Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-11-15


Bismarck Tribune: An an Indian
named TsI-ung-che-ung, n Of the
noinadics who has been roaming about
the city and vicinity for some time, per-
formed "A truly wonderful feat yester-
day, in the presence ola few admirers
Of his tribe, who gathered to witness his
exhibition Of daring and strength. The
Lero of the tale is Il strong, square-built,
good-looking Indian, and his feat was to
swim the Missouri with his left hand
tied behind his bacl, his reward for this
being the hand and heart in marriage
of a bewitching () daughter Of one Of
his follow scalpers. The wonder of the
feat vas not only in swimming the
treacherous stream, with n arm fast
ened firmly behind him, but in going in
water almost as cold as ice, with his
buckskin trousers and shirt on TO catch
the SAND and threaten to pull him to
the bottom. At 10 O'Clock yesterday
morning the daring fellow VAS in readi-
ness, and his admirers, together with
the girl If his choice, were on the bank,
just above the bridge, to see him start.
1t Was a thrilling and pathetic scene.
The young gallant gazed up and down
the cod, treacherous stream, while the
girl ki-yied and sang in a weird, mourn
full manner, a seemingly plaintive love
chant. 1t WAS a novel and certainly in.
teresting scene. Everything was in
readiness. The young IniiIn, with Il
graceful wave of the right hand AMI
amid the encouraging shouts of the
other r>o.S, shook the hand OF the fair
prize for which he was riSk'Gg his life,
chopped of Il little aboriginal music. in
"a sol OF goodbye hello-i:.l-duh't-see-
you-again air and plunged into the
river \ yell then went M from the
crowd OF spectators which caused the
capillary integument OF the reportorial
Uranium TO start zenithward at the rate
Of i mile a minute. The swimmer bold
dove from the bank and was lost from
view for a number of seconds, when he
came to the surface several yards above
the point from which he started, having
made IL long diagonal dive Up and across
the stream. lie struck ont boldly,
padding along with one haHd. When
he reached the middle Of the stream he
raised his arm and ven straight duYn,
disappearing beneath the muddy stl
Co., A. finn ,.,tar ,.l,,c.l ,y.r hin, th..
maiden who had been watching ever
movement with interest, manifested
grett nervous excitement, and just as
she vas aboat to jump into the frai.
| canoe which was half launched, her
lover appeared with a careless toss of
the head, and his raven locks hoated
upon the surging waters. As ne ncarsi
the opposite shore the aImiring braves,
led by the girl, began waving their
hands and singing IA song of joy, and
when he reached the bank and stood
facing his admirers, load were the *
carnations of g,adness sent up from the
point where he started. 1t was indeed
a wonde rful feat-owimming the stream
with one arm completely disabled and
wearing heavy buckskin pantaloons and
shirt, with no boat or body guard to &C
company him. But he accomplished it
with apparent ease, and for his reward
received what to him was worth more
than all else co ubined. The reporter
was told the wedding would take place
at the camping grounds of the Indians,
twenty miles north, next Tuesday.
| Among those who witnessed the feat
we're several strange Indians, who had
been invited from afar to participate in
he festivities of the wedding.