The star. (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1874-1875, 1875-06-16
SPOTTED TAIL.
His Lifc, Wars and Wanderings-A Romance OF
the Forest.


The following account Of the cele-
brated Sioux Chief, Spotted Tail, is from
advance sheets OF General Brisbin's
book:
We were oamped near North Platte
1859, and, in obedience to orders for
all Indians to remove from the country
| lying between the Union Pacific and
Kansas Pacific railroads, Spotted Tail.
| with his bands, had come in from the
Republican. He had about 1900 follow
ers, and reluctantly consented to go
upon new reservation. His tribe was
divided into two bands, Brule and Ogal-
lallah Sioux, and there was 80 great q
feeling Of hostility between the bands
that they did not camp together and held
little Intercourse with each other.
1t was told Spotted Tail was the chief
of both, but that they seldom met and
had not seen each other for some time,
until they came together at our camp.
| In hunting, Spotted Tail led one OF the
bands. while Walk Under the Ground
headed the other as sort Of lieutenant
to Spotted Tail. The Ogallailahs or
| Walk UnderIthe,Ground's band, had only
come in obedience to the express orders
of the head chief, and were restless and
dissatisfied. There were some stormy
scenes between Walk Under the Ground
and Spotted Tail, and old "Walky," as
they called him, seemed several times on
the point of rebelling against his sp-
perior. Walk Under the Ground did not
wish TO leave the Republican country,
and although his chief was reluctant to
part with his old hunting grounds, still
he knew it was useless to contend
against the government, which declared
they must 20, and had already brought
4 it's troops upon the ground to enforce its
orders. Spotted Tail used every argu-
ment to convince his lieutenant OF the
folly of resistance, but Walk Under the
Ground was sullen and would not be
convinced.
Walk Under the Ground came to the
cavalry camp, and, entering an officers
tent, began to converse with him. The
chief asked for drink of whisky and
was given one. Presently he asked for
another, when the officer, knowing the
indians failing, promptly refused to let
him have any more. Walk Under the
Ground soon became grossly insolent
and abusive, and 80 enraged the officer
that he rose from his CHAIR and kicked
the old fellow out of the tent. On his
trying to re.enter the officer drew his sa-
bEe, and, turning the fat Of the blade,
caught the chief and gave him a tremen-
dous thras hing. The insulted Indian
went at once to Spotted Taips camp and
related what had happened, asking, In
conclusion, If such outrages were to be
calmly borne. The old ohhef repheo that
he was sorry tor the i'll treatment his
lieutenant had received, and the affair
was most unfortunate, but as Walk Un-
der the Ground admitted he had grossly
insuited the officer he had no one to
blame but himself for the unhappy man
nsr in which bis visit to the cavalry
camp had terminated. AS Walk Under
the Ground expected much sympathy
from his chief he was greatly enraged at
this decision, and began to abuse Spot
ted Tail.
The chief calmly replied: "When go
to see the white soldiers do not drink
their firewater, and they treat me kindly
and invite me 70 eat. When you 90 to
their camp you get drunk and become
inselent. II you had behaved yourself
in proper and respectful manner you
would have nothing to complain OF from
them, but as you gotdrunk and involved
yourself in u quarrel you should not
come here to make Il matter of COM
plant to me. You are troublesome old
man, and when you are drunk you have
no sense left in your body, Because you
get the worst Or it in q ROW OF your own
making it is no reason why l should
either sympathize with you or bring your
disgraceful conduct before the Council.
You have more than once occupied the
time Of the Council with trifing and vex-
atiOus questions, and it is not proper
you should do so again. DO home, keep
civil tongue in your head, let firew ater
alone and your trouble will cease"
On hearing this plain language from
his chiet Walk Under the Ground be-
came greatly offended, and ppbraided
him with caring more to please pleas, t., the {,
said the chief, sswilling to be kicked aud
euffed about by the whites, but am not,
and will tight them. Once you were. a
brave warrior and cared for your tribe; I;
now you have become old and feeble you
are the friend OF the whites, and you are
no longer a warrior, but q woman" I'm
able longer to endure such reasonable
and insOlent language, the old chief
splung upon his rebelli0us subordinate,
and before any one could interfere
plunged a butcher-knife seven times into
mis- side and breast. Walk Under the
Ground sunk down at the feet OF his chief
and almost immediately expired. As
soon as he was dead Spotted Tail ordered
the body to be pitched out of the lodge,
and summoned the Brule chiefs. related
w buClu WAdt hbA 8APHOAC0S 0hu ShACu
by naming one of them to succeed the
dead man as chief of the Brules. all the
other chiefs at once gave in their aiie-
glance to the new chief, and no one ven-
tured to demonstrate OF complain of the
killing of Walk Under the Ground. New.
ertheless, the dead chief was much talked
about privately, and as be had been
popular with the young men OF the
band, they were sorely grieyed at his
death. In twos and threes they began
to steal away by night and join the hos
tile chiefs. Spotted Tail, hearing OF this,
called the warriors together and ad-
dressed them. He. said: "When / was
young and my people was strohg went
to war with the whites. For years we
fought with varying success, and 80
long as there was hope continued the
war. When saw my people every day
grow weaker and weaker, and our white
enemies becoming stronger and stronger
1 knew 1t was time to stop the war. A
peace was made, not from choice but me-
cessity. Now we are told TO leave this
country, and we must 60, not from
choice, but necessity. We have tried
war and failed. We must now resort to
negotiations, and if that does not avail
we must perish from the face Of the
earth. am an old man, but / am no
coward. i fear no man, but years have
taught me prudence and wisdom. l