Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-28
BLACK HAWKS TOMB.
Where the Remains of the Great Chief
tain RepOse in Death.
IMraiffe1l for HNIs Rec

Written for 2ne'Bee.l
Towering high above the placid
waters of Lake koshnoshnong stands an
oak that has withstood the chilly winds
OF many q Wisconsin winter. BY the
ordinary observer it would be regarded
as but a tree that had been spared by
the axeman to serve a better purpose
than the heating Of the family hearth
stone or be sacrificed to other ignoble
purposes. But, to the red man, it is
doubly dear. Its record is handed down
in tradition connected with which is
that of the final fall Of the great Indian
chieftain, Black Hawk. Turning back
the pages in history, the eye falls upon
an important factor Of a warlike ten
dency in 1882, when the territory Of
southern Wisconsin was acquired from
the Indians by force of arms. 1t was
the last resort of this government, for,
after making every reasonable conces-
sion the ''sons Of the Forest refused to
countenance any proposition thus
made. In the early days the territory
cOntended for was considered valuable
by the natives, for the reason that IL
was interspersed with lakes Astounding
in species of the tinny tribe, and this
together with game, which abOunded
in the neighborhood, was relied upon,
as "a NEAR of sustaining life. Being
thus situated, the savage was made all
the more desperate and determined in
not relinquishing his claim.
Among the numerous tribes which an
arch-chieftain ruled, was one at whose
head was Black Hawk. This chieftain,
as described in ar Indian biography,
| which is dwelt on more fully in the fol-
lowing, was a man of great strength.
He stood six feet two and One-half
inches in height, and was otherwise de-
veloped in proportion. Multawa, who
traced her ancestry back to Massassoit,
vas his mother, and history bears out
Hawk inherited his courageous spirit.
When failing to agree with
| the agents of the government
and when the ''pale faces" began to en-
croach upon the territory referred to,
| the various tribes met in consultation
on the same spot where the capitol Of
the Badger state" now lifts its dome
in the heart Of the beautiful city OF
Madison. A conclusion was reached In
which Black Hawk was designated the
arch-chief OF the combined forces. The
| Dldn Oh NdTldFc WAC dSICCu upon,
one which stands without parallel on
the records OF the most barbarous ma
lions of the earth. Mothers with their
female descendants were at h stake.
Fathers, sons and brothers were to be
made the victims Of the tomahawk and
scalping knife. The most brutal sys-
TEN of warfare, found in Black Hawk
and his clan, a willful following and ar
dent admirers. The strife opened when
an onslaught was made upon a settle
ment of whites in the adjacent
vicinity to Lake Monona. The
inhabitants were unprepared for
such an invasion, and in consequence,
out OF the $50 living in that section
only five escaped with their lives. The
strong arm OF the republic was called
upon for support, and from that time
until entirely %subdued, the savages
waged a bitter fight. Along the shores
OF Lake Kegonsa,. where the allied
forces OF both sides met face to face, II
is not an uncommon occurrence for The
axeman in telling trees to find bullets
Embedded. In the trunks. This was the
scene OF the deciding point OF the con
test Black Hawk retreated for some
distance in the night, and when the