The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-01-14
EVANSVILLE IND, MONDAY MORNING, JANUARY a. 1856
GBt 9ailg 9ournal,
A THRILLINa INnIAN TRlGEnY.

has, in q single-handed conflict with a band OF
Sioux, we copy from the Missouri Democrat II
is the more interesting on account of having
occurred very recently;
Logan Fontanelle, chief of the Omahas, has
just been slain and scalped at Loup Fork, by
ia band of Sioux. Logan was noble fellow,
and in this mortal conflict he despatched sever
al Of the enemy to the spirit land before, to
herald the coming ofhis own soul. He fought
long, desperately, and with great effect, but
numbers finally overcame him, and his life
departed through hundred wounds He died
a martyr to his people, and his name should be
carved upon 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 young warrior
one day rode around the adjacent hills, he espi,
ed powerful band of Sioux encamped along
a stream in sequestered vale. He hastened
to inform Logan Of the propinquity and power
of their natural foe. Logan ordered his people
to back Immediately, and proceed in a straight
line, with all speed, for home, when he would
remain behind, and divert the Sioux by false
camp fires and other devices, from direct pur-
suit of them This was about twilight 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 Of their recent
encampment. They examined it and found
that the Omahas had been there, and they then
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
prairie at right angles with the route his tribe
had taken and struck fire about eight miles
distant, on an eminence when the Sioux could
distinctly see it. He had scarcely done so be-
fore powerful band were on the spot he and
his people had just left and who without stop
ping to distinguish the trail, started for the fire.
which they saw rising against the clear blue
sky and where they expected in another mo-
ment to imbue 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 eight or ten miles
further, and kindled another fire just as they
reached the first This rather bewildered them
They dismounted and examined the ground
Logan, anticipating this, had trOtted and walk
ed his horse around it, so as to make the APP
pearance upon the grass ofa dozen horses, and
this drew them into the belief that small
body had fingered behind and kindled this fire
and then gone to where they could see the
new fire burning; and so they followed with
renewed avidity. The same thing happened
as before. Logan had gone and another fire
met their astonished gaze, while the same sort
offootprints were 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 solitary horseman had de- !
ceived them, and they knew it was for the I
sole purpose of leading them off from the party
whose encampment they had first discover |
ed.
Logan saw them going round with glaring
torches, and understood their object. and knew
that his only chance of safety was in immedi-
lte flight towards his home; and he further
knew that by the time they could retrace
their way to their place of starting and find
the trail his own people had taken, they would
be beyond the reach of danger
The Sioux, in the meanwhile, had divided |
into smaller bands, the largest of which was to
return and pursue the Omahas and the others
to endeayor to capture the one they had miss
ed. They knew that he must be an Omaha,
and that he would either go farther and kindle
another watch-fre, or start for his nation in
a straight line; and therefore one party went
on little farther and the others spread out
towards the Omaha cOutIy, for the purpose of
him. Logan pressed forward as
fast as his jaded steed could bear him, until
he thought he had entirely eluded them, but, |
as the day dawned, to his horror and dismay,
he saw his pursuers close upon his track He |
turned his course to a ravine, which he dis
at a distance covered with trees and
He succeeded in reaching it, |
and Just within its verge he metan Indian girl !
dipping water from the spring. She was
startled and about to cry for help. when he
hastily assured her that he needed protection
and assistance. With the true instinct Of a
noble woman, she appreciated his situation in
an instant, and all her sympathies were with
him. She directed him to dismount and go to
a small natural bower to which she pointed
him, in the verge Of the woods, while she would
mount his horse and lead his pursuers away
He obeyed her, and she mounted his horse,
and dashed on in a serpentine way through the
woods, leaving marks along the brushes | y
which she could be traced.
The pursuers soon followed. When she
had gone some distance down the branch, she
rode into the water and followed it's descend
ing course for few steps, making her horse
touch its sides and leave footprints in that
direction, and then turned up the stream and
rode above the place at whichshe entered it, |
without leaving a trace, and back to where
Logan was concealed. She told him to mount
and speed away, while his pursuers were 60
ing in contrary direction from the ravine.
He did so and got long distance out of sight |
and again thought himself outof danger. when
in valley just ahead of him he saw fifty
braves coming up the hill to meet him. They
were some of those who were returning from
the pursuit of his people. lie changed his
direction, and tried to escape, but his poor
horse was too much exhausted to bear him
LIL;tl