Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-24

A FEARfuL COMBAT.

AFEARfuL eoaBAr.
For some months past, series Of papers.
written by John Mills, Esq, illustrative Of life
among some of the Indian tribes of the west
has been published in the United Surice MAG
asine. These papers occasionally embrace n
short descriptive narrative, aboundmg in dra-
matte interest, information and general merit
One Of these we give below. Mr.. Mills accom-
panied party Of Usage Indians on grand
hunting expcditon.in in the course of which they
accidentally encountered about an equal num-
Der Of Pawnecs. Between these two tribes
deadly feud existed, and every opportunity
was sought to settle the difficulty by q sum
mary and sanguinary process On this occn-
sion the belligerant parties Immediately placed
1lapssissx ~ nsshltAE posisssxs ssnf ~ -
ready - seacfIff-snafee. wfien Nrrs surc.frv
ofavery singular character took place. which
We give in the words Of the author. We have
rarely encountered more vivid and entertain
ing description of a warlike meeting. 1t rivals
the accounts Of the combats of the chivalrous
knights Of the dark ages
Much to my surprise, solitary warrior sin
gled himself from his party. and with some.
thing white flying at the head Of his lance, ap-
preached us at foot pace. The Osages instant
ly checked their horses at the command of their
chief, and unattended he rode forward to meet
the messenger of peace. The conference was
brief between the Pawnee and Black Wolf, and
the latter, riding back to where we stood
watching their movements, with an interest
easier to be conceived than described, informed
willing to settle the fight in single combat,
and that he himself would meet either Of the
Usage braves who might tc the chosen cham
pion of his nation.
This plucky challenge created the widest
commotion among the aspiring warriors of our
party and SO numerous were the volunteers,
and urgent their claims to have the honor as.
signed to them, that unless Black Wolf had
settled the contention by claiming it for him
self, it is far from improbable that a new diver
sion might have arisen in mutnv against his
orders There was no dsputing, however. the
right of the chief to take precedence here; but
the opinions Of many veered to quite an oppo,
site point, as to the expediercy of the measure
when they found that they were to take nopart
in the glory. The greater number urged the
expediency of a general fight, alleging that W.
were stronger than the enemy, aud should cap
ture all their horses aud skins, with which they
were ladened like ourselves in addition to q
pretty haul of invaluable scalps.
Black Wolf, however, either from prudential
motives, or desire to crafty his own vanity
decided to accept the challenge ON the terms on
which, /. was sent aud asrecd that the hors,
and adcoutrcmc''ts Of the tandusIfedsho be
come the prize Of the conqucror, which he was
to take unmolcsted possession of in the pres
ence of the respective parties.
These preiminaries being adjusted, the arms
of Black Wolf werenow carefully examined by
his companions, who threw aside all jealousy
the moment the question was settled. One
took his lance and tried the soundness of the
shaft by bending it SO that the two ends nearly
met. Another thruInmed his bow string, while
several changed their best arrows for those in
his qniver which appeared defective. The
touch hole Of his rifle was pricked and re prim
went careful scrutiny. The honor of the ma.
tion was at stake and the breast feach individ
ual present seemed to burn with patriotic pride
and soicitude for the event which was to de
eide the fate of the Usage or Pawnee chief.
All being in readiness, Black Wolf dashed
his spurs into his horses sides, and bringing
him upon his launches by way of start gal
loped in a wide circle before us, for the com
bined purpose of exhibiting himself, and an
nouncing to the enemy that he was ready fol
the strife.
Nothing nobler can be pictured to the imagi
nation than the appearance OF the chief. as
nude as at his birth, with the exception of his
arms slung across his shoulders, he sat upon
his plunging and excited stced with grace, ease
and confidence. A tuft Of the war eagles plume
surmounted his head, proudly raised and
thrown back, while his finely developed ches,
stood out like that Of gladiator. With tigh
tened rein he held his hprse's head CLOSE to his
chest. and using the spur freely. reused the
animals fiery blood, until large fakes Of foam
flew from his jaws, his nostrils dlatcd, and his
eyes looked ready to spring from their sockets
After making the circuit, he suddenly reincd
in his horse and the two stood motinnless, AZ
if carved from granite. some hundred yards IL
advance of where we remained stationary ia
watch the result aud see fair play. There was
not, however. as ! subsequently learned, the
slightest apprehension Of ,reachsry ,as in thest
combats. which. although rare between mem
bers of rival tribes, are occasionally INDUCED
in, the strictest faith is kept with the terms OF
which they are fought.
The piebald horse with the bearer of the lance
on which small red flag huttcred, now dartet
from the body Of horsemen drawn up closely in
the distance, and making correspondence cir
Gle with Black Wolf, drew up in the same way
opposite to him; and they appeared, for a few
brief seconds. to be eyeing each other with in
tent far from charitable.
AZ if moved by common impulse, both
drove the but ends Of their lances into the
ground, and then raising their rifles from then
thighs, dashed forward and fired at the mo.
ment Of passing each other. some fifteen OF
twenty PAGES apart Whether the bullets fiat
tened, or were rendered harmless against the
tough shields of buffalo hides which were sus-
suspended around their necks, or whether they
flew wide of their marks, ] cannot tell {; but for
aught could see, no harm was done.
Dropping their reiEs TO take aim, their hor-
ses carried them unchecked to within few
yards of where the respective parties Of Qsages
and Pawnees were posted. Indeed, room had
to be given TO the Pawnee chief. who came with