New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1855-12-05
This Sioux warrior,s Race for Life.

Cass, Sioux Indian, while out hunting BY the
mouth Of the Rootriver, shot and scalped WIZ.
nehago, which act he attempted to justify by
saying that the Winnebago had wrapped around
his person the blanket of an Indian, who,
abort time previous had murdered kis brother
Ihe Winnebagoes became indignant at the act,
and two thousand Of them assembled at FORT
Crawford, and demanded Of Col Taylor the pro-
curernent and surrender Of the murderer.
| ~. Inc ofncers Of the fort, apprehensive that
dimcuities might arise with the factious tribe is
| their demands were unattended to, concluded TO-
make an effort to obtain the murderer. Ac-
cordlngly an officer was dispatched to demand
him OF the Sioux nation, who Immediately gave
him up, and he was brought down the river and
confined at Fort Crawford. Soon after his arri-
val at the Fort, the Winnebagoes again assem-
Dled and insisted on the unconditional surren-
der OF the prisoner TO them, which Col Tavlor
refused to make, bnt dispatched Lieut. r.. and
DR.. Eluise, the surgeon Of the garrison, to have
talk with them upon the subject. AT length
Lieut.. II, proposed that the indian should have
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
Winnebago nation, each armed with torna.
hawk and scalping knife. O. sgs
| AT the tap Of the drum che Sioux should he
tree TO start for the home Of his tribe. and the
Winnebagoes free to pursue, and capture and
scalp him if they could. - y
To this proposal the Winnebagoes acceded al
once, and seemed much pleased with the antici.
patton Of great sport, as well as an easy eou-
quest Of the prisoner, whose confinement in tie
garrison during two weeks they believed would
prostrate whatever running qualities he pos-
sessed. Their best runners were Immediately
brought in, and trained every day in full sight
Of the Fort. Lieut.. r who had warmly en-
listed in the cause Of, the Sioux, determined TO
have his Indian in the best possible trim. Ae-
cordlngly Eluise took Aim in charge; prescrib-
ing his diet, regulating his hours Of repose, and
directing the rubbing Of his body with flesh
brushes Immediately before he went on the pa.
rade ground to perform his morning and eve
ming 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 race, and performed the
astonishing feat Of forty.one miles in two hours.
apparently without fatigue
The day at length arrived Thousands Of In
dams, French, Americans and others had as
sembied to witness the scene In fact, it was
regarded as . gala day by oil except the ayeneer
OF his brother Sioux. Lieut.. r. ON the part of
| the prisoner, and the celebrated war-chiefs
Narkon- shutes tee and Pine Top on the part Of
the Winnebagoes, superintended the arrange
ment OF the parties on the ground. The point
agreed upon for starting was ON the prairie, q
little to the north Of Prairie da Chen, and few
rods from the residence then occupied by Judge
Lockwood, while the race course chen ran along
Nine mile Prairie, stretching to the north and
sklrting the shore Of the Mississippi. The Sioux
1 appeared on the ground, accompanied by a
guard of soldiers, who were followed by the
twenty -four antagonists. marching in Indian
| hled, naked, with the exception OF the Indian
| breechlet Their ribs were painted white while
their breasts were adorned with number Of
hieroglyphical paintings. Across the face al
ternate stripes Of black and white were painted
IN parallel lines, extending from the chin to the
forehead. Ia =,
The hair was plated into numerous thongs,
fringed with bells, and tasseled with red or
| white feather, while their moccasins were cord
ed tightly around the hollow of the foot, as we'll
as around the anole, with the sinews of the deer.
In the right hand each carried tomahawk,
while the left grasped the sheath that contained
Ethe scalping knife. 5.as
The prisoner was about twenty three years
OF age, little more than six feet in height, and
of muscular and well proportional contour,
and manifested. in the easy movement Of his
body, wiry and agile command of his muscu-
lar powers. His countenance presented wan
and haggard appearance, as he stood upon
the ground, owing partly to the rigid discipline
he had undergone in training, and partly to
his having painted his face black, with the fig
oAo " a HoAoS-oAuo Al MAitS upon alS I0feAGaQ,
which denoted that he was condemned to die
with the privilege of making an effort to save
his life BY heetness, Around his neck he wore
| narrow belt of wampum, to which was ap-
pended the scalp which was taken from the
Winnebago.
Soon after they had formed in line, Lieut..
b. came up and took one OF the moccasins off
the Indian, and showed the chief that be thought
it contained a thin plate Of steel, and asked if
hn oh fch fat L. L.
carry all the iron he pleased. Lieut. r. having
noticed at the same time that the countenance
Of the Indian presented downcast and melan-
choly appearance, requested DIR. EIuise to come
forward, who, after examining his pulse, re-
ported that he was much excited, and that his
nerves were in tremulous condition. s s#
Lieut.. R. Immediately took him BY the arm
and led him out some distance from the line,
when he asked him through his interpreter sif
he was afraid to run to which he replied that
ne was not afraid to run with any Winnebago
on foot, but that he was afraid he could not out
Il run all the horses that were mounted By armed
4 Indians. The Lieutenant saw at once the cause
of his alarm, and informed him that they should
not interfere He intended to ride the heetest
horse upon the ground and keep near him, and
as he was well armed would see that no horse-
man approached with any hostile intention. At
this announcement the countenance of the Indi-
an frightened up with smile; his whole per-
son seemed lifted from the ground as he turned
to his position in the line with astalwart stride.
The chiefs and Lieut.. r soon after mounted
their horses and took q position directly IN the
rear Of the prisoner. Spectators were removed
from the front. when Lieut.. r. gave the signal
the blow had scarcely reached the drum when
the prisoner darted from his antagonist with q
bound that placed him beyond the whirling TOM
ahawk. When the race was under way many
of his antagonists ran with great deetness for q
mile, when the distance between them and the
Sioux began to widen rapidly, showing the su-.
perior bottom Of the latter, acquired by the dis
cipline of the white man.
At the end of two miles the last of the con-
tending Winnebagoes withdrew from the chase ;
7 there was not an Indian horse on the ground
that conld keep up with him after he had gone
the first half mile. Lieut.. r., finding his steed
much fatigued, and the prairie free from enc
mics reigned up. The Indian did not look be-
hind nor speak as far as he was followed or seen
but kept his eye steadily fixed upon the white
flags that had been placed at distances of hall
mile apart, in order that he might run upon a
straight line. f=@7 " -
II was soon reported by the Winnebagoes that
he had been killed by one of their boys, who had
been secreted, by order of War kon- -shutes kee,