Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1855-12-13
AN AWFUL INDIAN TRAGEDY.

A Kansas correspondent of the st Louis Demo-
crat, in commenting upon the protracted strife be-
tween the Iowa and Pawnee Indians, recounts the
following horrible incidents:
"Six years ago-in the fall of le49-three white
persons, two gentlemen and lady, who had been
residing near old Fort kearney and had there at
tAehed TO them beautiful 'Pawnee girl, Of some
sixteen summers, set out for their home in Kentuc.
Ky, taking the young Pawnee maiden with them
They had nearly reached ST. Joseph when they met
a band of I0Nas. The Jowas asked them for the
Pawnee girl She was refused them. She was on a
horse behind one Of the gentlemen. Several war.
riUrs approached and seized her long tresses and
threw her backwards TO the earth. She screamed
for help. A young brave, who seemed to have au.
thority, approached. She threw herself upon her
knees before him, and implored for mercy He
deliberately leyelled his ae and shot hor through the
heart. He then severed her head from her bedy and
stuck IL upon the top of pole, and had war dance
around 1t. They then quartered her body, and each
warrior of the band bearing part of it, marched
after their chief, who bore her head nloft upon a
pole, to their nearest village, where they held a
great feast.
SIN the meanwhile the whites FASTENED TO this
place, and gave information Of these diabolica pro-
oeedings 10 A. j. Vaughan, who was then Indian
Agent hero. lie Immediately mounted his horse
and rode to Fort LeyenwOTth, got detachment Of
dragons, fastened back and surprised them in theiI
feast. He arrested those who were concerned in bel
capture and death, and had them imprisoned at
graf months, and lYrpn6eV pfoseosssur
Of any kind, Tho head and limbs of the haplesi
girl were put together in coffin, and decently in.
TERED.
"When the news reached the Pawnees they made
ineursion into the country Of the Iowas and stole
many of their horses.
NWhite Cloud, then the head chief Of the IoWas
took band of warriors down among the Pawnees,
and destroyed one Of their villages, killing even the
women and children. In this encounter his right
eye was pierced and destroyed by an arrow, aimed
by boy but ten years old. In the next instant his
unerring tomahawk was buried in the cleft skull Of
the bravo child, and the battle ended. All, old
and young, male and female, were Unfortunately
butohered,
"col. Vaughan made a report of it to tho govern
ment, and was instructed forthwith TO dispose White
Cloud, and have another chief elected in his place
"An old man named No Heart was unanimously
chosen. 1t is strange Tor one of his charae-
ter for he is excellent man. and still enjoys the
confidence of his people and the respect Of the
whites. He at snee entered into treaty OF peace
with the Pawnees, and since that time they have
lived In friendship.
"White Cloud retired from the Society Of men,
He sat alone, 10 silent gloom. An impenetrable
cloud seemed to rest upon his spirit. It was not
grief for his bloody deeds II was not remorse for his
harbarous chickering's but IL was wounded pride
broke his heart He died in a short time, and his
body was placed upon the summis of a high hill,
that oveToOks, for q great distance, the Missouri
river. white post was planted at the head of his
grave, filled with horses and scalps drawn rudey in
red paint, and which contains his epitaph showing
his Sloiies in the number of persons he had slain,
and Of horses he had stoleA."