American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-11-01
ArRuE INDIAN HERO.

Gently, gives the following account of the
noble character and heroic death ofLogan,
the chief Of tho Omaha Indians: |
Logan Fontanelle, chief Of the Omahas,
has just been slain and scalped at Loup
Fork. by a band Of, Sioux. Logan was |
noble fellow, and in this last mortal con-
hict he despatched several ofthe enemy to
the spirit land before, to herald the com
ing Of his own brave soul. He fought
long, desperately, and with great effect, |
but numbers finally overcame him. and his
life departed through hundred wounds
He died martyr for his people, and his
name should be carved upon fame's bright
est tablet. t..L1
He was on his annual hunt with his me-
ton. A number Of his lodges were pitch
ed upon the plains near Loup Fork. As
a young warrior one day rode round the
adjacent hills he espied powerful band
of Sioux encamped along stream in Sc
! qucstered vale. He fastened to inform
Logan ofthe prOpinquity and power oftheir
natural foe. Logan ordered his people to
back Immediately and proceed in straight
line and with all speed for home. while he
would remain behind, and divert the Sioux
by false camp-fres and other devices from
a direct pursuit of them. This was about
twilight. The people got under way as
quickly as possible, but not too soon; for
scarcely had they turned highland when
several Sioux warriors came in sight and
discovered the place of their recent en-
campment. They examined it and found
that Omahas had been there, and then
they returned to notify their chief, and
bring m adequate force to pursue and
slaughter them. Logan, from hiding
place, saw all, and knew that no time was
to be lost in drawing their attention from
the trail which they would soon discover
and follow, and mounting his horse he
dashed away at full speed across the pra-
rie, at right angles with the route his tribe
had taken, ,& struck fire about eight miles
distant, on an emincnce where the Sioux
could distinctly see it. lie had scarcely
done so before powerful band were upon
the spot that he and his people had so
lately left, and who, without stopping to
distinguish the trail. started for the fire,
which they saw rising against the clear
blue sky, and where they expected in a.
mother moment TO imbue their hands in the
gore Of their ungaydsd victims. But Lo-
gan had not been unwary. AS soon as the
fire was lighted, he again mounted and
rode on eight or ten miles further, and
kndled another fire Just as they reached
the first. This rather bewildercd them.
They dsmounted and examined the ground.
Logan, anticipating this. had trotted and
walked his horse around 1t, SO rs to make
; the appearance upon the grass of the tread
, ing of dozen horses; and this drew them
into the belief that small body had ling
cred behind and kindled this fire, and then
gone on to where they could see the new
fire burning; and so they followed with
renewed avidity. The same thing hap.
pened as before. Logan had gone on, and
3, another fire met their astonished gaze
while the same sort of footprints were
bout the one around which they were now
' gathered. Their suspicious were now a
= wakened. They examined the ground,
: both far and near, and discovered that {
; solitary horseman had deceived them, ant
they knew it was for the sole purpose o
y leading them off from the pursuit ofthe par
ty whose encampment they had first dis
covered.
: Logan saw them going round with glar
ing torches and understood their object
# and knew that his only chance Of safety
;. was in immediate fight towards his home
!. and he further knew that by the time the,
$ could retrace their way to their place o
starting. and find the trail that his OWL
n people had taken, they would be beyonr
the reach Of danger.
a The Sioux, in the meantime, had divid
# ed into smaller bands, the largest of whicl
a was to return and pursue the Omahas, ant
W the others to endeavor to capture the on
&c who had misled them. They knew tha
&c he must be an Omaha, and that he wou
\ either 60 further and kindle another watch
70 fire, or start for his nation in straigh
70 line; and therefore one party went on
q. little further. and others spread out tc
\. ward the Omaha's country for tie purpos
n. of intercepting him. Logan pressed fol
n ward as rapidly as his jaded steed coul
rs rs bear him, until he thought he had entirel
h eluded them; but as the day dawned, I
n his horror and dismay, he saw his pul
ii suers close upon his track. He turned h
Ia course for ravne, which he distinguish
ct ed at distance covered with trees and vi
ar dergrowth. He succeeded in reaching i
nc and Just within its verge he met an India
st girl dipping water from aspiring. She W;
ba startled and about to cry for help, when |
a hastily assured her that he needed prote'
h. ton and assistance With the true i,
M stincts of noble woman, she appreciate
nd his situation in an instant, and all her syn
- pathies were with him. She directed hi
to dismount and 60 to a small natural boy
H. er to which she pointed him in the verl
lis of the woods, while she would mount h
in horse and lead his pursuers away. lie
w beyed her, and she mounted his horse, al
ed dashed on in serpentine way through Il
,at woods. leaving marks along the bushes
|? which she could be traced. The pursue
soon followed. When she had got sor
en- distance down the branch she rode in
on the water aud followed its sdescendir
course for few steps, making her her