North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-11-29
From the Dubuque Qowa) Herald


iculties with the Winnebago Indians had been am
icably adjusted by visit of the chiefs to Washing
ton, accompanied by Gov. Cass, a Sioux Indian
while hunting near the mouth of Root river, sho
and scalped a Wiinebago, which act he attempted
to Justify by saying that the Winnebagoha wrap
ned around his person the blanket of an Indian
who short time previous had murdered his broth
err The WinnebagoeS became indignant at the
act, and about two thousand of them assembled a
Fort Crawford and demanded the procurement anC
surrender of the murderer The officers OF the Fort
apprehensive that difficulties might arise WIFI
this factious tribe if their demands were unattend
ed to. concluded to make effort to obtain tbs
murderer. Accordingly an officer was dispatched
to demand him of the Sioux nation, who immedl-
ately gave him up, and he was brought down the
river and confined at Fort Crawford. Soon after
his arrival at the Fort, the Wnnebagoes assembled
again. and insisted upon an unconditional surrender
of the prisoner to them which Col. Taylor refused
to make but dispatched 1t. R. and DR.. Eluise, the
surgeon of the garrison, to have talk upon the
subject. At the conference, the Wlnnebagoes
talked in threatening and overbearing manner,
and insisted that nothing would satisfy them but
the taking of the life of the Sioux in their own
way and by themselves. At length Lieut.. R. pro-
posed that the Indian should have chance for his
life in the following manner
Two weeks from that time he to be led out
upon the prairie and in a line with him ten PAGES
off was to be placed upon his right and left each,
twelve of the most expert runners OF the Winnie
bago nation, each armed with tomahawk and
scalping knife. This arranged, at the tap of the
drum the Sioux should be free to start for the home
of his tribe, and the Winnebagoes free to pursue,
capture and scalp him if they could. To this prop
ositon the Winnebagoes acceded at once and
seemed much pleased with the anticipation of great
SPORT as we'll as an easy conquest Of the prisoner,
whose confinement in the garrison, during the two
weeks, they believed, would PROSTATE whatever
running qualities he possessed. Their best runners
were Immediately brought in and trained every day
in full sight of the Fort. Lieut.. r., who was
something of a sportsman and who had warmly en-
listed in the cause of the Sioux, determined to have
his Indian in the best possible trim. Accordingly
Dr. Eluise took him in charge, prescribing his Diet
regulating his hours of repose, and directing the
rubbing of his body with flesh brushes twice day
Immediately before he went upon the parade ground
to perform his morning and evening trainings. In
fact so carefully he trained and fitted for the
race of life or death, that he was timed upon the
parade ground the fourth day before the race, and
performed the astonishing feat of forty-one miles
in two hours, apparently without fatigue.
The day at length arrived. Thousands of In
dians French, Americans, and Others, had assemb-
led to witness the scene. In fact it was regarded
gala-day by all, except the avenger of his broth
er Sue. Lieut.. R., on the part of the prisoner and
the celebrated war chiefs, War-kon-shutes-kee and
Pinetop, on the part of the Winnebagoes, super
intended the arrangement of the parties upon the
ground. The point agreed upon for starting was
upon the prairie little to the north of Prairie du
Chen, and few rods from the residence then oc-
cupied by Judge Lockwood, while the race track !
lay along the Nine Mile Prairie stretching to the
NORTH and skirting the shore of the Mississippi (
The Sioux appeared upon the ground, accompanied /
by guard OF soldiers, who were followed by his !
twenty-four antagonists, marching in Indian file, |
naked, with the exception of the Indian breechlet
Their ribs were painted white while their breasts
were adorned with a number of hierogyphical .
paintings. Across the face alternate stripes of .
white and black were painted, In parallel lines ex-
tending from the chin to the forehead. /
The hair was plated into numerous thongs
fnged with bells, and tasseled with red or white
feather, while their moccasins were corded tightly
around the hollow of the foot, as well as around .
the ANGLE, with the sinews of the deer. In the
right hand each carried his tomahawk, while the /
left grasped the sheath that contained the ping
knife. The prisoner Was about twenty three years
Of age, little less than six feet in height OF mus
cular wellproportioned contour, and manifested in
The easy movements of his body wiry and agile
of his muscular powers his countenance
presented wan and haggard appearance, as he
stood upon the ground, owing partly to the rigid
discipline he had undergone in training and partly
20 his having painted his face black with the fig
ire OF horse shoe in white upon his forehead,
which denoted that he was condemned to die, with $
he privilege Of making effort to save his life by
1eetness around his neck he wore narrow belt of
Tampum, to which was appended the scalp that he S
lad taken from the Winnebago. il
Soon after they had formed in line, Lieut.. R. {
anne up and took off one of the mocasins of the
indian, and showed the chiefs that he thought it
contained a thin plate of steel, and asked if they
objected to it to which they replied that he might
AIRY as much iron as he pleased. Lieut.. r. having
lotced at the same time that the countenance Of l
ne Indian presented downcast and melancholy 1
appearance, requested DR.. Euise to come forward. +
Who, after examining his pulse, reported that he
vas much excited, and that his nerves were in U
remulous condition. Lieut.. R. Immediately took /
i'm by the arm and led him out some distance in a
-ont OF the line, where he asked him, through his
Interpreter, if he was afraid to run to which he
epGed that he was not afraid to run with anv '
Nlnnebago on foot, but he afraid that he could
OF outrun all the horses that were mounted bv b
rmed Indians. The Lieutenant saw at once the v
ause Of his alarm, and informed him that thew ?
houd not interfere. Heintended to ride the fleet
st horse upon the ground, and keep near him. and
s he was well armed, would see that no horseman g
approached with hostile intention, At this an
louncement the countenance of the Indian brioht-
med up with smile his whole person seemed d
lifted from the ground, he returned to his nosi
ion IN the line with a stalwart stride The chiefs IS
md Lieut.. II. soon after this mounted their horses
md took position directly in the rear of the nrs
'ner. Spectators were removed from the front o
when Lieut.. r. gave the signal; the blow had v
scarcely reached the drum, when the prisoner dor-