National Republican., 1881-07-08
WYANpoT VENGEANCE.
RetributioB Among the Indians-How
They Avenged A Murder.

About the year 1871, short time be-
fore the wyandot Indians were removed from
Ohio to their present location In Kansas, tragedy
was enacted among them which most emphad.
cally marked their ideas OF retributive justice,
The reservation Of the Wyandots then embraced
nearly all of the territory now the county
of wyandot, which took its name from the tribe.
Their council house was located at Upper San.
dusky, now the shire town Of wyandot County.
In the late autumn Of 1910 two Of the Wyandots
leit the lodges Of their people for winters hunt
in the Black Swamp in the northwest part OF Ohio.
One OF the Indians was skillful hunter, and soon
accumulated large and valuable lot Of furs.
The other one was indifferent and in.
dolent and met with but little success, as
might be expected under Sch circumstances One
evening in camp the two were examining their
prizes and computing their value, when the un-
successful determined TO secure for himself the
furs and pcltries of the other, and on the first op
portunity shot his companion and hid the body
under some logs. Upon his return to Upper San
dusky he received q warm welcome from his
friends, who congratulated him upon his success.
ful hunt When inquired of as to his companion
he said he had parted with him soon after reach
ing the hunting ground and had not seen him
anerward. AS the days and weeks passed by, and
his companion failed to return, dark suspicious
were aroused, and he was closely questioned as to
the circumstances of his hunt and as TO where
he parted with the missing man, &c. Finally
an informal council OF the tribe was convened,
and the dark mystery was csnvassed in all its
features, and the conclusion was reachad that
runners should be sent over the hunting ground
to ascertain, if possible, what had become OF the
missing link A couple Of keen, shTewd young
| braves were dispatched on the Business and they
soon unrayelcd the dark mystery They found the
dead body, and alter examining II thoroughly, so
as TO be able to properly tell their story before the
Ii,.tr al
their return the whole tribe assembled in the
council house and about. The runners gave in
| thercvldcnco in a clear and convincing manner
and after 1t was fully discussed the murderer was
put under arrest and u solemn trial had. Aftcr a
solemn and searching investigation the murderer
was condemned to death by shooting, and the
day fixed for his execution. Under their
treaty with the United States the wyandots
| had exclusive control of all judicial
proceedings affecting any member of their
| tribe If no white persons right was involved
| on tho day Of the execution thousands OF white
| people assembled at Upper Sa idusky, anxious to
witness the awful scene. The proceedings, under
the directions of the chiefs Gray Eyes, War Eagle,
Between the. Logs, and others, were conducted
with the utmost dignity and decorum. At the ap-
pointed hour the culprit was brought out and
seated on his coffin beside his grave which had
been dug in advance. Before his eyes were ban
dnged he looked around on the people with the
utmost calmness, but when, casting glance back
ward, he saw the yawning grave, he was visibly
startled but only eyinced itby an expressive "Ughv
Then his eyes were bandaged and he was ready
for his awful doom. Eight warriors had been
detailed as cxecutoners, but, in order that no one
should know TO a certainty who did the killing,
and no chance given for revenge upon the part Of
his relatives only four of the eight United States
muskets used were loaded with balls by the chief
who supervised that ceremony in the council
house, and out of sight of everybody else. The
firing party took their places and at the signal
from one Of the chiefs volloy rang out on the
summer air, and the murderer died with scarcely
spasm, all four Of the shots being placed in or
near the heart. The body was tumbed into the
coffin and buried the ground lcveed and trampled
so that in short time no evidence whatever re-
maincd of the tomb. Thus did the Indians illus
trae their ideas OF justice and the example might
we'll be followed by some of our more civilized tr-
bunals The old law-an eye for an eye and a
life for n lifc-was stcrnly enforced, and the
bloody crime fully oXpiated