The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-07-15
00iscelln1seOass
AN INDIAN ROMANCE.
An Indian Chief is Killed by one Of
his Wives, and She In Return IS Shot
by a Member of the Tribe.


From tbs Daily EEi,consin, June 24 j
We lesrn from Mr.. r. a. Moore,
who has lS,e'y teen among the IN
dians Of the. Nec.Uwest to ohi&In in
formation for his proposed new took,
the details Oi one of those famous In
dian tragedies which has just taken
place among party Of Winnebago
Indians, and vghicI, sounds like one of
7hOse Indian narratives of which NGe
read.
A party of thirty Winnebagoes
came down from the late scalp dance
at which the tribe Ezs gathered, on
the TrempeIesu river. in the North,
| and encamped on French's Island, in
ting Mississippi river, just above. the
st. Paul Railroad depot, at La Crosse.
The band was under the control of
swell known chief of the EIDneba-
| goes, named -hOo4lg-er-e +,
or Snake Chief, who had twe wives,
Se-es-ka and He-nee-kee Both OF
these squaws were we'll kpoTR sp
and down the river, and also in this
city. Se-es-ka was about thirty years
of age, graceful in appearance, with a
pleasant look and an interesting face.
She will be remembered by many in
this city, she having visited many OF
our residences to sell bead work, being
always accompanied by q young and
fine looking daughter. With whites
| Oh he
Winnebagoes she was looked upon
very kindly-indeed, adored with all
of the Iudi&n. fervor. Snake Chiei
was a noted warrior of the Winneba-
goes, who was very much liked by
his tribe. He was a powerful and
brawny fellow, who, when sober, was
peaceful and good-natured. When
drunk he was very disagreeabIe. One
of his favorite pastimes when in thi.
condition was beating his wives. Al
such times the rest of the tribe avoid
ed him. .'-
On Friday last Snake Chief had
been to La Crosse and returned to hi:
wigwam drunk. Se-es-ka was in tht
wigwam, and the CHIEF commenced
beating her over. the head AID shoul
ders with great brutality. Driven t.
desperation and unable longer t.
stand his brutality, Sees. ka drew hel
knife and stabbed the Chief twice, the
Blade penetrating to the heart of the
warrior, who died Instantly, while
the first notes of the death song were
on his lips. The affair at once created
a sensation among the Winnebagoes
who did not know how to act. They
loved their Chief, and they loved
their chiefiain's wife. 1t is q vel
known 9 regulation" among the In
diShs thatwGSn "a man is slain. 4 rel
atiye mu=t avanse his dcath by ia
ki"g eHe.iife Of the slayer. Se-es-ks
kacw this, Sams Of the Winheba
2os5 urged iIer 10 go RON the eamI
land among the whites, but she re
fused. Some of the people at L,
Crosse, learning what she had done
went 70 the camp and also urged he
to leave, but she wGs Stlil stubborn
and would not. Undoubtedly sh,
lfeIt that it made no. difference .wher,
che went, she. would be followed anC
her life, taken. and it were better Il
Submit to fate, With true Indian res
: iguation she folded her blanket abou
hcr and sat down III her wigwam
facing the door audfiawaitiHg- he
avenger. 1t was believed by many
that He-nee-kee, the,Tyounger ant
favorite wife, would be the avenger
But she seems to Have had no sucl
iHtentiOn. She mourned the loss O
her husband, but took no steps furthe
than to send a runner up the Trem
peleag, where, Snake Chiefs relative
were, to notify them of what hat
taken place. Meanwhile Se-es-k k
sat in hes cabin chanting the dealt
song, stoically indifel enttD what wa