White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-11-12
Something About white Cloud.

Something About White Cloud.
In rummAging over some old papers,
a few days since, we came across the fol-
lowing article, which, from its date, was
written just two years ago, from the
neighborhood of what is now our town.
1t is the most satisfactory, and perhaps
the truest account of the Chief White
Cloud, that we have yet obtained. In the
article, White Cloud is represented as
having been very cruel and blood thir-
sty man. He may have been, in his wars
with other tribes. But the ways of the
Indian are not like those of the white
man. Their glory is in the number of
scalps they take, and horses they steal
The latter is not considered very glorious
among the whites although, in reference
to the former. all people are p1,tY much
alike. A horse is the most valuable ar
ticle an Indian can possess-mueh more
valuable, in his eyes, than a squaw. But
White Cloud was very friendly to the
whites, and one never came to his house
hungry, but he had set before him the best
provision the Chief possessed. The
peace between the Iowas and the Pawnees
is still unoroken, and the former paid the
latter a visit, during the last Summer
Only last week, we say a trophy of the
feud spoken Of below. An Indian was
in our Office, with scalp dangling to his
war-club, which he told us, with look
of grim satisfaction, he had taken from
Pawnee. The Chief, No Heart, who was
elevated over White Cloud, is yet living
at the Iowa village, near this place, and
still retains his position, as head Chief of
the tribe. But to the article -
An Indian Story.
CHEAT NEMAHA, Il. T., Nov. Is, 1855.
The Indians who occupy the country
in the region Of these Government sur
veys, are the Iowas, Omahas and Paw
nees. The Iowas and Pawnees, until very
recently, were deadly enemies, while the
Omahas were friendly with both. Six
years ago-in the fall of 1S49-three
white persons, two gentlemen and lady,
who had been residing near old Fort
Kearney, and had there attached to them
beautiful Pawnee girl, of some sixteen
summers, set out for their home in Ken
lucky, taking the young Pawnee maiden
with them. They had nearly reached st.
Joseph when they met band of Iowas.
The Iowas asked for the Pawnee girl
She was refused to them. She was on
horse behind one of the gentlemen. Sew
eral warriors approached and seized her
long tresses, and drew her backward to
the earth. She screamed for help. A
young brave, who seemed to have author
ity, approached. She threw herself upon
her knees before him, and implored for
mercy. He then deliberately leveled his
rifle and shot her through the heart. He
then severed her head from her body and
stuck it upon the top of pole, and had
war dance around it. They then quar-
tered her body, and each warrior of the
band bearing a part of it, marched after
their chief, who bore her head aloft upon
the pole. to their nearest village, where
they held great feast. In the meanwhile,
the whites hastened to this place, and
gave information of these diabolical pro-
ceedings to Col. Al Vaughan, who was
then Indian Agent here He Immediately
mounted his horse and rode to Fort Lea
venworth, got detachment of dragons,
hastened back and surprised them in their
feast. He arrested those who were con-
cerned in her capture and death, and had
them imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth,
where they remained only several months,
and were released without prosecution of
any kind. The head and limbs of the
hapless girl were put together in a coffin
and dccently inferred. When this news
reached the PawneeS, they made an inva-
sion into the country of the Iowas, and
stole many of their horses. White Cloud,
then the head chief of the Iowas, took
band of warriors down among the Paw
nees, and destroyed one of their villages
killing even the women and children.
In this encounter, his right eye was pier
ced and destroyed by an arrow, aimed by
boy but ten years old In the next in
slant, his unerring tomahawk was buried
in the cleft skull of the brave child, and
the battle ended. All. old and Young,
male and female, were indiscriminately
butchered. Col. Vaughan made report
of it to the Government, and was instruc-
ted forthwith to depose White Cloud, and
have another chief elected in his place.
An old man named No Heart was unani-
mously chosen. 1t is a strange name for
one of his character, for he is an excellent
man, and still enjoying the confidence of
his people, and the respect of the whites.
He at once 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 in silent gloom. An impen-
etrable cloud seemed to rest upon his
spirit. 1t was not grief for his bloody
deeds it was not remorse for his barba-
rous chickering's, but it was wounded
pride that broke his heart. He died in a
short time, and his body was placed upon
the summit of high hill, that overlooks
for great distance, the Missouri River.
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