Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-12-13

Washington D. c., Dec, 4th, l8S
A DISGRACED WARRIOR.

Recently there was witnessed nesr Pop
lar river, Montana, ono of the most singu-
lar scenes in Indian lifc-the punishment
by four Indian sirls-the daughters Of Pole
cat-of q young Indian hunter who had as
saulted one Of their number. The follow
ing description 10 that of an eyewitness :
The tribe forms . hugh ring, in which the
savage who provoked the animosity Of the
Polecat family is summsrily thrust. He
looks sullen aud dogsed. He has hard
fight before him, and he knows it but he
is : man of his hands, and he means 10
wear those girls out II II lies in his muscles
and prompt and efcctuai work. He may
strike thsm anywhere shove the breast sRd
kill them if blow in the neck will do 1t,
but bullets and arrows are ready for him II
he etrikes foul. The girls, on the other
hand, must take of his spron. If they ac-
compiish that, he is disgraced to the utter
most moment of his life, driven from his
tribe, left to .tarve on the prairie, and all
Indians cautioned against hsrboring, feed
ing or associsting with him. The injured
woman is allowed TO have such sQusws rs
she may select 10 assist her. But If she
chooses too many to effect her purpose it is
. disgrace 10 her, AID so she 10 careful 10
select only enough to make the battle near.
ly equal.
The Polecat girls are the bslie, of the
Yanktonias tribe. II 8 squsw can be Fret,
ty, these girls are beautiful, and by virtue
Of their attractions and their fathers poss-
essions in horses and other satisfactory
property, they are the aristocrsts Of the
camp. Perhaps for tina, reason theyi asi
no help in their present undertaking, and
for that reason also perhaps their savage
sisters gigsle and exchange whispers as the
tour girls sep iaio the ring and approach
the waiting buck. All five are in full war
paint. Down the hunters cheek. and along
his neck are alternate sepia, and green and
yellow stripes on background of brilliant
red, while his chest, sides sud back are
tricked out with rude pictures of guns, bows
and horses. The girls have smesred their
faces with coating of red, over which lies
another of green, striped with yellow.
Their hair is gnfssteDed st tho back, and
the front locks are braided with otter fur.
Each wears a 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 10
grasp him. II all hands manage to get hold
halt the battle is accomplished. But he
meets them squarely and fairly, planting a
cruel blow between the eyes of tho girl he
had injured, knowing ths, if she is finished
he can compel her TO call of the rest She
Is the general OF the attacking forces and
the prime object of attack. Over she goes
like pinwheel, but she Is up again, her
face streaming with blood and her ewes
swelling. The elder girl had consented to
secure wsisthold, and locked her hands
behind his back. His fists fall upon her up.
turned face with frightlul force, but she
keeps her hold. The two other girls are
pressing him hard from behind, but his el
bows work like battering-rsms, and one
steps back with her hands pressed Tight,
to her breast and look Of agony in be-
eyes. Now he whirls suddenly, plantin,
/! ponderous blows upon the face and head o
| the girl, Who on her knees still clings to hi
waist with death grip. he fairly raise.
, her from the ground as he spins, but he
| hold never rela1cs.
His earlier victim again dashes si him
and is rewarded by a crashing stroke on tn,
| mouth. 8 be reels, but recovers, and dart
again to receive the fist on her neck with
force that whirls her half q dozen PAGES Of
and drops her like log. Not a word i
! spoken. The thud of his fists and tn
heavy breathing of the struggling contest
ants are the only sounds. The last rally o
the PROSTATE rally of the prostrate girl ha
enabled the rear party to catch the buck
and one has twined her arms around hi
neck, while the othefhsngs to bis waist
His left hand is still free, and it fairly twin
kles in the air as he bltters the maiden a
his waist. Her grasp Is like iron, but he
her head reels and sways as his heavy hanC
falls on it with noiso that reaches the far
thest side Of the irregular ring. Her eye
srs closed and her breath come. convul
.ivci-. Wcro the fourth girl there to .rasl