Butte record., 1855-12-15
NUMBER 6.
Indian Execution in Michigan.

l ne Cilittoh county (Nllch. In
press publishes the following, and
vouches for its authenticity. 1t is GER
tainly curious history:
In different parts of Central Michi-
Gan 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 1858,
party Of one tribe built their cabins on
the banks of Maple river, and a party
of the other tribe, about eighty in num-
Der, encamped in what is now the town
of Dallas. 1t is unnecessary to speak
of their lives in these camps-suffice
it to say that the days were spent in
hunting. and the nights in drinking
''Gre water" and carousing. In one
of the revels at the camp on Maple
river, an indian, maddened by liquor,
killed his squaw, and to conceal the
deed threw her body upon the fire.
Recovering from the stupor of the
reyel, he saw the signs of his guilt be
fore him, and fearing the wrath of his
tribe, he fled towards the other en-
campment.
His absence was noticed-the char
red remains 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 encamp-
ment of their neighbors-he was found,
apprehended, and in solemn council
doomed to the death which, in the stern
old Indian code, is reserved for those
only who shed the blood of their kin.
1t was a slow, torturing, cruel death.
A hatchet was placed in the victims
hands, he was led to large log that
was hollow, and made to assist in fix
ing 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 until larger, so as
to admit his body. This done, he was
taken back and tied fast to tree
Then they smoked and drank the ''6re
water" and when evening came, they
kindled large fires around him, at some
distance off, but so that they would
shine full upon him. And now COM
menced the orgies-thcy drank to in
toXication-they danced and sang in
their wild Indian manner, chanting
the dirge Of the recreant brave. The
arrow was fitted to the bowstring, and
ever and anon with its shrill twang it
sent a missile into the quivering flesh
of the homicide; aud to heighten his
misery they cut off his ears and nose.
Alternately drinking, dancing, beat
ing their rude drums and shooting their
arrows into the victim, the night
passed.
The next day was spent in sleeping
and eating, the victim meanwhile still
bound to the tree. What his refec-
tions were we of course cannot tell, but
he bore his punishment as a warrior
should.
When night was close around it
brought his executioners to their work
again. The scene of the first night
was re-cnacted, and so it was the next
night, and the next, and the next, and
so on for a week. Seven long and
weary days did he stand there tortured
with the most cruel torture, before his
proud head dropped upon his breast,
and his spirit left its clayey tenement
for the hunting grounds of the Great
Spirit. And when it did they took
the body, wrapped it in a new clean
blanket, and placed it in the log coffin
he had helped to hollow.
They put his hunting knife by his
side that he might have something to
defend himself on the way, his whiskey
bottle that he might cheer his spirits
with draught now and then, and his
tobacco pipe, that he might smoke
Then they put on the cover, drove
down stakes each side of the log, and
filled up between them with logs and
brush. The murdered squaw was
avenged. The camp was broken up,
and the old stiffness and quiet once
more reigned over the forest spot where
was consummated this signal act of
retributive justice.
Our informant has visited the spot
often since then; the log is still there
with It's cover on and beneath may
still be seen the skeleton of the vic
/ tim.
Let no Che-mo-k -ke-mum call this
deed of barbarity. 1t was an act of
simple justice; there was double mur-
der it is true, but the pale face who
sold the fire water that crazed the poor
victim and caused him to shed the
blood of his squaw has them to answer
for in the day Of final reckoning.