Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-06-13
From the N. o. Courier, May %.
AN1NDIAN EXECUTION.


Through the politeness of Mr.. Barstow.
.ovs the Natchitochez Chronicle of the
18th ult., the agent of the government for
conducting the late Choctaw emigration |
from Mississippi to the West, we are per-
miued to publish the following extracts
from the journal of w. R. Douglas, giving
an account of the execution of young
Choctaw, according to the law Of that race.
It appears that on the arrival of the emf
grafton at Bonds store, in Arkansas, the
Indians procured whiskey in spite OF the
previous promises of the ProPrletorS not 10
sell them any, and in spite OF the warm
remonstrances of the government agents. |
The consequence was disorder and hight
ing among many of the Indians. While
the brother of Ty-ah, and another Indian
were engaged in fight, he came up to the
rescue of his brother, and gave the other
Indian blow which produced DEATH
Blood for blood is the stern law of the saw
age race; and, without murmur, he SUBJ
mtted to the fate awarded to him by his
Judges. The murder was perpetrated on
the 18th of March:
Extract from the Journal
MARCH l7.-This night was the time selec-
:sd for the execution of the Indian who had
committed the murder at Bonds store. The
friends of the deceased had demanded his
blood, and their savage law was ready to give
it. From the night of the 18th, to that of the
hod 10
to have escaped; for no guard was placed over
him-his movements were not even watched;
his enemies knew too we'll the influence of an
early education that robs death of its terrors.
and inculcates chivaIry which Is now almost
extinct among the pale faces. Ty-ah would
not escape; but resolute and firm, he stood his
ground. The family from which he sprung
we're never to lose chaste by dastardly es-
cape from punishment which he was taught
to believe Just.
At the earnest solicitations of those in at
tendance, who represented that it would be in
violation Of the laws of the State through
which they were travelling, they agreed to
postpone the execution until the two divisions
should be united. Ty-ah was present during
this conversation, and watched him closely;
he conducted himself like a Roman; he dis
covered not the symptom of fear, not the quiv-
ering of a muscle; his eye was endowed with
ferceness Of hIstrc, which | had never seen
before, and the tones of his voice, as he ex-
dressed his willingness to die there if they
wished it, possessed. In an eminent degree,
that fullneSs and melody so characteristic In
his race. His frmness and noble bearing, of
that trying time, produced reflections in my
own mind, anything bnt favorable to that race
which stands first among the human species.
A white man, surrounded by similar circum-
Stances, would have thought only of his per-
sonal safety; no desire to make reparation for
wrong; no regard for the honor Of his family
would have Influenced him; his education
would have prompted him to steal the feetes1
horse in the camp, and in thrty-six hours
Texas would have had another inhabitant.
On the 18th, the Division united at MilIer's
Bluff on the Ouachita. On the 18th, the In,
dams held council and determined that Ty
ali should die. He will be shot tomorrow.
Our detention at this point has forced us to
become unwilling spectators of the most tragl
cal scene either OF US ever witnessed. The
mournfnl death strong and the savage war
whoop informed as that Ty-ah's moments
were numbered.
Dressed with more than usual elegance, af
ter the peculiar fashion of his race, and sur
rounded by his friends, he approaches the place
selected, and throws himself fall length upor
the earth, that the measure Of his future hom
might be taken. The grave Was completed
the sun was high in the heavens, and the ster
decree Of the council must be enforced. Ty
ah is dead, and he died the death of the brave
Unfinching he looked death in the face
With strong yell of defiance to his enemies
and the kind word of parting to his friends
he walked firmly up to the brink of that grav
in which his remains were to be shortly en-
tombed. He uttered no complaint of the saw
age law which had condemned him; he mad
no reproaches against the more savage Judge
that had enforced that law, but with a compo
sure which could only be Intoxicated by tn
stern religion of their fathers, he barred his be
som, and from the unerring rifle of his deadl
foe, received the shot that he believed was t
send him forth upon the happy hunting-ground
promised him by the great and good Spirit {
his race. The report Of the rifle was instan
ly followed by the wild, unearthIy shrieks c
his wife and kindred. They threw thcmseIve
upon his body, and began that pIaintive wal
Ing, peculiar to that people, IN manner tha
drew tears from every eye.
They buried him as became warrior. wit
rifle and pouch by his side. In death he VIZ
arrayed in the same fancful garb which in Ii
had so graced his manly form.
His grave is now filled up-the blood thir
ty law of his race is satisfed-the kindred {
Cun-no-antam-b have had their revenge! Il,
all has preserved the honor of his family, ar
how the stiffness of the night is interrupte
only by the waIing Of his wife, his chiIdre
and his aged mother.