The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-01-08
ABORIGINAL TRIAL BY BATTLE.
A FEARFUL COMBAT.

For some months past, series OF pa
pers, written by John Mills, Esq, ll'nslra
tive Of life among some Of the Indian tribe
of The west, have been published 10 th'
uaited Service Magazine. These paper
accasionav embrace a short descriptive
narrative, abounding in dramatic interest
Information aud general merit. Oae OF
these We give below MIR. Mills accompa'
MED party Of Ossge indians on gram
hln,ing expedition, in the course OF whci
lhey accidentally encountered about al
equal number OF Pawnees. Between these
| two oribes deadly feui existed, and every
| opp1rtunity was sought 10 settle tho diiti
| calt, by a summar, aud sangginary pro
cess. On this occasion, the tel,gercnt par
| lies inmedIately placed themselves IN {
tirhiiny n1sitisn, and all was ready Tor :
! genera, melee, when an occurrence 0!
| very singular character t",k place. "hl't
We rive in tho words oi the author. WI
have rarely encountered a more vivid am
entertaining description of a war'lke meet
iny. II rivals the accounts ot the combat
II the chisalrous knights nf the dark ages
Much 10 nv surprise, a solitary warrin
| singled himself from bis party, and viii
| something white living al the head oil !
l1nce. approached us at n foot pace. Th'
Onges instantly checked their horses a
the comnini Of :heir chief, and unnttend
ed he rode forward to meet the mcssengel
Of pesce
The conference was brief between IN
plwnee 4nd Back Wolf, and the l,iier. RI
ding back 10 where we s,o ID watching thei
movements, with an interest easter I" be
conceived than described, informed HI
brothers in arms that that P,wuee chie
was willing 10 settle the fight 10 sIns''
eomb,i, and that be himself, would NEE
either of the Osage braves who might b.
the CHOSEN champion Of his nation.
This p,ucky chalenge ere ted the wild
est cnmmo,ion among the aspiring warriors
Of orr psrtv; and SO numerous were ih'
soInnleers, and utgen, their claims TO have
the honor assigned to them, that unless
Back W4lf had se,iIed the contention b'
Ginning il for himself. il IL far from I'm
pnhab'e that a, new diversion might havt
arisen IN mutiny sgsinst his orders. There
aas no dispu,ing. however, The rIgh' OF IN
chef to take precederce Of all: bnt tn
opinions of many veered 10 the OPPOSITE
| ppst, snaaraing the policy IT the meas
Gre, when the, found that tbet were L
,eke n, share 10 the glory. The greate
number urged the expedienry oi genera
hgh,. alleging that we were stronger 'h''
the enemy, and should capture all ,he'
horses and skins, with which they were
iadea like ourselves, 10 addition lon pretty
hari' Of inealulble SC lips.
Back Wolf, however, either from prn
denllal motives or desire TO gratity HI
own vanity, decided TO accept the cha'
ienge on the terms ou which il was sen,
aud agreed that the horse and accoutre
meats ofthe yanquished should become tn
prize of the conqnernr. which he was L
lake nnmoles,ed possession Of 10 the pres
eoce "i The respective parties.
These pre'imnnries being adjusted, tn
arms OF b 'ack Wolf were now carefully ey
amIaad ov his companions, who threw
aside all jealousy the mamen, the question
was setlled. One took his lance aud irie'
the sonndness Of the shalt by bending
SO that the two ends nearly met. Anothe
'hru'nmed his bnwstrng, while severa
changed their best arrows for those in hi
qu'ver which appeared detective. In
touch hole Of his rife was pricked and re
pr'med,nnd even his knife aud tomahsw
'nnerwent careful scrutiny. The homo
., 'ne nation was a, stake, and the breas
O each individual present seemed to burr
WIN patriotic prids and solritnde for III
event which was 10 decide the fate OF III
Usage or Pawnee chief
Al being in readiness. Black Wolf dash
~ ms spurs into his horses sides, and bring
ing nm upon his launches by way Of
s'ar', g,'loped ia wide circle before n'
'or The cambined purpose Of exhibiting him
sci and announcing TO his enemy tha, b
was ready for the strife.
Nothing nobler can DO pictured TO tn
inag'na,ion than the appearances Of tn
chIei, as, nude as nj bis birth, with the e,
c,ep''on Of his arms siung across his shon
oers, he sat upon his plunging and excite
seed with grace. ease, and confidence.
'oli oi'ho war eagles plumes surmoun,c