Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-11-09
A SINGULAR BATTLE.
four Indian Girls Whip a Warrior.

in Indian life-the punishment 10y four
Indian girls of a young Indian who had
assaulted one of their number. The
following description is that OF an eye.
witness;
Now the lines are broken and the
tribe forms huge ring, into which the
savage who provoked the animosity Of
the Pole.cat family is summarily thrust
he looks sullen and dogeed. lie has u
hard fight before him, aud he knows il,
but he is a man of his hands, and he
means TO wear those girls out il it lies
In muscle and prompt and eiieCtual
work. He may strike them anywhere
above the breast, and kill them il "a
blow in the neck will do it, but bullets
and arrows are ready for him il he strikes
foul. The girls, on the other hand,
must take off his apron. II they accom-
plish that, he Is dI-graced To- tie utter
most moment of his life, driven from
his tribe. left to starve on the prairie.
and all Indians cautioned against har-
boring, feeding or Rssociatinc with him.
The injured woman is allowed To have
such squsws as she may select To assist
her. But if she chooses too many to
effect her purpose it is disgrace TO her.
and so she is careful to select only
enough to make the battle nearly equal.
The Pole-cat girls are the bellies of
the Yantonais tribe. If a squaw can be
pretty, these girls are beautiful, and by
virtue of their attractions and their
fathers possessions in horses and other
satisfactory property they are the ars
tocrats Of the camp. Perhaps for that
reason they ask no help in their present
undertaking; aud, for that reason also.
perhaps, their savage sisters giggle and
exchange whispers as the four girls step
into the ring and approach the waiting
buck. All FIVE are in full war paint.
Down the hunters checks and along
his neck are alternate sepia and green
and yellow strips on background Of
brilliant red. while his chest, sides and
back are tricked out with rude pictures
OF guns, bows and horses. The girls
have smesred their faces with a coating
OF red, over which lies another Of green
striped with yellow. Their hair il un.
fastened at the back, and the front locks
are braided with otter fur. Each wears
q skirt and leggings. but their blankets
are laid aside and their muscular brown
arms are displayed.
There are no preliminaries. The girls
dash at their enemy and attempt To
grasp him. II all hands manage to get
hold OF him half the battle is accom-.
plished. But he meets them souarely
and fairly, planting cruel blow be.
tween the eyes of the girl he had niur.
ed, knowing that If she is finished he
can compel her to call off the rest. She
is the General of the attacking forces
and the prime object Of his attack.
Over she goes like n pinwheel. but she
Is up again, her face streaming with
blood and her eyes swelling. The elder
girl has contrived to secure waist hold
and locked her hands behind his back.
His fists fall upon her upturncd face
with.frightful force, but she keeps her
hold. The other two girls are pressing
him hard from behind but his elbows
work like bsttering rams. and one steps
back with her hand pressed tightly to
her breast. and look of agony in her
eyes. Now he whirls suddenly, planting
ponderous blows upon the face aud
head Of the girl who, on her knees. still
cliDga to his waist with n death grip.
He fairly raises her from the ground ~
he spins, but her hold never relaxes.
His earlier victim again dashes at him
and Is rewarded by crashing stroke on
the mouth. She reels. put recovers and
darts again to receive his fist on her
neck with q force that whirls her halt
dozen PAGES off and drops her like log.
Not word is spoken. The thug 0f his
Rst, and the heavy breathing OF the
afFnnultnu nj atals
sounds. The last rally Of the PROSTATE
girl has enabled the rear party to catch
the buck, and one has twlned her arms
around bis neck, while the other hangs
to his right wrist. HIS left hand is still
free, and it fairly twinkles in the air as
he batteTs the maiden at his wrist. Her
grasp is like iron, but her head reels
and sways a. his heavy hand falls on it
with noise that reaches the furthere'l
side of the irregular ring. Her eyes ara
closed and her breath comes convulsive
ly. Were the fourth girl there to grasp
that arm, the fight would soon end.
The girl behind is choking him. and
he employs new tactics. GraspinR the
kneeling girl by the throat. he pounds
the face OF the one behind him with the
back Of bis head. No vanity prompts
her to let go. She tightens her grip
and buries her face in the back Of his
neck. The fourth girl is up, staggering
and dazed. Brushing the blood from
her eyes with an angry motion, she az.
proaches him, crOuching IA she moves.
II the blow he has in store for her reach.
81 the mark he will have another chance
for the girl at his waist is growing faint.
and he can easily dispose of the other
two. She comes at him like cougar.
The blow is delivered full npon her
breast, but she grasps his wrist and
wTithes up his arm.
Now he is beset with danger. The two
on his arms and the one at his waist
pull him forward, the girl behind still
strangling him, throws her weight on his
back. In vain he attempts To straigh.
ten. The kneeling girl bends in her
despairing struggle until her hair hangs
on the ground. The other three show
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