Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-12-06
Aboriginal Trial by Battle.
AFEARFUL COMBAT.

written by John Mills, Esq, illustrative OF life
among some of the Indian tribes of the west,
have been published in the United Service
Magazine. These papers occasionally en-
brace short descriptive narrative, abounding
in dramatic interest, information, and general
merit. One of these we give below. Mr..
Mills accompanied party of Usage Indians
on grand hunting expedition, in the course
of which they encountered about an equal
number of Pawnees. Between these two
tribes deadly feud existed, and every op-I
portunity was sought to settle the difficulty
by a summary and sanguinary process. Oni
this occasion, the belligerent parties immedi-
ately placed themselves in fighting position,
and was ready for general melee, when an
occurrence of very singular character took
place, which we give in the words of the au-
thor We have rarely encountered more
vivid and entertaining description of warlike
meeting. II rivals the accounts of the COM
bats Of the chivalrous knights of the dark
ages:
Much to nv surprise solitary warrior sin
gled himself from his party, and with some
thing white flying at the head of lance, ap-i
preached us at foot pace. The Osages IN,
stantly checked their horses at the command
of their chief, and unattended he rode forward
to meet the messenger of peace
The conference was brief between the
Pawnee and Black Wolf and the latter, riding
back to where we stood watching their move
ments, with an interest easier to be conceived
than described, informed his brothers in arms
that the Pawnee chief was willing to settle the
! fight in. single combat, and that he himself
would meet either of the Usage braves who
might be the chosen champion of his nation.
| This plucky challenge created the widest
commotion among the aspiring warriors of our
party; and SO numerous were the volunteers,
and urgent that unless Black Welt had set
tied the contention by claiming it for himself
lit is far from improbable that a new diversion
might have arisen in mutiny against his or
deTs. There was no disputing, however, the
right of the chief to take precedence of all;
but the opinions of many yeered to the oppo-
site point, concerning the policy of the meas
ure, when they found that they were to take
no share in the glory. The greater number
urged the expediency of general fight, all
tleging that we were stronger than the enemy,
and should capture all their horses and skins,
with the which they were ladened like our
selves, in addition to pretty haul Of invalua-
bic scalps. - e
Black Wolf, however, either from pruden-
tial motives or desire to CRAFTY his own van
Iity, decided to accept the challenge on the
terms on which it was sent, and agreed that
the horse and accoutrements Of the yanquish-
ed should become the prize of the conqueror,
which he was to take unmolested possession Of
in the presence Of the respective parties
These preliminaries being adjusted, the arms
of Black Wolf were now carefully examined
L IL l.
lousy the moment the question was settled
One took his lance and tried the soundness oi
the shaft by bending it so that the two ends
nearly met. Another thummed his bowstring
while several changed their best arrows for
those in his culver which appeared defective
The touch-hole Of his rifle was pricked and
Ire-primed, and even his knife and tomahawE
!, underwent careful scrutiny. The honor Of
the nation was at stake, and the breast o
each individual present seemed to. burn with
patriotic pride and solicitude for the event
which was to decide the fate of the Usage OF
, Pawnee chief.
All being in readiness, Black Wolf dashed
his spurs into his horses sides, and bringing
him upon his launches by way of a start, gal
goped in wide circle before US, for the com
: bined purpose of exhibiting himself and an
: nouncing to his enemy that he was ready fo
the strife.
Nothing nobler can be pictured to the i'm
: agination than the appearance of the chief, as
i nude as at his birth, with the exception of hi
6 arms slung across his shoulners, he sat upol
. his plunging and excited steed with grace
ease and confidence. A tuft of the war ca
;. gle's plume surmounted his head, proud,
: raised and thrown back, while his finely de
= veloped chest stood out like that of gladitor's
: With tightened reins he held his horse
]. head close to his chest, and using the spu
! freely, reused the animals fiery blood, unit
& large fakes of foam few from his jaws, hi
nostriIs dilated, and his eyes looked ready t
spring from their sockets
After making the circuit, he suddenly rein
ed in his horse, and the two stood motionless
Q as if carved from granite, some hundred yard
e ia advance of where we remained stationar
to watch the result and see fair play. Their
IN was not, however, as / subsequently learned
ls the slightest apprehension of treschery as j
a these combats, which, although rare betwee
# members of rival tribesare occasionally indulg
nj ed in, the strictest faith is kept with the term
on which they are fought
,r The piebald horse with the bearer of th
g lance, on which smallred flag futtered, noN
a darted from the body of horsemen drawn u
. closely in the distance, and making CORES
~ ponding circle with Black Wolf, drew up i
u the same way opposite to him; and they aE
i, peared, for few brief seconds to be eyein
70 each other with intent far from charitable.
Asi if moved by common impulse, bot
drove the butt ends of their lances into tn
ground, and then raising their rifles from thei
a. thighs, dashed forward and fred at the me
ment of passing each other, some fifteen t
m twenty PAGES apart. Whether the bullet
le 6attened or were rendered harmless agains
of the tough shields of buffalo hides which wer
a. suspended around their necks, cannot tell
Is but for aught could see, no harm was done
N Dropping their reins to take aim, their hors
e. es carried them unchecked to within a FEY
e yards of where the respective parties of Osag
h es and Pawnees we're posted. Indeed, roor
ID had to be given to the Pawnee chief, VIII
e came with such rush towards us as to threat
le en- to upset a handful of the foremost specta