Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-10-24

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The Clinton Co., Michigan. Express. pub
fishes the following and vouches for its au-
thenticity. 1t is certainly a curious histo-
ry:
In different parts of Central Michigan there
are two tribes Of Indians, the Ottawas and
Chippewas. They are friendly to each other,
and during the hunting season, frequently
encamp near each other. In the fall of 1853,
a party of one tribe built their cabins on the
banks Of the Maple river, and a party of the
other tribe, about eighty in number, encam-
ped in what is now the town of Dallas. It
is unnecessary to speak of their life in these
eamps-sufice it to say that the days were
spent in hunting, and the nights in drinking
"6rewater" and carousing. In one of the
revels at the camp on Maple river, an indian,
maddened by liquor, killed his sauaw, and
to conceal the deed, threw her body upon the
fire.
Recovering from the stupor of the revel, he
saw that the signs of his guilt were still be-
fore him, and fearing the wrath of his tribe,
he fed toward the other encampment.
His absence was noticed-the charred re-
mains of the poor squaw were found, and the
cry for blood was raised. The avengers
were soon upon his track-they pursued him
to the encampment of their neighbors-he
coo OAh0 0RptO \ ttt0 III oOACAiti SC0Ai-
Gil doomed TO the death which in the stern
old Indian code is reserved only for those
who shed the blood Of their kin. 1t was a
slow, torturing, cruel death. A Ratchet was
put in the victims hands, he was led to a
large log that was hollow, and made to assist
in fixing it for his coffin, this was done by
cutting into it some distance on the top, in
two places, about the length Of a man apart,
then slabbing off, and digging the hollow
still larger, so as to admit his body. This
done, he was taken back and tied fast to a
tree. Then they smoked and drank of the
~"fre-water," and when evening came they
kindled large fires around him, at some dis
lance off. but so that they could shine full
upon him. And now commenced the orgies
they drank to intoxication-they danced
and sung in their wild Indian manner chan
ting the dirge of the recreant brave. The
arrow was fitted to the bowstring and ever
and anon with its shrill twang, it sent q mis-
siIe into the uuivering flesh of the homicide,
and to heighten his misery they cut off his
ears and nose.
Alternately drinking, dancing, beatingthe lei
rude drums and shooting arrows into thu
victim, the nigh passed.
The next day was spent in sleeping anC
eating, the victim meanwhile still bound tt
the tree. What his reflections were, we o
course cannot tell, but he bore his punish
ment as a warrior should.
When night closed around, it brought hi
executioners to their work again. The seen
Of the FIRST night was re-enacted, and so j
was the next night, and. the next and til
next, and so on for a week. Seven long an
weary days did he stand there, tortured wit
the most cruel torture, before his proud hea'
dropped upon his breast, and his spirit lef
its clayey tenem ent for the hunting ground
of the Great Spirit. And when it did, the
took the body, wrapped it in a new clea
blanket and placed it IL the log coffin he ha
helped to hollow.
They put his hunting knife by his side
that he might have something to defend him
self on the way; his whiskey bottle that b
might cheer his spirits with a draught no.
and then, and his tobacco and pipe, that h
might smoke. Then they put on the cove
drove down stakes each side of the log, an
filled up between them, with logs and brusl
The murdered sqaaw was avenged. III
camp was broken up, and the old stillnct
and quiet once more reigned over the fore
spot where was consummated this signal a
of retributiye justice.
Let no Che-mo-kemum call this a deed
barbarity. 1t was an act of simple justic,
there was a double murder, it is true, but ii
pale face VINO SOLO the mat efazt
the poor victim and caused him to shed ii
blood of his squaw, has them to answer f
in the day of final reckoning.
sE The Physicians strenuously advi
that absentees be in no haste to return. T.
warm weather last week brought out sever
new cases of fever-last Thursday three We
tad ones-and SOM deaths from previo
sickness. The weather on Saturday W
cool, but without frost. We have had b
one frost yet, and that was only seen in t
upper parts of the city; though we he
there have been several in the country.
There is yet much sickness in the eli
though but little Of it from the epidemic al
algreat deal of restitution, some oft in fa
lilies accustomed to good living. Nine tent
!, of the poorer classes were Compelledto rems
l during the pestilence for want of means
, flee from it, and if they were not fed by t
Howard Association, woald absolutely star
|, The Relief Committee of Richmond, We leal
has generously sent down a load of coal
, their use.-NOTfoK Herald.