The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-02-07
TUCK-OO-wA.TER-OO.
A Pawnee Incident.


A Pawnee Incident.
MAN, while he loves, is never quite de-
The Hon g. Larne
In the year 1864 / was on duty as q
military clerk in the headquarters of
General Robert b. Mitchell, command
ant of an Indian district comprising the
Territories of Nebraska and Dakota.
Within the confines of this command
dwelt several fierce and large tribes of
Indians, who, when not engaged in hos
tilities with the whites, made war upon
one another. These tribes were the
several bands of Sioux, Cheyennes and
Arrapahoes, who roamed over the vast
plains extending from Fort Kearney to
the Rocky Mountains westward and
from the Yellowstone River on the
north to the Arkansas on the south.
East of these tribes aud bordering on
the Missouri River dwelt the Pawnees,
Omahas, Poncas and Otoes, who from
time immemorial have entertained
deadly feud with the first named ma
tions. This hatred had been constantly
famed and maintained at a white heat
by continued forays, depredations and
murders, in the accomplishment of
which many adventures had occurred,
displaying hardihood, constancy and
skill worthy of a better cause and
more enlightened race.
Our Office was at the time specified in
Omaha, young and thriving city, the
capital of the then Territory of Nebras-
ka. now the initial point of the Great
Pacific Railroad. Omaha is much fire.
uuented by the Pawnees and Omshas,
who resort thither for the purpose of
bar1ering their filrs and trinkets for the
goods of the white men, and to beg,
practice to which al Indians are as
much addicted IS the lazzaroni Of
Naples.
1t was owing to the latter propensity
that was indebted, one fine December
morning, to q visit from DR.. Jim, q
Pawnee, and his squaw. Notwithstand-
ing the cold, keen air, neither had on
other clothing than an old buffalo robe,
which scarcely protected them from the
wind, and, as q consequence, their ap--
peal for old clothes was irresistible. 1
likewise sent them to the messhouse,
where the cook gave them a breakfast
fully up to their capacity, which Is
almost infinite in that direction. / sup
posed this would terminate my acquaint-
ance with the Doctor and his dusky
spouse, but no sooner had they finished
their meal than they returned, and,
seating themselves at the stove, made
themselves as comfortable as if they
were domiciled in their own wigwam.
Not being thronged with business, L
turned my chair and entered into con-
versatiou with the Indian, who spoke
our language brokenly, yet intelligently.
soon found i was conversing with no
ordinary savage, for the Decor proved
to be the brother of the big Big Medi-
cine, or High Priest OF the Pawnees,
and q warrior of no little note in his
tribe. During the forenoon l elicited
from him, among others, the following
incident of his savage. but eventfui life /:
His squaw belonged to the Omaha
tribe, with which nation the Pawnees
are connected by ties of the closest init
macy. Thir reservations, or territories,
almost Join, and they invariably hunt in
company. These hunts, which are An
nual, take place in autumn, and are the
great epochs of Indian life. At such
times the villages are deserted by all
save the old and infirm, and the ma
tions migrate, so to speak. en- masse to
their hunting grounds, which lie on the
Republican and Arkansas Rivers.
At the time when our narrative com
mences the hunt was over, the two tribes
had reached the Pawnee village on the
Loup Fork of Platte River, had held
their great hunting feast and dance, and
the Omahas had taken up their line OF
march for their homes. 1t was late In
the fall. The shallow streams which
irrigste those regions were encrusting
with ice; the cottonwoods which stooI
over their turbid channels were leaaess-
and the northwest winds OF winter
sighed drearily through their branches,
prognostic of increasing cold. The long
swells of prairie were covered with dead
brown grass, which ratified dry and
crispy under the returning feet of the
Omahas. Yet the tribe was in higt
spirits. Their hunt had been successful
and their ponies were laden down with
the delicious flesh of the buffalo, which
enabled them to look forward without
apprehension to the coming winter
Their Journey was made by easy march
es, for their village was near at hand
and they had no dread of hostile foe il
such close proximity to their homes
But they were doomed to be cruelty dis
appointed.
On the second night of their journey
while encamped on the Elkhorn, large
tributary of the Platte River, they wer'
surprised by war party of Sioux, who
before the Omahas could rally, killed
and scalped couple of warriors anC
captured several squaws, among whom
was the very squaw before me. who a
that time was affianced to DIR. Jim, or
as he was known to the tribe, Tuck-oo-
Wa-ter-oo.
Word of this misfortune was quickl,
dispatched to the Pawnee village. and ;
parry of warriors under the Leadership
OF Big Buffalo, the great war chief o
the tribe, and among whom was ou
doctor, started at once in pursuit of tn
Sioux.
The trail of the foe was struck at tn
Old California Crossing of Platte River
upward of hundred miles above For
Kearney. The Sioux we're directing
their course for the Republican, and b..
Buffalo, with wary eye, followed rapidly
on in their footsteps. The country the
were now traversing is des late in th'
extreme. Nothing but vast leve
stretches of weary sand meet the gaze
or hills. of the same construction, fur
rowed and plowpd by the winds. NJ
horsefesh, save the hardy Indian pony
can endure the toll of travel in thes
wastes, or subsist upon the scanty veg
citation occasionally found in the ra
vines.
Two days of such riding brought th'
patient Pawnees in the vicinity of thei
enemy, and it was determined TO attacI
at once. The charge Was successful. Th'
surprised Sioux fled, leaving SOM
scaIps with the victorious Pawnees, WIN
with the rescued squaws, tuned thei
face homew ard. In the melee the pom
OF DOcn.r Jim had received al arrow
which a fir thought % be trihing
proved, indie. d serious. fp aid bD nj
distress the Sioux. recovered ON the
fright, were following in rapid pursuit
aud in overN helmiHg force Fh'
we ther- too. beam tiercsly cid, anC
death >tared The paIr in the face Whe