The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-07-30
A Tragedy of Indian Life.

The following story, from the Milwau>
kee Wisconsin, reads like a romance of
Cooper's, condensed, but is said to be a
record of facts gathered by a gentleman
who is collecting material for a history of
the upper Mississippi Valley
A party of thirty Winnebagoes came
down from the late scalp dance at which
tie tribe was gathered on the Trempeleau
river, in the North, and encamped on
French's Island, in the Mississippi river,
just above the St. Paul railroad depot, at
La Crosse.
The band was under the control of a
well known chief of the Winne5agoes,
named Wau~kee-se hoong -er~er, or Snake
Chief, who had two wives, SeAes-ka and
He-nee-kee. Se-es-ka was about thirty
years OF age, graceful in appearance, with
a pleasant look and interesting face. With
whites she was a favurIte, while with the
Wfnnebagoes she was looked upon very
kindly-indeed, adored with all the ard.
of Indian tervor. Snake Chief was noted
warrior of his tribe. He was a powerful
and brawny fellow, and when sober was
peaceful and good uatured when drunk
he was ugly and disagreeable. One Of his
taVorite pastimes, when in this condition,
was beating his wives
On Friday last Snake Chief returned to
his wigwam drunk. Se~es~ka was in the
wigwam, aud the chief commenced beat
ing her over the head and shoulders
Driven to desperation, and unable longer
TO stand his brutality, Se~es-ka drew her
knife and stabbed the chief twice, the
blade penetrating the heart of tue 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 chiettan's wife. 1t is we'll
known regulation among the Indians
that when a man is slain, relative must
| avenge his death by taking the life of the
slayer.
Se-es-ka knew this. Some of the Win
nebagoes urged her to fly, but she would
not. With true Indian resignation she
folded her blanket about her and sat down
| In her wigwam, facing the door, and await
| ed her avenger. 1t was believed by many,
that He-nee-kee, the younger and favorite
wife, would be the avenger, but she seemed
to have no such intention. She mourned
the loss of her husband, but took no steps
further than to send a runner up the Trem>
peleau where Snake Chiefs relatives were,
TO notify them of what had taken place.
Meanwhile, Se-e -es>ka sat In her cabin
chanting the death song, stoically indiffer-
ent TO what was going on about her, and
only talking when questions were ask ed
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 En-
tering the camp, without a word, he
! walked solemnly to the place where the
body of Snake Chief lay, took long look
at 1t, and then turned sullenly away.
| Nobody spoke to him, yel all watched
( with interest his movements. Deliberately
loading his gun with buckshot, he uDinter-
ruptedly walked deliberately to the wig
wan 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 woman's
face moved to denote that she iabored
under any excitement, but she sat there
quietly and calmly, her eyes moved up
ward, and her voice, as the uncouth song
escaped her lips, steady and firm. She
knew that the avenger was before her
| that in another moment her spirit would
leave its frail tenement of clay, and seek
that Of the Chief who had gone before her;
yet no look or sign indicated that she feared
| the fate. Such is Indian stoicism and in
| difference.
The eyes of the two did not meet In
| the face of Chan no-ne-ga there was a
! look of MINGLED hate and revenge. De-
| liberately he raised his muSket to his
Observation-Disclosures he aimed it at the
woman's head-coolly he fred. 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
fled, and the code of Indian justice was
satisfied
The murderer, with just look to satisfy
him that his work had been well done,
shouldered his musket and walked deliber-
ately out of the camp. Nobody spoke to
him-nobody offered any interference, and
stepping into his canoe he padded TO lac
| - ..,ooI, L.,