Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-07-25
THE SIOUX WARRIORS RACE FOR
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! Indians had been amicably adjusted by
I visit of one of their chiefs TO Washing
ton accomplished by Governor Cass,
Sioux Indian, while out hunting by the
mouth of the Root river, shot and scalp
ed Winnebago, which act he attempt
ed to justify by saying that the Winnie
bago bad wrapped around his person
the blanket. of an Indian who, a short
time previous had murdered his brother.
/ The Winnebagoes became indignant at
the act, and two thousand of them as
sembled at Fort Crawford, and demand
ed of Col. Taylor the procurement and
surrender of the murderer.
The officers of the fort, apprehenslve
that difficulties might arise with this
facliouS tribe, if their demands were un-
attended to, concluded to make an effort
to obtain the murderer. Accordingly an
officer was despatched TO demand him of
the Sioux nation, who Immediately gave
him up, AMI he was brought down the
river and confined at Fort Crawford.
Soon alter his arrival at the fort, the
Winnebagoes again assembled and insist
ed upon an unconditional surrender OF
the prisoner to them, which Col. Taylor
refused to make, but dispatched Lieut.. r.
and DR.. Eluise, the surgeon of the gar
riSon, to have IA talk with them upon the
subject. At length Lieut.. 'lt. proposed
that the Indian 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 off, was to be placed
on his right and left, twelve of The most
expert runners of the Winnebago nation,
each armed with tomahawk and scalp.
ing knife.
AT the tap of the drum the Sioux
should be free to start for the home o
his tribe, and the Winnebagoes free tc
pursue, and capture and scalp him i
they could.
To this proposal the Winnebagoes ac'
ceded at once, and seemed much pleas
ed with the anticipation of great sport, a:
well as an easy conquest of the prisoner
whose confinement III the garrison during
two weeks they believed would PROSTATE
whatever running qualities he possessed
Their best runners were Immediately
brought in, and trained every day in full
sight of the fort. Lieut.. R. who hac
warmly enlisted in the cause of the Sioux
determined to have his Indian in the bes
possible trim. Accordingly Eluise tool
him in charge prescribing his diet, regu
lating his hours of repose, and directing
the rubbing of his body with flesh brush
es Immediately before he went on parad,
ground to perform his morning and eve
ming trainings. In fact so carefully wa
he trained and fitted for the race Of lif,
and death that he was timed upon th'
parade ground the fourth day before tn,
race, and performed the astonishing fea
of forty -one miles in two hours apparent
ly without fatigue.
The day at length arrived. Thou
sands of Indians, French, Americans ant
others had assembled to witness the scene
In fact, it was regarded as a gala-da,
by all except the avenger of his brothe
Sioux. Lieut.. R. on the part of the pris
oner, and the celebrated war chiefs War
kon. shutes-kee and Pine Top, on the par
of the Wnnebagoes, superintended tn
arrangement of the parties on the ground
The point agreed upon for starting wa
upon the prailie, little to the North c
Prairie du Chen, and a few rods fror
the residences then occupied by Judg
Lockwood, while the race course ra
along Nine Mile Prairie, stretching TO til
North and skirting the shore of the Mis-
sissippi. The Sioux appeared on tn
ground, accompanied by guard of sold
iers who were followed by twenty-fou
antagonists, marching in Indian file, make
with the exception of the Indian breech
let Their ribs were painted white, Will
their breasts were adorned with nun
Der of heiroglyphical paintings. Aero:
the face alternate stripes of black an
white were painted in parallel lines, e1
tending from the chin to the forehead.
The hair was plated into numerou
thongs, fringed with bells, and tassele
with a red or white feather, while The
moccasins were corded tightly aroun
the hollow of the foot, as well as aroun
, the ancle, with the sinews of the dee
In the right hand each carried lom;
hawk, while the left grasped the sheat
that contained The scalping-knife.
The prisoner was about twenty tire
years of age, little less than six feet
height, of muscular and a well proPol
ton contour, and manifested in The cas-
movements of his body, wiry and agi
command Of his muscular powers. Ii
countenance presented a wan and has
gard appearance, as he stood upon til
ground owing partly to the rigid disciT
line he had undergone in training, an
partly to his having painted his fac
black, with the figure Of horse shoe