Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-19


bags were crying out III Indian: Take
me, take me-, me good woman, and
would reach out their arms. Those old
squaws are Just crazy to get husband,
particularly white man. l laid my
hand on the right shoulder of one of the
women who held their eyes down. She
GOT uD and took my arm, and when she
took IF her covering / saw she was
young and good looking. BY iove, ex-
claimed the old fellow in ecstacy, jump
ing out of his chair with excitement, Il
picked chiefs daughter only II years
and months old-you know what they
call al Indian princess. L had FIRST
pick, and tell you l got good one.
She is the daughter of Iron Bull, the
head chief of the Cheyennes. got two
papooses by her. Her father was then
prisoner of Sitting Bull. The Sioux
and Cheyenues had been at war and the
old fellow was captured. He Is back
again with his tribe now. You know 1t
is always easier for q chief to get off than
one of the common tribe. as they buy
their freedom with buffalo robes and
hides.
after all our party had selected
wives we were taken to the chiefs tenn.
pie again and shown to the chief with
our wives. Then we were taken before
the council and married. The chief,
who sat IN the center, first spoke to us.
An interpreter translated to us what the
chief said. The medicine man was the
Interpreter. The chief does not marry
you, he only advieesyou. Thenedlclne
man marries you after the chief finishes
speaking. You have to jump over a
stick with your squaw three times.
Then you are married and dance fol-
lows. Not like your dances here, but
around in o circle, you know, everything
they do goes around in a circle-ther
council dance, their war dance, and
rything-you dance with your squaw.
Then the Indians all give you presents,
some buffalo robe, some two or three
buffalo robes, some bear skins, and so
on. Then comes the feasting, and l tell
you they have big time, They keep
this up for three days. An In0ian we'd
ding day lasts that long. You can mar
ry as many squaws as you like, but you
have to 1--we with them all. One Indian
never NEEDLES with another's family.
That is the worst crime they can COM
NIT. If they do it they are taken out
and pricked all over the body with
needles-tattooed, You know, and then
raised up on poles, one pole under the
chm and others under the arms, and so
on, so that their feet dangle just little
above the ground. Then sticks are
placed under them and dry weeds are
hung to their belts and about their
heads. The pile under them is lit, and
oil IN OF
Those Indian squaws, young women and
old, all chew tobacco and drink ire
water, and if they don't get it all curse
and swear at you and raise thunder.
They are just like white women.
Beck says he witnessed the Custer
massacre. He was captive at the time,
and was painted up and had high feath-
ers In his head, and had bow and ar
rows and tom 4hawk, and was painted
up like a fulI-hedged "Injun." The
prisoners were not allowed to enter the
fight, as Sitting Bull knew they would
attempt to escape and fight against him.
Beck says the Indians, three thousand
strong, were camped up on the noun
tains when Custer and his men ap-
preached down deep canyon. The can
yon was very narrow, just barely wide
enough to permit of the riding of four
men abreast. Sitting Bull supposed
Custer had come for the purpose of pur-
chasing the liberty of the captives by
giving the Indians buffalo robes, hides,
and provisions for them. The chief had
no intentions of fighting Custer and al
lowed the general to get within shooting
distance. Then Custer opened fire on
| the Indians. This enraged them and
they closed up both sides of the canyon,
completely surrounding the little army
and opened fire on him from the bluff on
either side. Only one of that whole
band, half-breed scout, left that val
| ley of death alive. The Indians then re-
treated into the Red River country, and
over to Manitoba, in the British domin-
ion. Beck says he became fourth chief
of the Sioux tribe, and was in several of
their alterations with other tribes.
About ten weeks ago, with the aid Of
his wife, he made his escape, and
reached Standing Rock Agency, on the
Missouri River. There he received help
from Gen. Miles and reached Fort Lara
ME, company of infantry escortlng
him. There he left his wife, who re-
turned to her father and tribe, the Chey-
ennes. The chief is now old and sick
and it is supposed his days are num-
bered. Beck's squaw took both pa
pooses with her. From Fort Laramie
he went to Fort Russell, thence to
Cheyenne and from there to Omaha.
He reported to Gen. Howard and Gen.
CARING at the latter place, and they Sc
cured him transportation to st. Louis.
The reporter asked the old fellow
which wife he intended living with, the
white one or the squaw,
sob, my white wife is married again
to some Indian, know, and captive
among them somewhere. I will never
see her again. My squaw returned to
her tribe because her father is dying,
and he is worth $50, OOO in robes and
.furs, and if she had not gone back this
would all go to the tribe. AS she went
back, she will receive it all. If do
not return to her inside of year and
one day, then she is at liberty to marry
again, and if want her shall have to
buy her. But I am going back next
spring, sure. bet you [ am not going
to let that $50, 1000 go