Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-04
AN HISTORICAL TALE.
THE EFFECTS OF LIQUOR.

few years after the exterminaiion
of the lroquois from the peninsula which
is formed by the three lakes. Huron,
Erie and Ontario, free and uninte rrup-
ted intercourse existed between the
French of Montreal and the Ojibeways
OF Lake Superior, which brought Into
the Indians possession implements of
steel, and that bane Of the civilized world,
| s'fire-water."
The people had already commenced
to inhabil the Islands along the river St.
Marie, when a quantity of liquor was
landed at point near Grand DE Tour,
between St. Marie and Mackanaw.-
The Indians from the upper lakes, as
they camped, began to use this liquor
quite freely, in order TO see its curious
effects upon them.
Among these were two families who
had lived and hunted the moose together,
and had from childhood roamed the wide
forest without one word of difference
between them.
They also wished to experiment with
new drink, which when some drank
would cause them to enter into curious
antics, others sang war songs, others
were jovial, while few challenged the
spectators 10 combat with their weapons
OF war.
During this experimenting, the two in-
innate friends had a quarrel, which re-
suited in the death of one of them.-
The murderer seeing what he had done,
fled TO the woods, to spot near which
they had lived, and there concealed him
self. The deed was soon known all
over tho village. As the murderer had
fled, it was agreed by mutual consent
and in accordance with their law of re-
taliation, that the brother of the murder
er should be executed in the guilty ones
stead. That evening was to be the time
of execution, and orders were given that
two fires should be built about twenty
five feet apart. A post was placed be-
tween the two fires, on which he was to
rest himself.
The victim prepared himself by de-
liberately painting himself with various
colors. When the evening came, there
were twelve warriors, with bows well
strung, aud good arrows. who were to
fire ut the prisoner. The people with
eager curiosity looked on. 1t was an
nounced that all was ready. The victim
walked calmly from his lodge to the
place where he was soon to represent
his brother. The warriors were arran-
ged at distance Of thirty steps, and the
innocent man stood at the post, where
bis brother should have stood.
"Don't shoot me till | give you the
signal" said he, as he waved his hand
toward heaven. His breast was painted
black, with the exception of white
spot about the size of dollar in its GEN.
tire, which was to be the point to which
the arrows should be aimed.
The warriors and the victim were
ready. The fire blazed, and amid the
stiffness of the evening, the prisoner was
heard singing the death wall:
s'Ne-bah bah -moo-say Ke-zhe-goon-al
Ne &c chog ye shaw-wod."
Before the last slanza was sung, and as
his voice became weak, he turned to the
crowd, where he thought his brother
might be lurking, and said "Ha hay!"-
then continued-"Brother, am now
ready to be killed in your stead. | will
not dishonor the clan belong to by en-
deavoring to shun this fate. If you can
endure the idea that hereafter the Nation
will look upon us as race of towards,
live! bu, would choose to die in your
stead" As he finished the last lines OF
the death song, his brother ran from the
woods to his side, and said-"l am not
coward. ran to the woods TO get
sober, that l might not be killed like a
dog. can soon be ready, and you shall
see how brave can die" He then
stepped aside, aud blackened his breast;
breaking the ashes, he formed white
spot in the centre OF his breast. Then
leaning his back against the post, he be-
gan his death song. As its doleful note
died, far away in the forest glen, he lifted
both hands. and barred his breast to the
warriors. Twelve arrows pierced il,
and he fell. the second Indian victim to
Intemperance.-Coppay's Sketches of
The ojibeacay Nation.
Cnxy vtrtY tIgp Etpcp Garr-