New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-31
Fate OF Treacherous Sioux.

Fate OF a Treacherous Sioux
On the Mississippi, about twenty
miles above the mouth OF Black River.
Wisconsin, there is asomewhat sinpu-
lar out-cl opping Of a peculiar redr rock,
interesting from q geologic point of
view, but still more so from it's his
toric associations. It is the famous
Calumet, or Painted Rock OF the In
dlans, priced by them for their pipe
bowls, and as a symbol OF the Mani
tou. Hither came warriors, for hun
dreds OF miles, from up or down the
great river, Or from far across the
pralries, for bits of this coveted red
stone, painted. as they thought by
the Great Spirit.
Among all these Western tribes a
calumet pipe became a peace. offering
and a 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 T. De la
Ronde, whose life and adventures form
SO large a share of the folklore of the
northwest country, thus describes a.
chance visit which he made to the
Painted Rock in the year 1928:
From Portage we journeyed across
to the Mississippi. | had heard a
great deal about the painted rock,
and so, while my two partners, Nc
Kenzie and Cadott, were looking for
good places to set our traps, l went
up to see it.
| found the place, and soon discov-
cred the large rock, by the color and
the clippings roundit. Beieg tired with
my long tramp, I sat down behind a.
bush, under one of the bluffs near by,
to rest; while lying there. l saw an
Indian coming up on horseback.
Drawing back a little more out Of
sight, kept hidden, that 1 might
watch his motions; for l 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 a powerful fellow, armed with
a short but heavy bow, shield and
culver OF large arrows; and his horse
was a handsome, proud-stepping 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 asif engaged in pray
ers. Then drawing forth a 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 a good
smoke. after which he began hammer
ing with stones and his Ratchet, until
he had knocked off large piece of the
rock. This he began to break up into
smaller pieces, each ofabout the prop
er size for a pipe-bowl. :.
| had just made up my mind to show
myself and make his acquaintance
for I 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, 1 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 andmutteringhis prayers ais the
first had done. Presently he filled his
pipe, and then walking along where
the first vas hammering at his pipe
bowls, took a 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 Dy their actions to be
on the best of terms; but as I did not
see them speak together, I at length
became alittlesuspicious OF their true
feelings towards each other. And l 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
Ell the manner of a Pyeur, or Chippe-
wa chief, and he had a certain fine
style about him that betokened ar
Indian of note.
The Sioux, when he saw the Pyeur
preparing to go, made like prepara-
tions; and the two left the bluff to-
gether, riding up in company past
where 1 lay hidden, until they were
three or four hundred yards away
from the sacred rock. The Sioux then
fell behind the other a little, as tito
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 IsaM at once that the small
Ter Pyeur was the better horseman, 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 rare spectacle!
Each Indian had his bow and ARROW