Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-11-11
From the Galena (IIl.) Advertiser.
The Sioux Warriors Race for
Life.

oeen amlcably adjusted by a visit of one of their
chiefs TO Washington, accomplished by Cover
nor Cass, Sioux Indian, while out hunting by
the mouth of the Root river, shot and scalped
Winnebago, which act he attempted to just-
fy by saying that the Winnebago had wrapped
around his person the blanket of an Indian who
a short time previous had murdered his BROTH
er. The Winnebagoes became indignant at
the act, and two thousand of them assembled
at Fort Crawford and demanded of Colonel
Taylor the procurement and surrender of the
murderer.
The officers Of the fort, apprehensive that
difficulties might arise with this faclous tribe
if their demands were unattended to, concluded
10 make an effort to obtain the murderer. Ac-
cordinely an 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 Winnebagoes
again assembled and insisted upon an uncon-
dltlonal surrender of the prisoner to them,
which Col. Taylor refused to make, but dis
patched Lieut. R. and DR.. EIuse, the surgeon
of the garrison, to have talk with them upon
the subject. At the conference the Winneba-
goes talked in threatening and overbearing
manner, and insisted that nuthing would satisfy
them but taking 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 man
ner.
Two weeks from that time he was to be let
out upon the prare, and in line with him ten
PAGES off, was 10 be placed upon his right and
left, twelve of the most expert runners of the
Wlnnebago nation, each armed with a toma-
hawk and scalpng knife.
Al the tap of a drum the Sioux should he
free 10 start for the home of his tribe aud the
Win"ehagoes free To pursue, capture and scalp
him if they could.
To this propusal the Winnebagoes acceded
at once, and seemed much pleased with the an
tlclpallon of great sport, as well as an easy
conquest OF the prisoner, whose confinement
In the garrison during two weeks, they believ-
ed would prostrate whatever running qualities
he possessed. Their best runners were imme-
dlately brought in, and trained every day in
full sight of the fort. Lieut. R. who had
warmly enlisted in the cause of the Sioux, de-
termined TO have his Indian in the best possible
trim. Accordingly Eluise took him in charge,
prescribing his diet. regulating the hours of re-
pose, and directing the rubbing of his body
twice day with flesh brushes immediately be-
fore he went upon the parade ground to perform
his morning and evening training. In fact so
carefully was he trained and fitted for the race
of life and death, that he was timed upon the
parade ground The fourth day before the race,
and performed the astonishing feat of forty
one miles in two hours, apparently without IA
tigue.
The day at length arrived. Thousands Of
Indians, French, Americans and others had
assembled to witness the scene 1t fact, it
was regarded as gala day by all except the
avenger of his brother Sioux Lieut. r., on
the part of the prisoner, and The celebrated war
chiefs War-kon-shntes-kee aud Pine-Top on
the part of the Winnebagoes, superintended the
arrangement of the parties 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 occu-
pied by Judge Lockwood, while the Race
Course ran along Nine Mile Prairie, stretch
ing To the North and skirting the shore of the
Mississippi. The Sioux appeared upon the
ground accompanied by guard of soldiers,
who were followed by twenty-four antagonists
marching in Indian file, naked with the excep-
tion IF the Indian breechlet. Their ribs were
painted white, while their breasts were adorned
with number of hieroglyphical paintings
Across the face alternate stripes Of black and
white were painted in parallel lines, extend
ing from the chin TO the forehead
The hair was plated into numerous thongs
fringed with bells, and tasseled with red or
white feather, while their muccasins were
corded tightly around the hollow of the foot,
as well as around the ankle, with the sinews
vi tiO uCCi, III thO liSut uduu CdCH d
! iomahawk, while the left grasped the sheath
that contained the scalping knife.
; The prisoner was about twenty-three years
of age, little less than six feet in height, of a
, muscular and we'll proportioned contour, and
manifested in the easy movements of his body,
J wiry and agile command of his muscular
powers. His countenance presented wan
S and haggard appearance, as he stood upon 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
e of horse shoe in white on his forehead, which
D denoted that he was condemned to die, with
: the privilege Of making an effort to save his
: life by fleetness. Around his neck he wore
i narrow belt of wampum, to which was append
s ed the scalp he had taken from the Whine
s bago.
: Soon after they had formed in line, Lieut.
d R. came up and took one of the moccasins of
= the Indiap and showed the chief that it con
III tanned thin plate Of steel, and asked if he oh