The Osceola times., 1884-12-20
ANINDIAN LOVE ROMANCE.
SWIMMING the Missouri Under Difficult
ties for Dusky Bride.

An Indian named Tsi-ung che-ung, one
of the nomadics who have been roam
ing about the city and vicinity for some
time, performed truly wonderful feat
Yesterday, in the presence of a few ad-
mirers of his tribe, who gathered to wit
ness his exhibition Of daring and strength.
The hero of the tale is strong, square,
built, good-looking Indian, and his feat
was to swim the Missouri with his left
hand tied behind him, his reward for
this Icing the hand and heart in mar
riage of bewitching (?) daughter of one
of his fellow scalpers. The wonder of
the act was not only in swimming the
treacherous stream with one arm fasten-
ed behind him, but in going in water al
most as cold as ice, with his buckskin
trousers on to catch the sand and threaten
to pull him to the bottom. At 10 o'clock
yesterday morning the daring fellow was
in readiness, and his admirers, together
with the girl of his choice, were on the
bank Just above the bridge, to see him
start 1t was thrilling and pathetic
scene. The young gallant gazed up and
down the treacherous stream. while the
girl ki-yied and sang in weird, mourn
full manner a seemingly plaintive love
chant 1t was novel and certainly in
teresting scene. Everything was in read
iness. The young Indian, with grace
lul wave of the right hand, and amid the
encouraging shouts of the other reds.
shook the hand Of the fair prize for
which he was risking his life, chopped
off a little aboriginal muscle, in a sort of
a good by hello-if ldon't-see-you- again
air and plunged into the river. A veil
then went up from the crowd Of specta-
tors which caused the capill9ry integu-
ment of the reportorial cranium 10 start
zenithward at the rate of a mile 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 long di-
agonal dive up and across the stream.
He struck out boldly, padding himself
along with one hand. When be reach
ed the middle Of the stream he raised
his arm and went straight down, disap-
pearing beneath the muddy surface. As
the water closed over him the maiden,
who had been watching every move.
ment with interest, manifested great
nervous excitement, and Just as she was
about to Jump into the frail canoe, which
was half launched her lover appeared
with a careless toss of the head. and his
raven locks floated upon the surging wa
ters. As he neared the opposite shore
the admiring braves led by the girl, be-
gan waving their hands and singing
song of joy, and when he reached the
bank and stood facing his admirers, loud
were the exclamations of gladness sent
up from the point where he started. 1t
was indeed wonderful feat--swimming
the stream with one arm completely dis
abled and wearing heavy buckskin
pantaloons and shirt, with no boat or
body guard to accompany him. But he
accomplished it with apparent ease, and
for his reward received what to him
was worth more than all else combined.
The reporter was told the wedding
would take place at the camping grounds
OF the Indians, twenty niles north, next
Tuesday. Among those who witnessed
the .eit were several strange Indians.
who had been invited from afar to lar
hr,pate in the festivities of the wedding.
Bismarck ID. IT, Tribune.