The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-08-15

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oriamened, being hickory stick about
five feet long, bent over at The end, and a
thong netting wovc into the bow. After
dsy Of repose and refreshmen., all
things were arranged for the contest. The
chieI of the lroquois brought forward and
deposited upon the ground, large pile Of
elegantly wrought belts Of wampum. cost.
| ly Jewels, silver bands. beautifully orna-
mented moccasins, and other articles of
great value in the eyes Of the sons of the
forest, as the stake, or wager, on The part
of his people. These were carefully
matched by the Fries with articles of
equal value--article by article, tied to-
geiter and again deposited on the pile.
The game began, and although contes.
ted with desperation and great skill by the
Fries, was won by the Iroquois, and they
bore off the prize in triumph--thus ended
The first day.
The lroquois having now accomplished
the object of their visit, proposed TO take
their leave, but the chief Of the Fries, ad-
dressing himself to their leader, said their
young men, though fairly beaten in the
game of ball, would not be satisfied unless
they could have a foot race, and proposed
10 match ten Of their number against an
equal number Of the Iroquois party, which
was assenled to, and the Iroquois were
again victorious. The " Kauk. waus,"
who resided on the Eighteen Mile Creek /,
being present as friends and allies of the
Fries, now invited the lroquois party TO
visit them before they returned, and thill-
er the whole party repaired. The chief
of the Fries, as last trial of the courage
and prowess Of his guests, proposed 10
select ten men 10 be matched by The same
number fiom the lroquois party, TO wresile
and that the victor should despatch his
adversary on the spot, by brainlDg him
with tomahawk, and bearing off the
scalp as trophy.
This sanguinary proposition was not
at all pleasing to the lroquois. They,
however, concluded TO accept the chal-
lenge, with a determination, should they
he victorious, not TO execute The bloody
part OF the prnpu-i,io". Tho champious
were accordingly chosen--a Seneca was
the first to step into the ring, and threw
his adversary amid the shouts of the null
,ilude. lie stepped back and declined to
execute his victim, who lay passive at his
feet. As quick as thought the chief of the
Fries seized the tomaI,awk, and at single
blow scattered The brains of his vanquish-
ell warrior over the ground. His body
was dragged out Of the way, and anol her
Of HE Fries presented himself-he was
as quickly thrown by his more powerful
antagonist Of the Iroquois party, and as
quickly despatched by the nfuraled chief.
A third met The same fate.
The chief of the Iroquois party seeing
the terrible excitement which agilaled the
multitude, gave signal to retreat. Every
man obeyed the signal, aud in an instant
they were out Of sight.
In two hours they arrived in Tu.shu.
way, gathered up the trophies of their vic.
tories, and were on their way home.
This visit of the hundred warriors OF
the Five Nations, and its results, only SER
we'd to increase the jealousy of the Fries,
and to convince them tina, they had pow.
erful rivals TO contend with. II was no
paIt of their policy to cultivate friendship
and strengthen their own power by cult
valing peace with other tribes.
They knew of no made of securing
peace 10 themselves bu, by ex,erminaling
all who nigh, oppose them; but the CON.
binaion of several powerful tribes, any
one Of whom might be almost an equal
match for them, aud of whose personal
prowess they had seen such an exhibition,
inspired the Eries with the most anxious
forebodings. To cope with them collec.
lively they saw was impossible. Their
only hope therefore was in being able, by
a vigorous and sudden movement, to de-
stroy them in detail. With this view a
powerful war party was Immediately or.
ganized to attack the Senecas, who resi-
ded at the foot Of Seneca Lake (,he pres
ent site Of Geneva,) and along the banks
OF the Seneca river. II happened tina. at
this period there resided among the Fries
Seneca woman who early in life had
been taken prisoner, and had married a
husband in the Erie tribe. He died and
left her q widow without children, a stran-
ger among strangers. Seeing the terrible
note of preparation for abloody onslaught
upon her kindred and friends, she form.
ed the resolution Of apprising them Of
their danger. As soon as night set in,
taking the course Of the Niagara river, she
travelled all night, and early next morning
reached The shore Of Lake Ontario. She
Jumped into canoe she found fastened to
tree, and boldly pushed into the open
lake.