Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-04-01
Fate OF a Treacherous Sioux.

Fate oil a TreacherOus Sioux.
On the Mississippi, about twenty
miles above the mouth OF Black River,
Wisconsin, there is somewhat singh
lar outer opping of a peculiar red rock,
interesting from geologic point OF
view, but still more SO from its his
toric associations. 1t is the famous
Calumet, or Painted Rock of the In
dams, priced by them for their pipe
bowls, and as q symbol of the Mani
tou. Hither came warriors, for hum
dredS of miles, from up or down the
great river, or from far across the
prairies, for bits OF this coveted red
stone. painted, as they thought by
the Geeat Spirit.
Among all these Western tribes n
calumet pipe became a peace-offering
and token of friendly intentions;
and on their visit to the rock, or at
least while near it, the bitterest foes
sedulously restrained all exhibitions
of enmity. That celebrated pioneer
of.early Wisconsin, John L. DE la
Ronde, whose life and adventures form
so large a share of the folklore of the
northwest country, thus describes
chance visit which he made to the
Painted Rock in the year 1928:
From Portage We journeyed across
to the Mississippi. l had heard a
great deal about the painted rock"
and so, while my two partners, Me
Kenzie and Cadott, were looking for
good places to set our traps, l went
up to see 1T.
. found the place, and soon discov-
cred the large rock, by the color and
the Clippings roundit Beieg tired with
my long tramp, sat down behind
bush, under one of the bluffs near by,
to rest; while lying there. saw an
Indian coming up on horseback.
Drawing back a little more out of
sight, | kept hidden, that | might
watch his motions; for could see by
his rigging OF feathers, paint and weap-
ons, that he was chief ofsome tribe,
which | Judged to be the Sioux.
He was powerful fellow, armed with
short but heavy bow, shield and
culver of large arrows; and his horse
was handsome, proud-steppiEg an
imal.
When he arrived at the base of the
bluff, he turned his horse loose, and
then walked about upon the rock in
silence for some moments, his lips NOV
ing and working as if engaged in pray
ers. Then drawing forth quantity
of tobacco, he broke it up, and scat
tered it upon the rock.
This ceremony finished, he filled his
own pipe and sat down for q good
smoke. after which he began hammer
ing with stones and his Ratchet, until
be had knocked off large piece OF the
rock This he began to break up into
smaller pieces, each ofabout theprop-
er size for a pipe-bowl.
had Just made up my mind to show
myself and make his acquaintance
for / concluded that we should not
quarrel, when saw another Indian
coming rapidly on horseback from an
other direction. Anxious to see how
the two would greet each other, | lay
still.
The newcomer advanced at a gallop
till he drew UP at the foot of the same
bluff where the first had halted. Here
he, too, turned his horse loose, then
walked out on the rock, scattering to-
bacco and muttering his prayers as the
first had done. Presently he filled his
| pipe, and then walking along where
| the first was hammering at his pipe
bowls, took seat quietly at his side.
| Having lighted a pipe he drew a few
whiffs and handed it to the first In
! dian, who received it,puffed at it tor a
moment or two, then handed it back.
They seemed Cy their actions to be
| on the best OF terms; but as | did not
see them speak together, at length
became a little suspicious of their true
feelings towards each other. And was
not long held in doubt; for the last
fellow having knocked off as much
stone as he wanted, caught his horse
and prepared to depart. He was not
nearly so large as the Sioux; but he
was even more splendidly dressed, aft
err the manner of Pyeur, or Chippe-
| wa chief, and he had a certain fine
style about him that betokened an
Indian of note.
The Sioux, when he saw the Pyeur
preparing to 60, made like prepare
tions; and the two left the bluff to-
gether, riding up in company past
where | lay hidden, until they were
three or four hundred yards away
| from the sacred rock. The Sioux then
fell behind the other little, as if to
part company, and when the distance
was increased to about twenty yards,
he suddenly snatched his bow and
shot an arrow at the Pyeur, quick as
light!
But he missed him. The shaft flew
! far ahead and stuck in the sod.
In an instant the Pyeur wheeled his
horse and had his own bow drawn.
For some moments then they pir
/ Quilted around each other in beautiful
style But Isaw at once that the small
Ter Pyeur was the better horsenan, and
knew best how to protect himself and
| his steed.
Never once did his horse stop swerv
ing and Siding, always with his head
| to the other. 1t was a rare spectacle!
Each Indian had his bow and arrow
| ready drawn, as they almost flew
| around each other. Then whirl whiri
| went both their feathered shafts. But
| again the Sioux missed his mark, while
! the Pyeur's arrow buried itself half
| it's length in the breast of the Sioux's
horse. With pitiful cry the beauti-
full animal fell to the ground; and be-
fore his rider could spring to his feet,
another arrow from the Pyeur's bow
had struck him, too, through the heart,
stretching him lifeless on the turf.
1t was all the work of moment or
two; and in even less time than that,
the warlike Pyeur had taken the scalp
of his fallen adversary, remounted and
galloped away.
| cannot say that felt much pity
for the Sioux; his treachery found its
punishment.
The corrugated form Tor the under
side of a toboggan is not original in