Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-08-19
alaisrellanrt.
Love and Liqu0r-A Tragedy of Indian
Life.

The following story, from the Milwaukee
Wisconsin, reads like romance Of Coopers'
condensed, but is said 10 be a record of facts
gathered by gentleman who is collecting
material for history Of the upper Mississippi
valley:
"a party of thirty Winnebagoes came
down from the late scalp dance at which the
tribe was gathered on the Trempeleau river
in the north, and encamped on Hsenchs Is
land, in the Mississippi river, just above the
81. Paul railroad depot at La Crosse.
The band was under the control of well
known chieiof the Winnebagoes named Wau-
kee-se-hoong-e or Snake Chiefwho hadtw
wives, Se-es-ka, and He-nee-kee. Se-es-ka
was about thirty years ofage, graceful in APP
pcarance, with a pleasant look and interesting
face. With the whites she was favorite,
while with the Winnebagoes she was looked
upon kindly-indeed adored with all the ar
dor Of Indian feryor. Snake Chief was
noted warrior of the Winnebagoes and was
very much liked by his tribe. He was
powerful and brawny fellow, and when sober,
was peaceful and goodnatured; when drunk
he was ugly and dsagreeable. One Of his
fayorite pastimes, when in this condition, was
beating his wives
"0n Friday last Snake Chief returned to
his wigwam drunk Se-es-ka was in the wig
wan, and the chief commenced beating her
over the head and shoulders Driven to des-
peration aud unable longer to stand his bru-
tality, Se-es-ka drew her knife and stabbed
the chief twice, the blade penetrating 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 sensation
among the Winnebagoes, who did not know
how to act. They loved their chief, and they
loved their chieftain's WIFE II is well
known regulation among the Indians that
when a man is slain, q relative must avenge
his death by taking the life of the slayer
Se-es-ka knew this. Some Of the ,Winneba-
goes urged her to fly, but she would not
With true Indian resignation she folded her
blanket about her and sat down in her wig
wan, facing the door, and awaited the aven-
ger. 1t was believed by many that Hence
kee, the young and iavorite wife, would be
the ayenger, but she seems to have had no
such intention. She mourned the loss of her
husband, but took no steps further than to
send rumor up the Trempeleau where Snake
Chiefs relatives were, to notify them Of what
had taken place. Meanwhile Se-es-ka sat in
her cabin chanting the death song, stoically
Indifferent to what was going on about her,
and only talking when questions were asked
her.
"On Sunday morning, an Indian from
Trempeleau made his appearance in camp.
He was known as Chan-no-ne-ga, and had
evidently travelled without halting since he
learned of the death Of Snake Chief Enter
| L.. II
emnly to the place where the body Of the
Snake Chief lay took a long look at Il, and
then turned sullenly away. Nobody spoke
to him, yet all watched with interest his
movements. Deliberately loading his gun
with buckshot, he uninterruptedly walked de-
| liberately to the wigwam where Se-es-ka sat,
she having remained there since the murder,
took one look at the woman, who loudly
chanted the death song Not muscle Of
the womans face moved, to denote that she
labored under any excitement, but she sat
there quietly and calmly, her eyes moving
upwards, and her voice, as the uncouth song
escaped her lips, steady and firm. She knew
that the ayenger was before her-that in
another moment her spirit would leave its
frai tenement of clay, and seek that Of the
chief who had gone before her yet mo look
or sign indicated that she feared the fate
Such is Indian stoicism and Indifference.
"The eyes of the two did not meet In
the face of Chan-no-ne-ga there was look of
mingled hate and revenge. Deliberately he
raised his musket to his shouder--deliberate
| ly he aimed it at the woman's head-coolly
he fired. The report rang out through the
Indian camp-the smoke cleared away-Se-
es-ka still sat there--her blanket about her
her arms folded-but one side Of her head
was blown completely away-her spirit had
fed, and the code of Indian justice was salts
Waukee-se-hoong-er-er was avenged.
The murderer, with just look to satisfy
him that his work had been well done, should
cred his musket and walked deliberately out
of the camp Nobody spoke to him-nobody
offered any interference, and stepping into his
canoe he padded to the shore, and disappear
ed in the woods, leaving the Winnebagoes
stupe6ed.