Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1868-07-24
AN INDIAN
An Indian Chief 10 Killed By one Of bis
Wives, and she In Return 10 Shot by q
Member N tho Tribe,

AN INDIAN ROMANCE.
A. Indian Chief - Killed By 2 Of biz
MssmxsS s, a q x, he T r s ''''
We learn from Mr.. F. A. Moore, who
has lately been among the Indians Of the
Northwest to obtain information for his
proposed new book, the details Of one
Of those famous Indian tragedies which
has just taken place among a party OF
Winnebago Indians, and which sounds
like one Of those Indian narratives Of
which we read.
A party of thirty Winnebagoes cam
down from the late scalp dance at which
the tribe was gathered, on the Trempe-
leau river, in the North, and eucamped
on French's Island in the Mississippi
river, just above the st. Paul Railroad
depot at La Crosse. The band was I'm.
der the control Of a we'll known chief Of
the Winuebagoes, named Wau-kee-se-
hoong-er-er, or Snake Chief, who had
two wives, Se-es-ka aud He-nee-kee.
Both Of these squaws were we'll known
up and down the river, and also in the
city. Se-es-ka was about thirty years
OF nge, graceful in appearance, with a
pleasant look and an interesting face.
She will be remembered by many 10 this
city, she having visited many Of our
residences to sell bead work, being al
ways accompanied by a young and fine
looking daughter. With whites she
was a favorite, while with the Winnie
bagoes she was looked upon very kindly
indeed, adored, with all Of the Indian
fervor. Snake Chief was a noted war
rior of the W~innebagoes, who was very
much liked by his tribe. He vas q
powerful and brawny fellow, who when
sober wal peaceful and good natured.
When drunk he was very disagreeable.
One Of his favorite pastimes when in
this condition was beating his wives.
At such times the rest Of the tribe
avoided him:
On Friday last, Snake Chief had been
to La Crosse, and returned to his wig
wan drunk. Se-es-ka was in the wig
wan, and the Chief commenced beating
her over the head and shoulders with
great brutality. Driven to desperation,
and unable longer to stand his brutal.
ity, Se.es-ka drew her knife md 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 q sensation among the
W%innebagoes, who did not know how
to act. They loved their Chief, and
they loved their chieftain's wife. II is
q well known regulation" among the
Indians, that when q man is slain a rel
atiye must nvenge his death, by taking
the life of the slayer. Se.es-ka knew
this. Some Of the Winnebagoes urged
her to 60 from the camp and among the
whites, but she refused. Some Of the
people at La Crosse, learning what she
had done, went to the camp, and also
urged her to leave but she was still
stubborn, and would not. Undoubtedly,
she felt that it made no difference where
she went ; she would be followed, and
her life taken, and it were better to sub
nit to fate. With true Indian resigna-
ton, she folded her blanket about her,
and sat down in her wigwam, facing
the door, and awaiting the ayenger. 1t
WAS believed by many that He-nee-kee,
the younger and favorite wife, would
oe the avenger /; but she seems to have
had no such intention. She mourned
the loss Of her husband, but took no
further steps than to send a unn up
the Trempeleau, where Snake Chiefs
were, to notify them of what had taken
place. Meanwhile, Se.cs-ka sat in her
wigwam, chanting the death song, sto-
ically indifferent as to what was going
on about her, and only talking when
questions were asked her. The Winnie
bagoes avoided the fated wigwam as
much rs possible.
On Sunday morning an Indian from
the Trempeleau made his appearance in
camp. He was known as C%han-no-ne'
ga, and had evidently travelled without
hating since he learned Of the death o.
the Snake Chief. Entering the camp
Chan-no.ne.gs, without n word, walked
solemnly to the place where the body o.
the Snake Chief lay, took a long loot
ut il, and then walked sullenly away
Nobody spoke TO him, yet all watched
with interest his movements. Deliber
ately loading his gun With buck shot
he walked away from the spot. Th'
winuebngoes knew very we'll what hi!
intentions were, yet not one OF then
moved a foot or n hand, or said q wore
against him. This seemed strange, th'
Indians having associated so much will
the whites, and respecting the Chief
wife as they did. The recollection o
their old and long established custom
seems to have entrnnced them, or per
haps they were stupc6ed BY what ha'
taken place, and knew not what the,
had better do. Mr.. Moore thinks Their,
was,not one of the tribe but felt that tn,
woman ought not to be sacrificed, still
there was not one that dared to act
Chan-no-ne-ga, uninterrupted, walked
deliberately to the wigwam where Sc
es.ka sat, she having remained Their
since the murder, took one look at thu
woman, who loudly chanted the death
song. Not q muscle of the woman
face moved TO denote that she laboret
under any excitement, but she sat there
quietly and calmly, her eyes moving up
wards, and her voice, as the uncoutf
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 IN
Dictated that she feared the fate. Such II
the Indian stoicisn and indifference
The eyes of the two did not meet. IL
the face of Chan-no-ne-ga there was
look of mingled hate and revenge. De-
liberately be raised the musket to his
shoulder-deliberately he aimed at the
woman's ~head-coolly he fred. The re-
port rang out through the Indian CAM
the smoke cleared away-Se.es-kn
still sat there-her blanket about her
her arms folded but, one side OF hel
head was blown completely away-hel
spirit had led-the code of Indian jus
tice was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
er-er was avenged.
The murderer, with a look just to sat
isfy him that his work had been vel
done, shouldered his musket and walked
deliberately out of the camp. Nobody
spoke to him-nobody offered any inter,
ference, and stepping into his canoe be
padded to the shore, and disappeared
in thu wnodo In...-.kx u..