Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-12
LOVE AND LIQUOR-A TRAGERY OF
INDIAN IIFP NgEfa'

The following story, from the Milwaukee
Wisconsin, reads like a romance Of Cooper =
condemned, bat il said 20 be record of
facts gathered by a gentleman who Is col
lecling material t0r a history DC the upper
Missippi valley.
"A party Of thirty Winnebagoes came
down from the late scalp dance at which
the tribe was gathered on the Trempeleau
uyer Ia the north, aud encamppd on
FrenCh's Island, in the Mississippi river,
Just above the St. Paul railroad denot a
La Crosse. a8Ha ltfaA t'l.4
"The band was nader the control Of a
well known chief Of the Winnehaross
named WaH-kee-ss. hoong-er-er. or Snake
Chief, who had two wives, Se es.ka and
Hence -kee. Se-es.ka was about thirty
years Of age, graceful IN appearance, with
pleasant look ADD an Interesting face.
With whites she was a iavorite, while with
The Winnebsgoes she was looked up0u
kindly-indeed, sdored with all the ardor
Of Indian iervor. Snake Chief was a noted
warrior Of the Winnebsgoes aud was very
much liked By his tribe He was a DOW
erful and braWny fellow, and when sober.
was peaceful aud goOd-natnred when
drunk he was ugly aud disagreeable. One
Of his iavoriie paslines, when IN this con-
dItion, was heating his wives. .H.H..s b
"On Friday last Snake Chief returned 10
bis WigWRm drunk. Se-es-ka vas ia The
WigWam, aud the chief oomnpnred heat-
ing her over the head and shoulders.
Driven 90 desperation and unable longer
to stand his brutality, Sc es-ka drew her
knife and stabbed the chief twice, The
blade penCtratiug the heart of The warrior.
who Gied instantly while the first notes of
the death cong were on his lips The az
fair az once created a sensation among the
Wlanebagoes, who did not know how 10
act. They loved their chief, and they
loved Their chieitEin's wife. Itfs q we'll
known regulation among the Indians
that when man Is slain, a relative must
avenge his death by taking The life Of the
slayer. Se-es-ka knew this. Some OF the
Winnebagoes urged her % ily, but she
would not. With true Indian resignation,
ehe folded her blanket abOnt her and SAT
dowa IA her Wigwam, facing the door,
and awaited the svenger, Ii was believed
by many that He-nee-kee, the younger add
tavotite wife, wonld be the avenrer. bnt
che seems to have had no such intention
She mourDed the loss Of her husband, but
took no steps further than 70 send 3 runner
up the Trempeleau where Snake Chiefs
relatives were, 90 notify them OF what had
taken place. Meanwhile Se-es-ka SAT il
her cabin chanting The death song. stoically
Indifferent 10 what Was going on about her.
aud only taking when questions we're
asked her
'Ou Sunday morning an indian iro m
lrempeleau made HE appearance in imp.
tie was known as,ChaH-Ro-ne "a, and had |
evidently travelled without haltiRg since 4
be learned Of the death of Snake CHIEF /
Entering the camp, without word De
walked solemnly 20 the place where HE |
boyd Of Snake CHIEF lay, took a long look
at It, and then turned sallenly away Nc
body spoke 10 him, yet al watched with
interest his movements. Deliberately
loading his gun with bGckshOt, be nninter,
ruptsdly walked deliberately 20 the WIG
VAN where Sees .ka sat, she having n
NAMED there sinos the murder, took one
look at the womau, who loudly Chanted the
death song. Nos q muscle OF be Rornan's
lace moved 10 denote that She iahored
1naer any excitement, bnf she aaf there
quietly aud calmly, her ewes moving up.
wards, and her vu5ce. as me 0nranib ems
escaped her lips, steady aad 6rm.. She
knew thai the avenger was beEare her
.hA' 10 another moment her spifit would
cave its irail tenement Of clsy. ana seek
MAI oil Tie chiei who bad gone before her u
,e no iook or sigu indiested fhst sl,e
cared The late such is Iudian steioism
md indifference .
The eyes Of the two did not uieet. IN
lac lace Of Chh-no-nega there vas Ioof. |
II mingled hate and revenge. Helihefsselv
Re raised has musket 20 he shouider-AelA
iberately he aimed Il at the woinab's besa u
,-ooolly he fired. The report ranK eat
through the Indian eaBI,-the smoke