Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-31
From the Dubuque (Iowa) Herald.
FRONTIER SKETCH---THEI IN
DIAN RUNNER.

During the summer Of 10. soon after
the difficulties with the Winnebago 1ndi-
ans had been amieably adjusted by q
visit of the chiefs to Washington, accom-
panied by Gov. Cass, . Sioux Indian,
while hunting near the mouth of Root
river, shot and scalped Winnebago,
which he attempted to justify by saying
that the Winnebago had wrapped around
his person the blanket of an Indian, who
q short time previous had murdered his
brother. The Winnebagoes became in
dignant at the act, and about two thou
sand of them assembled at Fort Craw-
ford, and demanded the procurement and
surrender of the murderer. The officers
of the fort, apprehensivS that new diff
ficulties might arise with this factious
tribe if their demands were unattended to,
concluded to make an effort to obtain the
murderer, Accordingly an officer was
despatched to demand him of the Sioux
nation, who Immediately gave him up,
and he was brought down the river and
confined at Fort Crawford. Soon after
his arrival at the fort, the Winnebagoes
assembled again, and insisted upon an
unconditional surrender of the prisoner to
themI which Col. Taylor refused to make,
but despatched Lieutenant r. and DR..
Eluise, the surgeon of the garrison to
have talk upon the subject. AT the
conference, the Winnebagoes talked in a
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. Al
length Lieut.. r. proposed that the Indi'
ri, for 10 ifa in he
following manner:
Two weeks from that time he was to be led
out upon the prairie, and in line with
him, ten PAGES off was to be placed upon
his right and left each, twelve of the most
=. expert runners of the Winnebago nation,
each armed with tomahawk and scalp
ing knife. This arranged, at the tap OF
tho 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 Propo-
sfStOi ths W;"nebapoes acceeded at once,
and seemed much pleased with the an
ticipation of great sport, as we'll as an ca
sy conquest Of the prisoner, whose con-
fnement 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 from the fort. Lieut.. r., who was
something Of a sportsman, and who had
warmly enlisted in the cause of the 81
orx, 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 immediate,
y before he went upon the parade ground
to perform his morning and evening
trainings. In fact, so oarfully was he
trained and fitted for the race of life OF
death, that he was timed upon the parade
ground, the fourth day before the race
and performed the astonishing feat of for
ty-one miles in the two hours, apparently
without fatigue.
The day at length arrived. Thou
sands of Indians, French, Americans, anc
others, had assembled to witness the
scene. In fact it was regarded IS a gala
day by all, except the avenger of his
brother Sue. Lieut.. r., ON the part Of
the prisoner, and the celebrated war
chiefs, War-kon.shutes-ke and Pinetop,
on the part Of the Winnebagoes, superin-
tended the arrangement of the parties up.
on 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 occupied by
Judge Lockwood, while the race track
lay along the Nine Mile Prairie stretch.
ing to the north, and skirting the shore Of
N6e Mississippi. The Sioux appeared up
on the ground. accompanied by guard
OF soldiers, who were followed by his
t.wenty,.four antagonists, marching in In
4lan ME, naked, with the exception of the
1nulSn oreechlet, Their ribs were paint
'e9 Wn'e' while their breasts were adorn-
ea win number Of hieroglyphiesl paint
lngs' across the face alternate stripes Of
white and black were painted in parallel
lines extending from the chin to the fore.
head.
The hair was plated into numerous
thEongs fringed with bells. and tasseled
with ared or white feather, while their
InlS M were corded tightly around the
" ouaS OF the foot, as well as around the
t ANGLE with the sinews of liz deer. In
% Se right hand each carried his tomah, ~
6ontsir UaS lett graspsd the sheath that
ner was the scalping- knife, The priso.
a little laa ooHt twenty'thtee years OF age.
mnscm1as '' Una, snan six feet in height. Of a
n muscular' well proportioned contour add
manifested In the easy movements ns ~.
body a wiry and agile COMMAND ~ his
muscular powers; his comntanaN W his