Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-09-29
men under toIerable control; his death
proved signal for license and disef-


| proved Signal for license and diser-
| der.
/ Intemperance was the great fault in
L-e-tan's characterize cause of his
greatest misfortune and crime; it led to
a violent death. The circumstances of
this tragedy are worthy Of record, if on
" that they develop some strong traits
of aboriginal character; they are as fol-
lows: In April, 1887, accompanied by
his two youngest wives, at trading
house near the mouth Of the Platte, he
! INDUCED in one Of his most violent fits
] OF drunkenness; and-in this condition,
4 on dark and Indictment night, drove
his wives out OF doors: two men of his
tribe who witnessed these circumstan-
ces took the utmost advantage of them,
and seduced the women to fly in their
company. One Of these men had been
dangerously stabbed by I-e-tan. Actu-
ated by hatred--calculating perhaps Oh
the chiefs declining power, and the
strength of their connection, which was
great-the sedQcers. becoming tired OF
outlaying in hunting camps, &c, deter
lmmed to return to the village and face
it out. Such cases of elopement are
not very unfrequent; but, after much
longer absence, the parties generally
become silently reconciled, if necessa-
ry, through the arrangement of friends.
But I-e-tan said that lit was not only Il
personal Insult and injury, but an evil
dent defiance of his power; and that
he would live or die the chief Of the
0ttoes, His enemies had prepared
their friends for resistance, and I-e-tan
armed himself for the conflict. He
sought and found the young men in the
sllits Of the village, near some trees
where their supporters were concealed.
I-e-tan addressed the man whom he
had formerly wounded: "Stand aside;
I do not wish to kill you; I have PEI
haps injured you enough" The fell
low Immediately fed, He then fired
upon the other and missed him; who,
about to return the fire, was shot down
by a nephew of I-e-tan's, from great
distance. He then drew a pistol, jump
red astride his fallen enemy, and was a.
! bout to blow his brains out, when the
interpreter, Dorian, hoping then to stop
bloodsbed, struck up his pistol, which
was fred in the air, and seized lie tan
around the body and arms; at this in
slant the wounded man, writhing in the
agony of death, discharged his rifle at
random; the ball shattered Dorian's
arm, and broke both Of Let an's; but
being then unioosed, he sprang upon
and stamped the body, and called ups
on his sister, an old woman, who, with
an axe in hand, came running like his
nephews and friends from the village,
to beat out his brains, which she did
At this instant Dorian being out of the
way) a volley was fred from the trees
at I-e-tan, and five balls penetrated his
body; then, his nephews coming too
late to his support, took swift venge-
ance: they fred at his now flying enc
mics, and, although they We're in mo-
ton, near two hundred yards distant,
three of them fell dead.
I-e,tan was conveyed to'his lodge in
the village, where, being surrounded by
many relations and friends, he deplored
the condition of the nation, and warned
them against the dangers and evils to
which it was exposed. He assured
them most positively that If he ,ciilsd
1t, lie could continue TO tue but that
many of the Ottoes had become such
dogs, that he was weary Of governing
Them; and that his arms being broken
he,could no longer be great warrior,
He gave some messages for his friend,
the agent who was expected at the vii
lage, and then turning to bystander.
and told him he had heard that day he
had bottle of whiskey, and TO go and
bring it; which being done, he caused
it to be poured down his threats, when,
being drunk, be sang his death-song
and died.