The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-11-21
A FEA1.
IN indian Buck at Bismarck Stcinis Across
the Big Muddy scith One Hand Tied Be
= hind HIS Back, for a Bride.

Bismarck Tribune. -
An Indian named Tsi-ung-che-ung,
one of the nomadics who has been roam
ing about the city and -yicinityfor some
time, performed a truly wonderful feat
yesterday, in the presence of a few adj
mirers of his tribe, who gathered to
witness his exhibition of daring and
strength. The hero of the tale is a
strong, s~quare-built, good-looking In
dian, and his feat was to swim the Mis-
souri, with his left hand tied behind his
back, his reward for this being the
hand and heart in marriage of a be-
witching (P) daughter of one of his fell
low-scalpers. The wonder of the fact
was not only in swimming the treacher-
Gus stream, with one arm fastened firm
ly 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 in the morning the daring
fellow was in readiness, and his admir-
ers, together with the girl of 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 cold, treacher-
Gus stream, while the girl ki-yied and
sang in a wierd, mournful manner, a
seemingly p~laintive love chant. 1t was
a novel and certainly interesting scene.
Everything was in readiness. The
young Indian, with a graceful wave of
the right hand and amid the encourag-
ing shouts of the other reds, shook the
hand of the fair prize for which he was
risking his life, chopped off a little
aboriginal music, in a sort of a good
bye-hello-if-I-don't -see-you-again and
plunged into the river. A yell then
went up from the crowd of spectators
which caused the capillary integument
of the reportorial Uranium to start
zenithward at the rate of a mile a min
ute. The swimmer bold dove from the
bank and was lost to view for a num-
Der of seconds, when he came to the
surface several yards above the point
from which he started, having made a
long diagonal dive up and across the
stream. He struck out boldly, padding
along with one hand. When he reached
the middle of the stream he raised his
arm and went straight down, disap-
pearing beneath the muddy surface.
AS bne WdIeT ClOSeU over Hill
the maiden who had been watching
every movement with interest, manifest
ed great nervous excitement, and just as
she was about to jump into the frail ca
noe which was half launched, her lover
appeared with a careless toss of the
head, and his raven locks fioated upon
the surging waters. As he neared the
opposite shore the admiring braves, led
by the girl began waving their hands
and singing a song of joy, and when he
reached the bank and stood facing his
admirers, loud were the exclamation of
gladness sent up from the point where
he started. 1t was indeed a wonderful
feat-swimming the stream with one
arm completely disabled and wearing
heavy buckshin pantaloons and shirt,
with no boat OF body guard to accom-
pany him. But he accomplished it with
apparent ease, and for his reward re-
what to him was worth all else
combined. The reporter was told the
wedding would take place at the camp
grounds of the Indians, twenty
north, next Thursday. Among
those who witnessed the feat were sew
eral strange Indians, who had been in
vited from afar to participate in the
festivities of the wedding.
s