St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-23
A WARRIORS TALE.
Gen. Sibley Writes Of the In
dian Hunter and His
Habits.
The Brave Who Would Not
Carry the General Across
the River.
The Watchful Ten Who Guard
ed the Hunting Ground
Bounds.
The Manner in Which Gen.
Sibley Avoided the Ruin
Of His Tent.

More than a generation has passed
and gone since the scenes chronicled
III the following pages, when Hal, a
DacOtah, or Wah-Ze-o-man-nee- ak
pr in the Pines''-as he was called by
The Dacotah or Sioux bands Of Indians,
plaved the role Of a wild hunter on the
vast prairie region now known as Min
nesota and Dakota. Much Of his eXpe-
rience in that direction found its way
into the columns of literary and sport
ing journals in the East from time to
time. but no connected narrative OF
events has ever been attempted. L
have taken these "reminiscences at ran
dom from pages in an imperfectly-kept
sketch book, in which l occasionally
entered events that had occasionally oc-
CURED during the day. They are OF in
tcTeSt to the later generation, III so TAR
as they tend to show the half-savage
mode Of life Of the older pioneers in this
comparatively unknown and distant re-
glOu.
My first hunting experience in what
is now the great state Of Minnesota,
was attended by ludicrous results. A
few days after my arrival in Mendoza,
mounted my horse and with dog and
dOuble-barreled gun, | proceeded TO
explore the country adjacent. | visited
several Of the numerous lakes, and
finally stationed my self between two Of
them, with a hope that the ducks which
were abundant, would pass from one to
the other. and thus afford me OppOr-
tunity for a few shots. | had scarcely
enscOmced myself behind Il convenient
cover, before a large flock flew within
striking distance, and i emptled both
barrels Of my gun into them, and
was surprised to hear the report
Of another iirearm within thirty
yards. Eight ducks fell to the
had not suspected, leaped from the
bushes, and coolly appropriated all of
the fowls, attaching them to his belt by
the neck. With equal GOODNESS ] finished
loading my double gun, and then Stalked
to where the Indian was standing, took
the ducks one by one from his belt, and
attached them all TO my own. He made
no attempt to resist, but gazed at me
with silent amaZement at my impu-
dcnce. As he could speak no word of
English. and had not yet mastered
single word Of Sioux, the situation was
decidedly awkward. Doubtless, as he
belonged to the tribe which owned the
whole country, he regarded me as
poacher having no rights he was bound
TO respect. made signs TO him. that if
ne had been content with two ducks, |
would not have objected, but as be
wanted all, he should have none, and l
marched of with the spoil.
met the same savage many times in
after years, and be was subjected to
numerous eibeS from his comrades,
when | had acquired enough of the
language to tell Of his piggiSh conduct.
The life of an Indian hunter, who,
with his family, is dependent on his
daily quest of game for subsistence. is
essentially an anxious and precarious
one. While buffalo, elk, deer and other
fur and feathered game are plentiful,
his task is comparatively an easy one,
but when the region he inhabitS has been
dcnudCd of these creatures, and only soil
tary animals are 10 be fallen in with,
after long and diligent search, hic labor,
hoe opus est.
The duty of furnishing food to the
tenants OF Il lodge dGVOveS upon its
head. and that accomplished, his work
j. done. and he leaves all the rest of the
arrangements to the females. Any in
reference on his part with the domestic
concerns pertaining to the lodge would
be resented 10y the women as unwar-
rantcd, and degrading to a warrior.
The prevailing impression that females
among the wild Indians are little better
than beasts of burden is false one.
Their lot is no harder, and less weight
ed with responsibility, than that of their
duSkN mates. In fact, the line of de
marcation between the legitimate ocCu-
OatiOns of the two sexes is more sharply
defined and respected than among the
whites. OF course, the contact with the
newcomers and their example have
created a great innovation upon the
habits and practices which prevailed
while the Indian was in his wild state,
following the example of his prOgen-
itorS.
can recall to mind an instance illus
tratiNc of the extent TO which a warrior
carried his unWllingneSs to serve
white man, in any way involving labor
on his part. One day back in the thir-
ties, left my dwelling at Mendoza. Oh
n visit TO my military friends at Fort
Smelling, being transpoi ted across the
Intervening Minnesota river in boat
propelled 10y my own men. there being
no established ferry. INSTRUCTED them
to be at the landing at certain hour,
but having finished my round of visits
before the time appointed | strayed
down 10 the bank of the stream, with