Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1852-02-19
S8GG&CGUGIWm.
BLACK WOLF;
OR a TOURNAMENT IN rHE WILDERNESS
BY JOHN MILLS

In close line our party continued TO
advance brandishing their lances. andfrom
time to time. giving vent to the most dis
cordant cries which met with ready res
ponse on the part Of the enemy IN their
war-whoop Of defiance. 1t seems, indeed.
necessary for the savage. when going to
fight, to excite his courage bv shouts and
yells, and these primitive means are
doubtless productive Of a corresponding
effect with the white warriors drum and
spirit-stirring fife
With as noble bearing as a knight Of
old when about to tilt for his lady love" :"
Black Wolf sat upon his horse and led the
van as became chief Of the Osaees -
With that love for display, which is an
innate passion with the Indian. he pulled
his horses neck into a curve and keeping
pair of antique Spanish rowels pricking
against his flank proudly curveted him at
the head of his troop, trimmed like a
yonker prouncing to his love"
We had now approached so near to the
Pawnee band that momentariiy | expect
ed to see them sweep towards us; as in In
dian warfare neither size wait with that
coolness, which well disciplined courage
can only inculcate to receive the other
charge, and each brave is free to fight on
his own plan, or any mode which the i'm
pulse of the moment NAV direct
Much however, to my surprise, solita-
ry warrior singled himself from his party.
and with something white flying at the
head of his lance, approached at foot
pace The Osages instantly checked their
horses at the command Of their chief, and
unattended he rode forward to meet the
messenger of peace.
may here remark upon the singulari-
ty that the flag Of truce-a piece Of white
buffalo skln-should be adopted by those
sons of the wilderness similar in color to
our own The copy doubtless was taken
from the pale faces upon learning that the
emblems met with such inviolable respect
but the Indians deny this, and avow that
their fathers regarded it as a signal for
peace before the great canoe came across
the great lake.
In support of this it IS worthy Of obser-
vation that the skin Of the white buffalo
a most rare prize-is held in great rev
eTence by them.
The conference was brief between the
Pawnee and Black Wolf. and the latter
"''A " ""S'o VIC 9'oo" ""'0"tiI5
,'iGlr movements. with an interest easier
- oe conceiEeu 'nah described: informed
was willing to settle the fight in single
combat, and that he himself would meet
either of the Usage braves who might be
chosen champion Of his nation
This plucky challenge created the wild.
f '.'o . .ll'l al
~ oui P''' anu - uG'No' ous wee
- .'l'. - ig''' .,ioIi oI,''iLS %
ii'lee sI'e llo4yI - G'ou' '"''V u-
leSs I'i@'A " OH H,'o se1Iieo tue cohten-
c'0n = oy ola' NM 1t TOT H'ihs1li' II ) Jar
...I ~, IN o'"C'o '..ao ne" ",'sI SION
~ 7uu h"rg ~ "''se" ~ lIU''"l against MS
llII., - 70 us -''i'7 ''" e'eI'
- 1'0 '.is' ~ c"A9 l'''e"','co
ol an, ont 'ue opinions oi many Feerca TO
'nc opposite p9l"J, e'uceF mug 'te Po.cy
" 0''G = "re.' '-.oy -'o--l '''''t I,.Iy
"-LI O." 'dAe d" STARE il" '1e sloty inc
sEsa'e1' ',lii'o'r !. -'T@ea ne eAPeoLency ol
N@ol5' 80 lii-' : '"' Ne ,.'' a'- -o|-
IG' 'N"u '"9 enemy, d a.'' sho"'>s cap ,uFe
All 'hG'I HoTsgS ana SKINS. win E..'.A taey
were ia5eh IiEe afse'ECSr ln &9u'Sioh TO
pretty la4l ,il Ct InFai'apie soaps.
biaGk " OF. hoNeFe,T' either irom pru-
0en'IaI motives. or 4 desire . 9f35'iy ms
own vanity, oec'ded 20 accept the caai-
Ienge on thc terms on WAica Il was semi
and agreed tlat the morse ana accoutre-
mentS OF the FaAqu'sned should become
the pre- ol tie eoH4oeror' when ne was
20 taAe unmoicSoea possession OF, IN tne
presence OF the respective parties
These prelIminarles beng adjusted, the
arms OF black Noit were now carefully
examined by ms companions, who thre"
aside all jealousy the moment the ques-
'oh was settled. One took ms lance ana
tFleu the souhdiesS ol tne smart oy oehd-
ing It Sc as tue Two ends nearly met
Another thnmned ms DO" string Whiie
several changed thelT best arrows for those
IN his qulver winch appeared deiectlve--
Ihe prime-h9Ie OF ms Tiae was P[icKed
ana rePrimed' ana even MS hhile anu Tom lI,I
aha"A GhGer"eht carelul g GtlIlny IA lne
honor OF the nation was at stake ana ti'e
oTeaSt OF each person preSeA. seemed 70