New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-10-10
THE INDIAN DUEL.

wan one Francois Germaipe, roy,geur, who had
/ established notoriety for courage and physical
strength and like many others OF his Glass; he was
sometimes vain of his extraordinary powers and fond
| OF exhibiting them to his associates.
| He would load his brawny shoulders with packs
which his comrades could scarcely lift from the
ground, and without evincing the smallest degree
OF fatigue, would march with them day after day
| through the wilderness towards some company's
forts, often leaving his lightyoaded companions far
in the rear.
1t was no uncommon thing for Francois, who was
most kind'hearted and generous fellow, to linger in
the camp in the morning an hour or two after his
comrades had started, take the trail they were fol-
lowing, and after few hours pass them quietly
without being discovered by them and after travel.
ing till the middle OF the afternoon stop at some con.
venient spot Tor encamping. He usually selected
some water course, which he Judged his friends would
reach about nishtia and striking camp, would sur.
prise them with well-prepared supper of venison
and other game, which he had prepared against their
arrival.
On certain occasion, when ascending the Bots
des Sioux river alone, in his canoe be was attacked
by large party OF sioux Indians, who, after sinking
his canoe by perorating its bottom with their rifles
and making desperate fight of it, succeeded in
taking him prisoner. His reputation for courage
and strength had reached them, and before putting
him to torture they determined to test bis powers
Accordingly they took him to the edge Of the cliff,
| some two hundred feet high, beneath which ran the
river, and after hastily preparing rope of bark and
fastening end OF it to large stone at the base of
| were collected in group to witness the feat
| Germaine, whose Judgment and self reliance never
| for moment deserted him, readily consented to
humor the Indians, but declared that the thing was
impossible with so short rope. The Indians, who
had brought the free end of it to the top of the bank
insisted that it Nil sufficient beside being strong
enough to raise a weight twice that OF the stone
Still Germaine persisted in declaring that the rope
was not long enough by many feet and at length
refused to crafty their curiosity unless his demand
was complied with, aud the rope heightened to suit
| him.
Seeing that, unless they INDUCED his caprice, they
would be deprived Of that portion of their antcipa.
ted sport, the Indians yielded and, collecting more
bark added the requisite number of feet to the rome
All being now right, the Freuchman was ordered to
lift the stone But Francois deliberately proceeded
to knot the end lassowse and gathered it in coil
at the edge OF the cliff after first clearing the ground
of brush and broken limbs, which might interfere
| with its free run.
The stone, which was of several hundred weight,
was u heavy lift even for Germane, and he exerted
all his powers to start it from its bed. But when
started the labor OF raising it was comparatively
| lighter. After he had drawn it up few feet, he was
ordered to lower again. when four of the stall
wart warriors tried their united strength upon it, but
they could not bulge it an inch.
Again Germane was ordered to hoist it to the top
Of the bank With the outlay of all his muscular
force be obeyed and. as it moved slowly along the
face Of the ct the Indians, in their excitement,
gathered in knots upon the very verge, and looking
| downwards watched it, ascent. Slowly it moved
over the rough projections of the limestone strata
detacbing sometimes in its progress huge masses of
stone, which tumbled with heavy punges among the
| broken portions that filled the river beoe.
Hand over hand the Frenchman toiled at his task
but with his keen gray eyes taking in all about him.
He had raised the huge weight onethrd of the dis.
lance, when the stone, catching against a jut!ing
ledge of superintendent shale deied all bis ggan-
tic strength to raise it higher As he struggled to
overcome this resistance the indians gathered closer
and closer upon the verge Of the cliff, and watched
the effects OF the hercuean efforts of the prisoner.
