Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-01
MISCELLANEOUS.
From The Dubuque { Ioiea) Herald.
a Frontier Sketch.
THE INDIAN RUNNER.

TIE INDIAN RUNNER.
During the summer Of IS. soon after
the difficulties with the Winnebago In
dians had been amicably adjusted by a
visit of the chiefs to Washington, accom-
panied by Gov. Csss, Sioux Indian, while
hunting near the mouth Of Root river, shot
and scalped Winnebagowhich act he at
tempted TO justify by saying that the Win
nebago had wrapped around his person the
blanket Of an Indian. who short time
previous had murdered his brother. The
Wlnnebagoes became indignant at the act,
and about TWO thousand Of them assembled
at Fort Crawford, and demanded the pro-
curement and surrender of the murderer.
The officers of the fort, apprchensive that
new difficulties might arise with this fac
fious tribe if their demands were unattend-
ed to. concluded to make an effort to OBJ
tain the murderer. Accordingly aa officer
was dispatched 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 Winneba-
goes 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 ftle garrison, to have talk upon
the subject. AT the conference, the Winnie
bagoes talked in a threatening and over
bearing manner, and insisted tha, nothing
would satisfy them but the taking Of the
life of the Sioux in their own way and by
themselves. AT length Lieut. r. proposed
that the Indian should have chance for
his life in the 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 aud
scalping knife. This arranged, at the tap
OF the drum the Sioux should be Tree To
start for the home of his tribe, and the
Winnebagoes free TO pursue, capture and
scalp him if they could. Tothis proposition
the Winnebagoes acceded at once. and
seemed much pleased with the anticipa-
ton of great sport, as well as an easy con
quest of the prisoner, whose confinement
in the garrison, during the two weeks,lhey
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 sports
man, and who had warmly enlisted in the
cause of the Sioux, determined to have his
Indian in the best possible trim. Accor
dinghy DR.. Eluisc took him in charge, pre-
scribing his Diet regulating his hours Of
repose. and directing the rubbing of his
body with flesh brushes twice day i'm
medlately before he went upon the parade
ground to perform his morning and even
ing trainings. In fact SO carefully was lie
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 per-
formed the astonishing fea. Of forty-one
miles in two hours, apparently without fa-
tigue.
The day at length arrived Thousands
Of Indians, French, Americans, and others
had assembled 10 witness the scene. In
fact it was regarded as a gala-day by all,
Lieut. r.. on the part Of the prisoner. and
the celebrated war Chiefs War kon-shutes-
kee and Pinetop, on the part ofthe Winnc-
bagoes, supernrcnded 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 a few rods from the residence
then occupied by Judge Lockwood, while
the race track lay along the Nine Mile
Prairie stretching TO the north, and skiiting
the shore Of the Mississippi. The Sioux
appeared upon the ground, accompanied
by a guard Of soldiers, who were follow
ed by his twenty four antagonists, march
ing in Indian le,naked with the exception
of the Indian breechlct. Their ribs were
painted white, while their breasts were
adorned with number OF heroglyphical
paintings. Across the face alternate stripes
white and black were painted, in paraI-
lei lines extending from the chin to the fore
head
The hair was plated into numerous
throngs fringed with bells, and tasseled
with arod or white feather, whleth their moe
casins were corded tightly around the hol-
low Of the foot. as well as around the an
Gle, with the sinews of the deer. In the
right hand each carried his tomahawk
while the left grasped the sheath that con-
tained the scalping knife. The prisoner
was about twenty three years Of age, a
little less than six feet in height, Of a mus
cular well-proportioned contour, and man
ifested in the easy movements of his body a
wiry and agile command Of bis muscular
powers; his countenance presented wan
and haggard appearance, as he stood up
on the ground. owing partly to the rigid
discipline he had undergone in training,
and partly to his having painted his face
black. with the figure Of horse shoe in
white upon his forehead, which denoted
that he was condemned to die. with the
privilege OF making an effort to save his
life by ileetness; around his neck he wore
a narrow belt Of wampum. to which was
appended the scalp thathe had taken from
the Winnebago.
Soon after they had formed in a line,
Lieut. r. came up and took of one Of the
moccasins of the Indian, and showed the
chiefs that he thought it contained thin
plate of steel, and asked if they objected
toit; to which they replied. that he might
carry as much iron as he pleascJ. Lieut..
r. having noticed at the same Time that
the countenance Of the Indian presented .
downcast and melancholy appearance re-