The American patriot., 1855-12-15

Accordingly an officer was dispatched to de-
mand him Of the Sioux nation, who immedi |
ately gave him up, and he was brought down
the river and confined at Fort Crawford. Soon
nfter his arrival at the Fort, the Winnebagoes
again assembled and insisted on the uncondi-
tional surrender of the prisoner to them, which
Col. Taylor refused to make, but dispatched
Lieut. R. and DR.. Eluise the surgeon Of the
garrison, to have talk with them upon the
subject. At length Lieut.. R. proposed that
the Indians should have a chance for his life in
the following manner.
Two weeks from that time he was to be led
out upon the prairie, and in line with him
ten PAGES of, was to be placed on his right and
left twelve of the most expert runners Of the
Winnebago nation, each armed with toma-
hawk and scalping knife.
At the tap of the drum the Sioux shoul be
free to start for the home of his tribe, and the
Winnebagoes free to pursue, and capture and
scalp him if they could.
To this proposal the Winnebagoes acceded
at once, and seemed much pleased with the
anticipation Of great SPORT as well as an easy
conquest Of the prisoner, whose confinement
in the garrison during two weeks they believed
would PROSTATE whatever running qualities he
possessed Their best runners were immedi-
ately brought in, and trained every day in full
sight of the Fort. Liet. R. who had warmly
enlisted in the cause of the Sioux, determined
to have his Indian in the best possible trim.-
Accordingly Eluise took him in charge; pre-
scribing his diet, regulating his hours ofrepose,
and directing the rubbing of his body with
flesh brusher Immediately before he went on
the parade ground to perform his morning and
evening trainings. In fact SO carefully was he
trained and fitted for the race of life and death,
that he was timed upon the parade ground the
fourth day before the lace, and performed the
astonishing feat Of forty-one miles in two hours,
apparently without fatigue.
The day at length arrived thousands Of In
dians, French, Americans and others had as
senbled to witness the scene In fact, it was
regarded as gala-day by all except the aven-
ger of his brother Sioux. Lieut.. R., on the
part Of the prisoner, and the celebrated war
chiefs Warkon-shuthes and Pine Top, on the
part of the Winnebagoes, superintended the
arrangement Of the parties on the ground
The point agreed upon for starting was on the
prairie, little to the north Of Prairie duChien
and few rods from the residence then occu-
pied by Judge Lockwood, while the race course
then ran along Nine mile Prairie, stretching to
the north and skirting the shore Of the Missis-
sippi The Sioux appeared on the ground, ac-
companied by guard of soldiers who we're
followed by the twenty-four antagonists, mar
ching in Indian filed, naked, with the excep-
ton of the Indian breechlet. Their ribs were
painted white, while their breasts were adorn-
ed with number of hieroglyphical paintings.
Across the face alternate stripes Of black and
white were painted in parallel lines, extending
from the chin to the forehead.
The hair was plated into numerous thongs,
fringed with bells, and tassled with red OF
white feather, while their moccasins were cord
ed tightly around the hollow Of the foot, as
we'll as around the ancle, with the sinews o.
the deer. In the right hand each carried a
tomahawk, while the left grasped the sheath
that contained the scalping knife.
The prisoner was about twenty-three year.
of age, little more than six feet in height, ant
of a muscular and well proportioned contour
and manifested, in the easy movement Of hi
body, whiry and agile command of his mus
cular powers. His countenance presented I
wan and haggard appearance, as he stood up
on the ground, owing partly to the rigid discip
line he had undergone in training, and partly tt
his having painted his face black, with the fig
ure of horseshoe in white upon his forehead
which denoted that he was condemned to die
with the privilege of making an effort to saw
his life by feetness Around his neck he wor
narrow belt of wampum, to which was ap
pended the scalp which was taken from tn
Winnebago.
Soon after they had formed into line, Lieu
tenant R. came up and took one of the mocca
sins off the Indian and showed the chief tina
he thoughtit it contained thin plate Of steel
and asked ifhe objected to it, to which he re
piled he might carry all the iron he pleased
Lieutenant r. having noticed at the same tim
that tho countenance of the Indian presented
downcast and melancholy appearance, rsques
ted DR.. Eluise to come forward, who after ez
amining his pulse, reported that he was muc
excited, and that his nerves were in tremu
Ions condition.