Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-01-23
I-TS G ELL & II !, @ Us,
A B 6 R D L r [ A [. T..
TRETTE.Z

'
eeyor in tie new State Of Iowa, was q
witness Of oHe OF those real and startling
tragedies which SO often oceur along the
borders of civilization in the West.--
While serving i'll that eapacits, lad often
witnessed deeds Of vaiar AID desperation
aad ioo hardy courage which made nv
blood crow cold--but the incident to which
| aIluae, displayed, on The one hand such
Hamitiaa;ed vindictiveness Of spirit, to-
gtther with the most reckless daring and
a total disregard of death, and on the 9th
er such pare affection and such delicate
refinement fer the then wild wilderness TO
exhibit, that il stands out in bold relief
above ;lle memory of the many startiing
scenes witnessed and The trials and hair
breadth escapes | underwent.
One night, after having nearly compile
ted my operations in that part olthe cann-
try, aid preparatory to taking my final
leave Of it, | walked ferth from the tent in
which my companions were still busily en-
gagged in devouring their supper of broile,!
vehlson, and stroiled along the banks of Il
quiet stream that rolled its deep and silent
waters through vast and ferlile country,
finally TO empty into the Mississippi. The
sun was fast declining in the west, his
bright rays danced only At intervals through
the dense forest, Intercepted BY the hang
ing GeGghs and hoary Trunks eff huge oaks
that pesehauee had atooi it fierce blasts of
All hundred winters, still uagcathea. The
gay carol of the forest birds were diving
away while the, sought with Welding
wing their places Of nightly Iest-the al
most cease!ess chatter Of the squirrel was
still--the sound Of the cracking Dough, as
il fell beneath the hoef Of the lccting
deer, Was no longer heard and all nature
seemed wrapped in the silence of repose
Unheeding my footsteps, | wandered
far down along the banks of this quiet
Stream, and seated myself upon broken
and decayed stump. nearly encifyied by
the trunk Of tree on either side. My
mind was enshrouded in that deep reTe-
RE which SO often steals over Us as tWi-
lights balmv hours come on and might
long have remained 50 had not my eaen-
ton been suddenly aroused by the APP
proach of a group Of indians along the
bank of the stream. Instantly my hand
had graSped my ever faithful pistol when
suddenly the foremost Indian, changing
his course entered a thick clump of bush
es and soon emerged fem theGl. walking
upon the trunk of tree that had fallen
across aud completely spanHed the stream
that rolled quietly below. The other Ia
dians followed in quick succession their
leader, whom now saw, az his manly
form rose towering above his followers,
was a person of some little knowledge -
He was the destined chief of the tabe
that oueupied the country around ne, and
which had beenfof some motifs Engaged
in. had met him once only, bat was
greeted with that respect aud welcome
which stranger ever meets among the
Indians.
His dress was richly fan.astic--his face
covered with many colored paints, his
moccasins embeliShed with euriously
wrought beads, and a huge pauther's SIX in
hanging from his brawny shoulders, gave
him an air OF superiority over the rest
As they passed sing'y over the stream, |
saw that each was more than ordinarily
tastefully dressed, which denoted some un-
usual occurrences. remained concealed
Til the last had passed over and entered
the thick foliage upon the opposite bank
and then stepping iorth, | saw them hur-
rylng down BY the side of the stream, in
the direction of the old chiefs lodge,
which knew to be some half mile below
They were soon lost TO sight and while
mnslng, partly upon the beauty Of the
scenery around, | was startled by the
sound Of approaching footsteps, seemingly
from behind me. had hardly sunk baei.
into my hiding place, when through the
dim twilight, saw approaching me com
pany of FIVE or six persons. They cane
steadily towards me, till within few feet
where the bank ran above Their heads
entirely concealed them from my view
Here they halted, and one Of ther number
began to address the other in mixed dia.
lect of French, English and Indian.
soon surmised that the speaker was no.
ted half breed, Of whom | had heard nc
little, and seen somewhat. His father had
been one Of the first French traders, whc
penetrated the country west of the great
lakes for traffic with the Indians, and his
mother was the daughter of chief of a
tribe inhabiting the North Western Terri
tory. In this character was combined all
the bravery and cunning of the indian
together with that total regafdlessness o
death manifested by the Frenehman ant
jealousy and vindictiveness of spirit no
often seen in either.