The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-11-01
From the Weekly Review.
30! THE poor INDIAN ~
BIZ NC ARoNE.

\
BIZ McARoNE.
| Certain newspapers, that have long been
greatly adverse to the killing Of anybody
except United States soldiers, are trying,
notice, TO make sensation on the subject OF
the slaughter Of sundry Cheyenne Indians,
by national troops, on the plains.
Several hundred Of these swarthy horse
thieves were taken, in their camp, and cut
down and cut oil, without warning or quar-
ter; the principal idea being, apparently, to
get dead sure thing on them.
The newspapers above mentioned, stricken
! with pious horror thereat, raise terrible
hue-and-cry after the officer in command :;
one Colonel Chivington and come out un-
commonly strong about the rights Of the Red
Man, whose hunting grounds have been
seized, who has been driven further west
ward, and who is now msssacred in cold
blood, like = wolf or panther.
| Truly this is very bad for the Red Man. l
don't know but blame Chivington, little,
myself. He slew some hundreds Of Chey-
ennes. He should have slain some thousands
instead.
These people who lament over the wrongs
that picturesque people at home.
| have seen what are called "friendly j"
Indians, in Illinois. Dirt was their prevail
ing peculiarly; vermin their inevitable &C.
compartment. Upbridled license and lewd-
ness were inherent characteristics with
them; and inery and frs-water their only
ideas Of luxury.
The hostile tribes possess all these ennob-
ling traits, with the addition of the most
4 treacherous, cowardly, indecent love Of sim
pie cruelty that can be imagined.
The only Indian virtue ever knew Of is
the negative one Of physical endurance
Honesty, chastity, truthfulness, generosity,
hospitality-all the good qualities, in fact
that make Christians Of men--are totally
unknown to the North American savage
But it has been the fashion with certain
romance writer's to laud up these creatures
as noble and dignifed race, and to cele-
brate their nasty life as infinitely higher,
! free:, and purer than our civilized decency
( If anybody believes these romances, let
him 60 out to Colonel Chiyington for month
or two. among the untutored children Of the
forest, and be will be speedily cured.
On a balmy September morning, many
years ago, there might have been seen
mild, pleasant faced gentleman, somewhat
beyond the middle age, with gray hair and
whiskcrs, walking leisurely through black
oak forest in the wilds of Mushquawkee.
1 Prom time to time he seated himself upon
the messy ground beneath the lofty trees,
and made brief entries in black note
book
All nature smiled, and 50 did the old gen
! tleman. Now, he picked blossom from the
wild-rose vine now, he examined sym
metrical acorn, or an oak-apple. Anon, he
watched the swift winged hopscoot futtering
to its nest, or poked his cane into the ground
hogs burrow with an investigating air.
Time rolled on, and the old gentleman
pursued his innocent ramblc, gathering
health and recreation as he went, until on
entering an open glade skirted with buckle
other gentlemen approaching.
! They joined each other with the salutation
Of strangers, but fell into conversation with
well bred ease, and finally exchanged cards.
One of the new corners was . tall, melan-
choly- looking man, middle-aged and digni-
fed. The name on his card was :. Seba
Smith
! His companion was young. handsome, and
Byronic. with long hair and lowered scarf.
His card bore the name OF George Lip
pari.
The old gentleman examined these names
with evident recognition, and produced his
own card, upon which was neatly engraved
james Fenimore Cooper
:. How delightful il is, said he. "to meet
| ones fellow authors SO unexpectedly in this
lonely place far from the busy haunts OF
4 men Gentlemen, let us join our party, and
travel together
with pleasure replied the young man.
And earnestly pray that we may meet
with some adventures that can use in the
novel am now preparing"
For my part, said the third, /" | hope
/ we shall fall in with some Of the dusky
braves who roam these wilds, unfettered and
untrammeled BY the hanetul conventionali-
ties that make civilization "A curse"
As he spoke, there was rns,ling of the
houghs and quick tread of feet, and six tall
dark tgures, in greasy blankets, with ugly
stone hatchets in their hands, surrounded
the party.
Bless me-, said Mr.. Cooper mildly, but
with = disturbed look; !. don't think this
is very nice. They don't smell good
Two Indians placed themselves close to
each of the gentlemen, and brandished their
tomahawks in an unnecessary threatening
manner, considering they were two to one
Indians rarely tight under other circum-
stances--and their captives were unarmed.
Stay. - cried Seba Smith; 81 know the
savage character we'll. Did | not write
7.cumseh Yon remember the native gen.
crosby and fine sense of honor exhibited by
| my Indians in that work"
He opened his coat and waistcoat, to show
that he had no weapons. and, laying his hand
on his heart. spoke:
"Ah-Paleface--no Misunderstanding !.
Paleface-ah .--Paletace good man---brothsr
---ah--amigo Love Injun much."
This GRAFTON, which was q little in the
style of Mrs Plornish's Italian conversa-
tons, failed to produce any very profound
effect upon the dusky denizens Of the wilds !;
but one Of them observing . watch-chain
when Mr.. Smith opened his coat, immedi-
atcly nabbed it, watch and all, aud put it in
the bosom of his hunting shirt.
Il don't think they comprehend you"
said MIR. Cooper in discouraged voice.
Suppose we try the language of signs.
will offer them ransom if they will let us
GO
"Suppose We lick them" said young Lip
pard They're measly looking wretches,
anyhow and guess I'm good for three of
them, if you two can attend to the other
threeh'
This speech was evidently understood by
one Of the Indians at least. He said some
thing in his sweet native tongue, and his
companions began yelling, leaping about.
and brandishing their knives and tomahawks
again, in dangerous proximity to the stom-
achs of the travellers.
Il think, !" said Mr.. Cooper, who had be-
come quite pale, Eve had better hurry and