At this moment, stopping the rope partially over
| the top of a stunted cedar bush, and holding the
strain upon his left hand, he reached forward, and.
gathering up the coed portion in his right he gave
it one wide swing over his head which opened its
broad, running moose, and, with skiful cast that
would have done honor even to Mexican herdsman,
let it drop the largest knot of excited savsges
as they were gazing below. The fatal Circle true to
the design Of the brave Francois no less
number than six Of his enemies. and, letting go his
hold, the rock, with noise like thunder, rushed
headong into the abyss, dragging, with Lightning
speed, the six bowling savages after 1t.
So sudden and awful was this frghtfu denouement
that the surviving Indians, some thirty in number
for many minutes horror struck aud regardless
of all else about them. During the excitement and
confusion the voyageur, seeing the way clear made
good his escape, and when the Indians at length
turned to wreak their vengeance on their captive he
already out OF sight, and flying with the speed of
wild deer. The swiftest runners sent in pur-
suit, but they gave up the chase useless and
the fortunate Francois returned in safety to his COM
rades at Lake Travers The spot where this incident
occurred is well known to the hunters and Indians Of
that region and still retains the of Francois
Cliff" Upon the smooth surface of the limestone
the waters edge, the Sioux have concentrated
the event by rude carvings representing six warriors
in the act Of tumbling headlong from the edge of the
precipice to the river.
This affair the brave Germaine used to relate with
| sang froid; but the story which the good.natured
F.enchman loved best to tell was his duel with the
ntnAa inf nf &hn h.
the Big Man."
| II seemed that Germaine's fame was not confined
to the whites and altbreeds in the employ Of the
company, but had reached to the most distant tribes
who had dealings with the posts, and the Indians,
having a great respect for strong and brave men,
| frequently spoke of him among themselves Even
the red beauties OF some of the tribes expressed
desire to become acquainted with this modern
Hercules; for the Indian maidens like their in
general admire menliness wherever it is TO be found
1t was through these that Menee keewa came to
hear Of the brave and muscular Francois, and bis
jealousy became Immediately excited. This chief,
whose band had their home on the east side of the
Mississippi, in what is now the State Of Wisconsin,
was reputed the strongest man among the Indians,
| and he could not endure the idea OF rival, even
among the mokemuns, (pae faces) His claim
as the strongest we'll the bravest, had never
been disputed, and he chafed like wild boar when
| his warriors and women talked OF the feats of the
noted voyageur and he determined to visit the posts
Of the fur company till he encountered one he began
| w TGRaFu rs IlVAl. tOF mouths ue maze DIS ap
| pearance at the different stations, without accom-
pshng his object, for Francois was always upon the
move from point TO point in the pursuit of his occu
patton. Indeed it was but rarely tina. he was found
at the trading posts.
| At length, however, Me-ne.keewa was so fortunate
as to get on the track of the famous voyageur and
he determined to test his courage and physical pow
| ers in single combat.
One morning, as Francois issued from the post, at
which he had arrived only the evening previous, he
| was encountered by powerful Chippewa, who, ad
| vancing unceremonousy to him, and measuring him
| with his eagle eye, from head to foot, inquired:
| care you Germaine 2"
"Yes,' was the reply.
Francois Germainel'
| "Yes.'
"Germaine, the big Chemo. ke-mun'" persisted
| the Indian.
$50 have sometimes been called" returned thu
| white man.
"Wel, you know me ~ asked the stranger.
| "No-who are yon, and what do you want of me?'
| ~ am Meme kee wa-chief of the Big Bear banG
OF Chppewas,''s replied the Indian, he raised
| himself at least head taller than the FIenchman-
'and want to fight the big Che,mo.kcmun! You
brave man?'
"Yes" replied Francois, "braye enough for you
| or any other INDIAN
ugh ugh! y grunted the chief, CONTEMPORARY
"Wbite man will you fsht?'
| eyes"
| "When?' asked the Indian.
| ANY time" answered the FrenehmRn, "noW il
| You choose"
mo, not now" returned the Chippewa. ssNo one
here to see big fight. Meet yonder, at sunrise to
| morrow morning" and he pointed to a mound neal
by, with your scalping knife in your right hand