
near to the Missouri river. The horse. alive.
was forced into the grave, with the dead rider,
and thus covered over A small parcel of corn
was placed before the animal, and Blackbird
was supplied with dried meats, a kettle, his
lpipe and kinakanc, gun, with ammunition,
bow and full culver of arrows, and paints suit
able for adorning his person, both in peace
and in war.
When the funeral was at an end, the trader
arrived. His knowledge of the small pox en-
abled him to save from its rayages the remain
der of the tribe. All eyes were naturally turn
ed on the son of Blackbird, as the successor
to the deceased chief. Young Split Cloud
deemed himselfso fortunate in the altered 20.
sition he now occupied, having shifted the
character Of fugitive and cupritfor the appoint
ment Of hereditary and popular chieftain, that
he relaxed much of the despotism of his pre-
decessor. Having settled the affairs Of the ma
ton and reduced the tariff, he found leisure to
depart in search Of his Pawnee wife. Autumn
was far advanced when he left the Omaha
towns, and, as he approached the mountains,
| "lH1eI, WitnltS utmost rlgor, ndu SCI III. ne
emotion with which his savage and sensitive
mind was agitated, had not the refinement Of
poetry, chastened with rhetorical arrangement,
cadence and measure to soften his suffering.
He was not able to murmur, as he approached
the place where he had deposited his treasure
oI'is sweet to hear the watch dogs honest bark
Bay deep-mohth'd welcome aswe draw ncarhome;
lis sweet to know there is an eye will marx
Our corning, and grow brighter when we come"
But he had the elements Of poetry rudely
commingied with the romance Of his reckless
life, and his sinunlar dom estic rrannements.