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

DIAN RUNNER.
During the summer Of TO-, soon after
the difficulties with the Winnebago Indi-
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 a Winnebago,
which he attempted to justify, by saying
that the Winnebago had wrapped around
his person the blanket of an Indian, who
short time previous had murdered his
brother. The Winnebagoes became in
dipnant 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
fculties might arise with this fastlous
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
them, 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. AZ
length Lieut.. r. proposed that the lndt-
an 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 and scalp
ing 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 Propo-
vstSiois The VU;"nehagoes acceeded at once
and seemed much pleased with the an
. tieipation of great sport, as well as an ca
sy conquest Of the prisoner, whose con-
fnement in the garrison, during the two
weeks, they believed. WOULD prostrate
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
oux, 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.
ly before he went upon the parade ground
to perform his morning and evening
trainings. In fact, so carfully was ne
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, and
others, had assembled to witness the
scene, In fact it was regarded as gala
day BY all, except the avenger of his
brothef Sue. Lieut.. R., on the part ol
the prisoner, and the celebrated wal
chiefs, War-kon. shutes-kee and Pinetop,
onIthe part OF the Winnebagoes, superin-
tenQeU Lne arrangement Va sA0 PoA NSS Wy
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
ot soldiers, who were followed by his
Menty'tour antagonists. marching in In
qian Mo- naked, with the exception Of the
indian oreechlet Their ribs were paint
ed Wnite' while their breasts were adorn-
ed with a number of fhieroglyphieal paint
'ings. Across the face alternate stripes of
white and black were painted in parsllel
lines extending from the chin to the fore.
head. HA
The hair was plated into numerou.
fhrongs fringed with bells, and tasseled
with a red or white feather, while their
mocasins were corded tightly around the
hollow of the foot, as well as around tht
ancle with the sinews of tiiic: deer. In
1ne right hand each carried his tomahaw =. =
@ Snne the left grasped the sheath that
contained the scalping- knife. The priso.
nea M was about twehty.three years OF age.
Ii"'a, q mAe less than six feet in height, Of a
muscular. well proportioned contour, and
manifested in the easy movements of his
body, a wiry and agile command Of his
muscular powers his countana,,cn -