Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-10-12
THE RED MANS LOVE.

and the barbarOus, the weak and the
strong, the chieftain and the meanest
subject Of his clan alike recognize its
sway, Spotted Tail, the direct de-
scendant Of a long line of illustriOus
chieftains of the warlike Sioux, and
whose name is familiar 10 the people
of the entire country in connection
with his recent visit with a party of
his warriors to Washington and other
eastern cities, is a very good case in
point. Many years ago, when Spot
ted Tail was a young and dashing
warrior, whose pride was his horse,
and whose glory was the string Of
/ CORY scalps which dangled from his
saddle bow, he met and loved a dusky
/ daughter Of his tribe, about whose ne
/ splendent beauty we hear even to this
day from frOntiersmen who saw her
/ ere age had robbed her Of the won
/ drOus charms which made her noted
/ in her youth, and which did not
| wholly fOrsake her in her old age.
/ The union between the young chief
and the Indian maiden seems to have
been characterized by all the fervent
/ love Of which we read so much in
/ story, but so seldom see exemplified
in life, and especially was their mu-
/ tual attachment in strong contrast
to that usually existing between the
I red man and the squaW. During all
| the changing fortunes Of his tribe,
through prosperity and adversity, in
war and in peace, in youth and in old
I age, Spotted Tail clung to his first and
only love with an intensity Of afiec-
ton which excited the admiration
and respect Of friend and foe alike
Until about a year since "Wawonais-
sa," the name by which the chief
tain's cOnsOrt was known throughout
the tribe, was inseparsble from her
liege lord, always accompanying him
on the warpath, as well as on his more
peaceful hunting expeditions. But,
early in the spring Of l4st year, she
who had never known what It was to
have q days sickness, was attacked
with rheumatism, which soon assum-
ed so aggravated a form as to render
her entirely helpless, and from the
effects Of which she finally died
Probably the fell disease which fet-
tered the free limbs chafed and fretted
the active nature which could not
brook confinement, and hastened her
death.
At the time Spotted Tail left for the
East she was very feeble, but her con-
dition excited no particular alarm,
though it required a good deal of per-
suasion to induce the Chief to make
the trip without her, he insisting upon
her accompanying him, bedridden as
she was. During his absence she be-
came worse, and q messenger was dis
patched to this city, who at once
called on Col. Sullivan and had that
ofheer send telegram to Captain Pool,
who was in charge of the Indian del
egation, apprising the Chief Of the
low condition of his beloved ''Wa-
wonaissa, y and urging his immediate
return. The dispatch reached Spot
ted Tail at Chicago, and he lost no
time IN fastening home. Two days
before he reached MILESTONE Agency,
the headquarters Of his tribe, she died
and was buried. He Immediately had
the remains disinterTed, and our in
fOrmant says it was painful sight to
see the profound and bitter grief
which took possession Of the Chief as
he looked upon the dead face of her
he had loved 50 truly aRd so well.
Over the usual stoical features of the
stern warrior great tears eoursed like
q torrent, while his broad chest shook
and heaved with its great agony. He
caught the inanimate form in his
brawny arms, calling her by all the
endearing names with which he had
been wont to awake the love-light in
her dark eyes in days agone, while he
rained hot, passionate kisses upon the
dusky mOrble Of her dear, dead face.
=. u.
we derive our information left Whet-
stone, Spotted Tail was giving express
sion to his grief in a manner peculiar
to his people. All the presents and |
trinkets Of every sort. which Ihe re-
eeiyed while on his Eastern journey,
he buried, affirming that they We're |.
bad medicine" and in some way re- |
sponsible fOI the death of his wife,
Many Of the presents were of great |
value, yet we understand that he re- |
served not vestige of any gift made /
him while absent on his journey spO- /
ken of. He has also discarded all his 4
feathers, ornaments, and clothes Of
every sort, except the breech-clout,
and subjects himself to all sorts Of
personal discomfort and humiliation.
He has smeared his body with grease
and filth Of one sort and another. and /
lacerated his person with knives,
sharp sticks, ETC., until he is fright
full sight to behold. Anon he will /
stand with his arms folded across his (
chest, gazing at the sun for two hours
ut a time, while not muscle Of his (
body moves an atom; then he will !
clasp his arms before him, and, with
eyes bent on the ground, he will COM ,
nence a mournful chant which he
will keep up for another hour or two
his is followed by throwing himself
upon the ground, where he will roll ]
and tumble about in perfect parox-
ysm Of rage until he becomes COM
Dletely exhausted, only to repeat the
routine of his mourning upon his
Since his return home
ne has not washed himself once, and,
Is the dirt in which he rolls readily
Idheres to the grease with which his
)Ody is smeaIed, it can readily be
what filthy condition he is
n.
Thus mOurns this untutOred savage
or the loved and lost, and rude, un-
.outh, and even ridiculous, as are his !
of grief, they ale none
he less sincere and heartfelt, and {
therefore, entitled to our respect, il not
o our approval.-Wdsbing Paper.
A GOOD HEART-There was a great J
naatar onnonu tho Tavr1 vubo Ma HE I