The Benton weekly record., 1882-12-07
BRAVE BEARS NECK BRO
KEN.
f Eot"riously Bad Chief Hang
eI for Killing White Man.

YANr0N. Oak, Nov. l5.--Brave Bear
Siox Indian, was hanged to-day for the
murder Of Joseph johnson, near Fort Sui
ly, in 1879. The drop fell at 215 p. M,
and in fifteen minutes thereafter he was
dead There was very little excitement.
Brave Bear left request to his relatives
ret 1oayenge his death, and to omit the
usual mourning.
M4tuOpileke, known in English as Brave
Bear, WAS 1t chief of the Yanktonnais
tribe OF Sioux. lie was a notoriously bad
Indian. IT is not easy to say whether he
owed his Eotnriety most to his propensity
10 Kill and to rob, Or to his success in
stealing the wives of other chiefs. He
was professional in all these things.
Living sort of vagabond life, now among
his own kindred and now among the
whites, he became, long before he was ap-
pretended by the law, an object Of terror
10 both races. The Indians hated him be-
cause Of his success in stealing their
wives. Al sayages go he was handsome
and rather dashing. His features were
regular, his form athletic, and his smile
pleasant When he came to the cOnclu-
sion that he wanted new wife, he would
make his selection from the better halves
Of his hrOihcr chieftans, and, if there was
any serious objection on the part Of the
head Of the particular family which was
levied on, Brave Bear usually carried off
a widow, for he was very expert in the
use Of gun. When drunk he was tiend.
When among the whites be would speak a
little English, but when with the Indians
he professed entire ignorance Of that
tongue. Once, when in 8 confidential
mood, he was heard to say that he was
naturally kind-1learted; but that when he
had taken whiskey, or when excite2sby
battle, some wicked spirit took possession
of him and made him irresistably savage.
Ills coup stick had many notches upon it.
1t was his most valued possession.
Early in 1876, Brave Bear, who had
been roaming around the country q great
deal, accompanied m0st Of the time by
that he killed Gen. Custer, came upon the
house Of a family named De Long, near
st. Joseph, Pembina county. 1t occurred
to the savages that it would be 4 good idea
to kill them all, particularly as the men
were away. This they did, using knives.
There were two women and three chill
lfen. No MARKS on Brave Bears coup
stick gave him more satisfaction than the
ones which represented the number Of his
victims on this occasion. Brave Bear and
Rain-in-the-Face then joined the sayages
under Sitting Bull, and were with that
Chcltan in the valley OF the Little Big
Horn, when Gen. Custer and his com
man0 rode in to their death.
in 1873, Brave Bear strolled into set
lement and was arrested for the De Long
murder. He was put on trial for this at
Fargo. The evidence against him was
overwhelming, but the question Of jurls-
diction being raised, the Court held that
LHI uClEilUdIlj S4lOHlu IelAC11 w CkA2otAAtS
county and tried there. Brave Bear was
accordingly handed over to the authori-
ties Of that county and confined in jail,
from which he soon after escaped and
made his way to Fort Suily. While lott
ering around this post in 1879 he learned
that private soldier named johnson had
just received his discharge and pay
amounting to about $500. johnson in
tended to go into Montana to seek his for
tune, and one day set 0uL on horseback.
kraYe Bear was waiting for him on the
road. The Indian hid until johnson pass
cd him, and then put rifle ball into the
back of his head. The poor fellow was
dead when his murderer reached him.
Brave Bear took his money, his horse, his
arms and his clothes, and fled to the Brit
iSh possessions to reioin Sitting Bull, at
Woody Mountain. The arrival OF the
dashing chieftan caused not a little ex-
element in many q savage tepee. Food /
and Brave Bear concluded to make his
stay short. Thinking it abeut time for
him to marry again, he undertook, late
one night, to steal 4 sqHaw. The abo-
Hginal husband was on guard. When
Brave Bear appeared and invited the
squAW to fly with him the old man fired.
If it had not been an uncommonly dark
night the history of Brave Bear would
have terminated here. He was lying on
big face when the gun went Of, and the
charge passed over him. He did not wait
for another yolley, and the next morning
the fkulker was gone.
Where he passed the next few months
1t is impossible TO say definitely = is
known that he finally made his way back
to Woody Mountain, and was with Sitting