Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-09-26
From the missouri Democrat.
LAST BATTLE OF LOGAN F0NTA'
NELLIE, THE OMAHA CHEF.
WOLF RIVER, Kansas Ter, Aug. 4. 1855


Logan I ontinelle, chief of the Omahas'
has just been slain and scalped at Loup
Fork, by band of Sioux. Logan was
noble fellow, and in this last mortal
conflict, he despatched several of the
enemy to the spirit land before, to her.
aid the coming of his own brave soul.
He fought long, desperately and with
great effect, but numbers finally over.
came him, and his life departed through
hundred wounds. He died a martyr
for his people, and his name should be
carved on fame's brightest tablet.
He was on his annual hunt with his
nation. A number of his lodges were
pitched upon the plains near Loup Fork.
As a young warrior one day rode around
the adjacent hills, he espied powerful
band of Sioux encamped along stream
in sequestered vale. He hastened to
inform Logan of the proximity and
power of their natural foe. Logan or
dered his people to pack Immediately,
and proceed in straight line and with
all speed for home, while he would re-
main behind, and divert the Sioux by
false camp fires, and other devices, from
direct pursuit of them. This was
about sunset. The people got under
way as quickly as possible, but not too
soon; for scarcely had they turned a
highland when several Sioux warriors
came in sight and discovered the place
oftheir recent encampment. They ex-
amined it and found that Omahas had
been there, and they returned to notify
their chief, and bring an 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 prarie, at right
angles with the route his tribe had taken
and struck FIRE about eight miles dis
tant, on an eminence where the Sioux
could distinctly see it. He had scarcely
done so before a 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 another moment to imbrue their hands
in the gore of their unguarded victims.
But Logan had. not been unwary. As
soon as the fire was lighted. he again
mounted and rode on eight or ten miles
further, and kindled another fire Just as
they reached the first.s This rather be-
wildered them. They dismounted and
examined the gronnd. Logan anticipa-
ting this, had trotted and walked his
horse around it, so as to make the ap-
pearance upon the grass Of the treading
of a dozen horses, and this drew them
into the belief that a small body had
fingered 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 followed as before. Logan
had gone on, and another fxe met their
aslonished gaze, while the same sort of
foot. prints we've about the one around
which they were now gathered. Their
suspicious were now awakened. They
examined the ground more closely,
both far and near. and discovered that
A solitary horseman had deceived them,
and they knew it was for the sole pur-
pose of leading them off from the pur-
'uit of the party whose encampment they
lad first discovered.
Logan saw them going round with
ylaring torches, and knew that his only
,hance Of safety was in immediate fight
owards his own home and he further
inew that by the time they could retrace
heir way 10 the place of starting, and
ind the trail tina, his own people had
aiken, they would be entirely beyond
he reach Of danger.
The Sioux. in the meanwhile, had d. !