The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-12-12
THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY
TUESDAY. DECEMBER l2, 1882.
A Singular Battle,


Recently there was Witnessed neal
here one of the most sineul.r scenes i1
Indian llfe--lhe punishment hW four In.
dian girls--tne daughters of Polecat-
OF young Indian hunter who had as
saulted one of their number The fol.
lowing description is that OF an eye
witness:
The tribe forms huge ring, in which
the savage who provoked the animosi
~ Of the Polecat family is summarily
thrust. He looks sullen and dogged -
He has hard fght before him, and he
knows it but he Is a man of his hands,
and he means to work those girls out if
1t lies in his muscle and prompt eff, Ct
ual work. He may strike them any.
where above the breast, and kill them it
blow in the neck will do 1t. but bullets
and arrows are ready for him if he
strikes foul. The gIrls on the other
hand, must take off his apron. If they
accomplish that, be is disgrared 10 the
uttermust moment OF his life, driven
from his tribe, left TO starve on the prai
RE, and all Indians cautioned against
harbofing, feeding, or associating with
him. The injured woman is allo wei to
have such sqnaws ss she NAV select to
assist her. But, il she chooses too
many to effect her purpose. it is dis
grace to her; and so she is careful 10
select only enough TO make the battle
nearly equal.
The Polecat girls are the bellies of the
Yanktonais tribe. n a sqraw can be
pretty these girls are hrau,i'ul; and, by
virtue of their attractions and their IA
theirs possessions in horses and other
satisfactory property, they are the aris-
toerats Of the camp. Perhaps for the
reason they ask no help in their present
undertaking; and for that reason, also.
perhaps, their savage sisters piggle and
exchange whispers as the four girls step
into the ring and approach the Waiting
buck. All i've are in full War-paint.-
Down the hunters cheeks and along his
neck are alternate sebia and green and
yellow stripes on a background OF brill.
Z liant red, while bis chest, sides and back
are tricked out with rude pictures OF
guns, bows and horses, The girls have
smeared their faces with a coating Of
red, over which lies another Of green
striped with yellow. The hair is unfas-
tened at the hack, and the front locks
are braided With ntter-Tur. Each wears
. skirt and leggins; but their blankets
are laid aside, and their muscular brown
arms are displayed.
There are no preliminaries. The glrls
dash at their emmy and attempt to
grasp him. II all hands manage to ge.
bold OF him, half the hattie 10 accom-:
plished. But be meets them squarely
and fairly, planting cruel blow between
the eyes OF the girl be had irjured.
knowing that il she is finished he can
compel her 10 call eff the rest. She lie
the General OF the attacking forces and
the prime Object Of his attack. Over
she goes like plnwheel; but she is up
again her face streaming with blood and
her eyes swelling The elder girl has
contrived TO secure wsist hold. and
lock Der hands behind his hack. His
fists fsil upon her upturned face with
frightful force hut che keeps her hold
The two other giris are pressing him
hard from behind, hat bis elbows work
like batterinerams, and one steps back
with her hands pressed tightly TO her
hreas, with lock of agonv in her eyes.
Now he whirls suddenly, planting pom
derons blows upon the face aud bead Of
the girl who on her knees still clings to
his waist with death-grir. He fairly
raises her from the grounds as be spins,
but her hold never relaxes.
His earlier victim agsin dashes at him
and is rewarded-by crushing stroke on
the mouth. She reels. hut RECEIVERS and
darts again to receive his fist on her
neck with force that whirls her half.a-
dozen PAGES of and drops her like log.
Not word is spoken. The thug of his
fists, and the heavy breathing OF the
struggling contestants are the only
sounds. The last rally OF the prostTs,e
girl has enabled the remainder 10 catch
the buck. and one has thrOwed her arms
around his neck while the other hangs
TO his wrist His LETT b6nd is still free,
and it fairly wrinkles in The cir as be
batters the maiden al his waist. Her
grasp is like iron; but her head reels
and sways as his heavy hand falls on i,
with noise that reaches the iar,hest
side of the irregular ring Her eyes are
closed, and her breath comes cUnvul.
sively. Were the fourth girl there to
grasp that arm, the light would seon
end.
The girl behind is choking him, and
he employs new tactics. Grasping the
kneeling girl by the throat, he pounds
the face of the one behind him with the
back OF his heal. No vanity prompts
her to let CO. She tightens her grip,
and buriee her face In the back nf his
neck. The fourth girl is up, staggering
and dssed. brushing the blood from
her eyes with sn angry motion, che sp-
proacbes him, crouchins as she moves.
II the blow he has in store for her reach.
es the mark be will have another chance
for the eiil at his waist is growing
faint, and he can easily dispose OF the
other two She comes at him like a
cougar. The blow is delivered full up
on her breast but she grasps bis wrist
and Hrilhes up his arm.
Now he is beset with danger. The
two on bis arms and the one at his waist
pull him forwsrd; the girl behind, still
straDgling him, throws her weight on
his back. In vain be attempts 10
s,raighten. The kneeling girl bends In
her despairing struggle until her hair
hangs on the ground. The other three
show the muscles rigid in their arms as
they press HIM down upon their kneel-
ing sister. Suddenly he springs back
ward With marvellous effort OF strength
The fainting girl at bis feet finds her
hands torn apart. But that triumph
was his defeat With crash be comes
to the ground, three girls upon him =
One plants herself on his face, and the
other two kneel on his arms. There is
. struggle, and then the youngest rises
with wild veil, waving the apron in
her hand. Her yell is echoed by q low
moan as the mother Of the PROSTATE
hunter stsggers out Of The circle, q, d
by grunt of satisfaction es Poleeat
recognizes-the victory OF bis girls.
To. morrow. somewhere up the river,
tbn, i;.r,,oc,.d t,noL mill ha found with