The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-08-16
COMMUNICATED.
For the Pioneer.


| 49, ST.. PAuL, August IL. '4S.
En,rop or THE PIoNrER:-Ihe mOnoto-
nv of Indian life among our neighbors mas
lately been broken in upon by scalp dances.
| II is a dance never performed except WheH
such trophies have been taken from tneir
enemies. Ii is like most OF their dances,
tire same monotonous motion performed In
| a circle. with the exception that women
take an active part, aud join their voices
| with the nien in an octave squeezing cnoi U.s.
When seen by torch light the scene REMINDS
one of the representation OF the "icHes IA
| Macbeth. :,
The scalp or scalps are carried from vil-
| lage to camp, and the dances continue even
| after they are carried to other places, until
| the trophy is buried; which Is never done
until autumn, when the leaves begin to faii
| from the trees. The scalp is stretched on q
hoop fixed to a long pole, the inside nicely
daubed with red paint or vertnliiioh, the
! hair combed with great deal VI exactuess:
and tied to the hoop hangs the comb and
paper of vermillon. When the dance
ceases, the pole is planted IN front OF the
wigwam of him who claims the scalp, until
the performance commences again, wheh IL
Is carried by some performer anu snaKeh
with hideous gestures OF hatred.
These scalps which have been brought IN
I vs.
war party Of lndians---w neither w Inneba-r
goes or Foxes, is not as yet knOWn-some
| fifteen or twenty days ago, who struck upon
| a party of Sioux known as the w auynpay-
katay band, who were out on hunting ex-
curson towards the Red Cedar and the Des-
moines rivers. some l59 miles from Saint
Paul They were struck upon by this large
war party all mounted. The Sioux had
seen signs of enemies in the course OF the
day, but having their wives and families
with them, were not able to commence a
retreat with any idea of security; therefore,
with the characteristic bravery OF that band,
they awaited the attack. The attack com
menced in broad daylight, an unusual thing
in the annals of Indian warfare-owing, it
is supposed, to the superior number of the
war party. The result was that five Sioux
men, five women, and eight children were
massacred, and among the rest the young
chief and his wife-the enemy leaving tour
of their number dead Oh the field, whose
scalps have lately been going the rounds OF
the Sioux villages.
There seems to he fatality attending that
band of Sioux. They own all that land
unceded to Government, lying within ten
or fifteen miles Of the mississippi river,
nearly in line from this place and extend
ing to the Missouri river, upwards ut three
hundred miles, and north TO the Blue Earth
river, which einp,!es into the river st. Pc
tiers, some 900 miles from its mouth. his
is as magnificent tract of land as ever the
eve of the agrculturalist scanned. They
not many wears since numbered three hum
dred Warriors; but owing to Incessant war
fare with the Sacs and Foxes, (who have
lately been removed beyond the Missourl,)
small poX, and family feuds, are now dwIn-
died to scarcely twenty men. But through
all their viclssitudes, they have never coded
one iuch of their lands TO their hostile igh-
bors. They have sealed the line of their
possessions with their blood. This fact has
given them a reputation among the various
other bands of their own tribe. never to be
forgotten. Three years ago party oil them
were out Oh Il hunt, at this very season,
near the same spot where this last hight took
place, when one of the young men OIL horse
back was seen by the rest of the party In pur-
suit oil Il wounded elk which entered the " God
He tied his horse and followed in pursuit Oh
foot. He never returned! The party, at
ter waiting anXIOusly his return, fearing
foul play, retreated III haste hOneward, be-
ing few in number. The young man be-
longing to a powerful family, party was
soon formed, headed by the missing ones
father, named Takoo- -ke-pay- shine, or
he who fears nothing. They sought in the
wood which he was seen to enter, and found
his bones extended OH IA mat with Il woOdt u
bowl near him, and a bullet hole through
his skull. He had apparently been induced
by some enemies not known, to take seat,
and food was given hiu,, when he was killed
treacherou>y. The blood of the band was
up and they sought revenge! But when
should they strike! They learned that there
were still some seven lodges of Foxes who
had not crossed the Missouri river, but were
hanging round the Winnehagoes IN that
quarter. They concluded that they must be
the aggressors. Consequently war party
was made up; but before starting they sent
) word to Mr.. Rice aud Gen'l Fletcher, the
Winnebago agents at Prairie du Chen, to
warn the w innebagoeS Off of that land
This was done, some few di>regarled The
warning, however, and placed themselves
on the war path of the Sioux and were
massacreh, surprising that they were the
Foxes. The Sioux were made to pay $500
to the Winnebagoes as an decentralization;
, whereas those who first commenced, and
murdered that young Sioux after be had
partaken of their inequalities, were allow
ed to go unquestioned and UNPUBLISHED. Is
not that Partially! 1t seems SO to me; and
as such il is felt by the Sioux tribe. Some
thing should be done. If the government
wishes peace, let them investigate the affair.
Let it be done ia such a way as will show
the Sioux that no Partially is intended.
They ask it-or they ask Leave to fight their
enemies and avenge themselves-which of
course cannot he granted. A SIOUX.
For the Pioneer.
N- Croakers in the older and more south
ern portions of the IJnion nredict that Min