Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-12-24
Aboriginal Triai by Battlc.
A rEARFuL COMBAT.


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 Seroice Mag
asine These papers occasionally embrace a
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 a grand
hunting expeditions i'm the course Of whichthey |
accidentally encountered about an equal num-
Der Of Pawnces. Between these two tribes
deadly feud existed. and every opportunity |
was sought to settle the difficulty by . sum
mary and sanguinary process. On this occa-
sion the belligerant parties Immediately placed
l1aa,n.uasuk - ngAsiAs ps,sltteAs esnsA Az -
ready 60 es.ef -sacfct. wStn arr ssustcc
of very singular character took place. which
we give in the words Of the author. We have
rarely encountered more vivid and entertain
ing description of 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
{ his brothers in arms that the Pawnee brave was
willing to settle the Fl ght in a single combat,
and that he himself would meet either 9f the
Usage braves who might te the chosen cham
pion of his nation.
a This plucky challenge created the widest
3 commotion among the aspiring warriors oi our
3 party and SO numerous were the volunteers
J and urgent their claims to have the honor as
v signed to them, that unless Black Wolf had
;. settled the contention by claiming it for him
r SELF it is far from improbable that new diver
if sion might have arisen in mutinv against his
j. orders There was no dsputing, however. thu
II right of the chief to take precedence here; bu
s. the opinions of many veered to quite an oppo
s. site point, as to the expediercy of the measure
.e when they found that they were to take no par
L, in the glory The greater number urged tn
n. expediency of general fight, alleging that W
,e were stronger than the enemy, and should cap
:" ture all their horses and skins, with which the
y were ladened like ourselves in addition to
O. pretty haul of invaluable scalps.
H. Black Wolf, however. either from prudcnti'
d, motives, or a desire to crafty his own vanit.
ls decided to accept the challenge on the terms
Cd which j. xas sent. and agreed that the hor
n, and adcoutrcsiicits Of the ndufsledshoufu
Of come the prize of the conqucror, which he wi
3D. to take unmolested possession of in the pre-
= ence of the respective parties.
oh These preminaries being adjusted, the arm
,or of Black Wolf were now carefully examined t
TO his companions, who threw aside all Jealous
- the moment tho question was settled. oi
an took his lance and tried the soundness OF u
,es shaft by bending it SO that the two ends near
m, met. Another thrummed his bow string, viii
be several changed their best arrows for those
be- his quiver which appeared defective i,
touch hole of his rifle was prcked and re pril
.. ed, and even his knife and tommahawk und'
went careful scrutiny. The honor Of the i
ton was at stake and the breast ofeach indivi
es- ua present seemed to burn with patriotic pri
ere and solicitude for the event which was to {
no eide the fate Of the Usage or Pawnee chief.
,m- All being in readiness, Black Wolf dash
md his spurs into his horses sides, and bringi
the him upon his launches by way of START g
i'd lopcd in a wide circle before us, for the CO
- bined purpose of exhibiting himself, and
han nouneing to the enemy that he was ready
eld the strife. -.
in, Nothing nober can be pictured to the ina
,l;c nation than the appearance OF the chief,
mol nude as at his birth, with the exception OF
Mi. arms slung across his shoulders, he sat VI
,ver his plunging and excited stced with grace ca
- and confidence, A tuft Of the war eagles Pu
hen surmounted his head. proudly raised
,e thrown back, while his finely developed cl
ling stood out like that Of gladiator. With II
ana tened rein he held his hprse's head CLOSE to
ta,c chest, and using the spur freely, reused
by animals fiery blood, until large fakes OF f'
sus. flew from his jaws, his postrils dilaled, and
,h;s eyes looked ready to spring from their sock
sn;. After making the circuit, he suddenly rel
his IN MS morse anu '"e '"o '''o" "'
,,lev if carved from granite. some hundred yard
,oss advance of where we remained stationary
car, watch the result aud see fair play. There
onld not, however, as ! subsequently learned,
Gus slightest apprehension Of treachsry ,ns in :
dis. conbats, which, although rare between u
up. bers of rival tribes, are occasionally indu
lould in the strictest faith is kept with the term
ossus which they are fought
ks The piebald horse with the bearer oft the Il
on which small red flag futtered, now d;
from the body of horsemen drawn up close
the the distance, and making corresponding
ornia Gle with Black Wolf, drew up in the same
Z the opposite to him; and they appeared, for
.solu- brief seconds, to be eyeing each other wit
Alta tent far from charitable.
bitter A. if moved by common impulse,
who drove the but ends Of their lances into
ground, and then raising their rifles from
# As thighs, dashed forward and fired at the
mem ment Of passing each other. some hftee
that twenty PAGES apart. Whether the bullets
ID the tened, or we're rendered harmless agains
,arrel- tough shields of buffalo hides which were
lry of suspended around their necks, or whether
air in few wide of their marks, cannot tell; b'
spirit aucht could see, no harm was done.
Dropping their reiGs To take ann theil
." ses carried them unchecked to within
at the wards of where the respective parties Of q
g the and Pawnees were posted. Indeed room
, their to be given to the Pawnee chief, who came