The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1853-08-04
ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.
The Sioux Warriors Race for Life
From the Galeua H., Advsrtissr.


During the summer of 18-, soon after the
difficulty with the Winnebago Indians had been
amicaby adjusted by visit of one of their chiefs
to Washington, accompanied by Gov. Cass, a
Sioux Indian, while out hunting by the mouth Of
the Root river, shot and scalped Winnebago,
which act 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 indignant at the act, and
two thousand of them assembled at Fort Craw-
ford, and demanded of Col. Taylor the procure
ment and surrender of the murderer.
The officers of the fort apprehensive that diff :
culties might arise with this factious tribe, if
their demands were not acceded to, concluded
to make an effort to obtain the murderer. Ac-
cordingy 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 arri-
val at the fort, the Winnebagoee again assembled
and insisted upon an unconditional surrender of
the prisoner to them, which Col Taylor refused
to make, but despatched Lieutenant r. and DIR.
Eluise, the surgeon of the garrison, to have q
talk with them upon the subject. At the con-
ference, the Winnebagoes talked in a threaten
ing and overbearing manner, and insisted that
nothing 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 follow
ing manner Two weeks from that time he was
to be led out upon the prairie and in a line with
him ten PAGES of, was to be placed upon his
right and left, twelve of the most expert runners
of the Winnebago nation, each armed with a
tomahawk and scalping knife.
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 proposal the Winnebagoes acceded at
once, and seemed much pleased with the antici-
patton of great sport, as well easy con-
quest of the prisoner, whose confinement in the
garrison during two weeks they believed would
PROSTATE whatever running qualities he posses
sed. Their best runners were Immediately
brought in, and trained every day in full sight
of the fort Lieut.. R., who had warmly enlist
ed in the cause of the Sioux, determined to have
his Indian in the best possible trim. According
ly Eluise took him in charge, prescribing his
diet, regulating the hours of repose, and direct
ing the rubbing of his body twice day with
flesh brushes Immediately before he went on the
parade ground to perform his morning and even i
ing trainings. In fact so carefully was he train
ed 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 aston
ishing feat of forty-one miles in two hours, ap-
parently without fatigue.
The day at length arrived. Thousands of In
dians. French, Americans and others, had assem-
bled to witness the scene. In fact it was regar-
ded as a 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-shules- -kee and Pine Top, on the part of the
Winnebagoes, superintended the arrangement Of
the parties on the ground. The point agreed
upon for starting upon the prairie, little
to the North of Prairie du CHEN, and few rods
from the residence then occupied by Judge Lock-
wood while the race course ran along Nine Mile
Prarie, stretching to the North and skirting
the shore of the Mississippi The Sioux ap-
peared on the ground, accompanied by guard
of soldiers, who were followed by twenty four
antagonists, marching in Indian file, naked with
the exception of the Indian bracelet. Their ribs
were painted white, while their breasts were
adorned with number of hieroglyphical paint
ings. Across the face alternate stripes Of black
and white were painted in parallel lines, extern
ding from the chin TO the forehead.
The hair was plated into numerous thongs,
fringed with bells and tasseled with a red or
white feather; while their moccasins were cord
ed tightly around the hollow of the foot, well
around the ancle, with the sinews of the deer;
in the right hand each carried tomahawk,
while his left grasped the sheath that contained
the scalping knife.
The prisoner was about twenty three years of
age, little less than q feet in height, of mus
cular and well proportioned contour, and mani
Tested in the easy movement of his body, awiry
and agile crmmand of his muscular powers. His