Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1889-08-22
AN INDIAN HERO.
How a Gallant Chief of the MiamiS
Rescued a White Prisoner from
a Horrible Death.


Horrible Death.
In q conspicuous spot in an old Catho-
lie burying ground. long since aban-
doned as place of interment, and at no
great distance from the st. Mary's
River, where it begins to bend its course
through the city of Fort Wayne, stands
q marble monument, erected to mark
the last resting place of one of the no
blest and greatest of Indians, writes q
Fort Wayne, Ind, correspondent to the
GlObe-Democrat The east side Of the
shaft bears the legend: Here rest the
remains of Chief Richardville, Principal
Chief of the Miami Tribe of Indians.
He was born at Fort Wayne, Ind. =,
about the year 176O. Died in August,
A. ID. 1841.' On the west side are the
words: This monument has been
erected by La Blonde, Susan and Cath
crime, daughters of the deceased" The
history of the semi-savage period of the
Northwest country" abounds in reminis-
cences and tales of Richardville. School
craft and other early writers make fire.
quent mention of this most remarkable
man. In the management of the affairs
of his tribe he was judicious and pains
taking, adjusting all matters of bust
ness appertaining to them with the most
exact discrimination and prudence. He
was held In the highest esteem through
out the Northwest. By the Miami ma
ton he was honored and trusted as their
lxwgiver with the utmost confidence
and most explicit obedience. His in
tellect was of high order. He reached
his conclusions only after deliberate
consideration, and these conclusions he
could not be prevailed upon to change.
He was averse to bloodshed, and was
the strong and consistent friend of peace
and good will to all men. The story of
the ascendency of Richardville to the
craftsmanship of his tribe was told bv
the Chief himself to the late Allen
Hamilton, the pioneer banker of Fort
Wayne, the ociate and business part
ner of Hon. Hugh McCulloch, late Sec
rotary of the Treasury. The occasion
was not only thrilling and heroic, but
on the part of the young warriors IA
nous mother and himself will ever
stand in history as one of the noblest
and most humane acts known to any
people, and would serve as a theme both
grand and eloquent for the poet or
dramatist.
1t was about 100 years ago, and the
Indian tribes which were located about
the headwaters of the Maumee river
had not then begun to feel the civilizing
influences of the earlier priests and pio-
neer settlers. The savage customs pre-
vailed in all their terrible force. The
Indian brave was occupied with
thoughts of war, cruelty, and revenge.
The utmost barbarity was practiced to-
ward captives, who were burned at the
stake, dragged to death at the tales of
wild horses, or were otherwise made
the victims of the most inhuman torture
the ingenuity of red men could invent.
A white man had been captured, and
was brought into the Miami village,
and at no great distance from the spot
so long occupied by the famous log fort
which gave its name to this city. At
the sight of the helpless prisoner the
utmost excitement prevailed, and
throughout the camp the Indian men.
women, and even children began to
whet their appetites for the horrid
feast of his cremation. A council of
the warriors was called to determine
the wrecked mans fate The decision
was foregone conclusion. 1t was de-
termined to burn him at the stake.
Preparations we're Immediately be-
gun, and the camp surrounded with
large shouts of qualification. Another
hour of fiendish delight was promised.
Another human sacrifice was to be en-
joyed. The inexorible mandate of the
council of warriors had gone forth. In
all the village there were but two per-
sons besides the trembling captive
whose faces did not exhibit glad expec-
fancy. These two were young Rich
ardville and his mother. They had
been quiet but earnest spectators of the
arrangements in progress for the dread
full orgies. This Indian woman was the
chieftess of the tribe. She was called
Tau-cum-wa, and her only son was
known as Pe-she-wa, or Wild Cat,
which names are found appended to
many important treaties. The mother
was filling out kind of regency which
had continued now for nearly thirty
years, and. according to the traditions,
she ruled the tribe with sway, power
and success as woman never ruled be-
fore.
She was of the royal blood of the Mi
amis. Her young son had been singled
out as her successor, but before he
could attain the great distinction of
leadership and command the obedience
of his rivals for the high place, he must
distinguish himself by some deed of
prowess-must show that he was brave
and resolute as well as wise and DELHI
crate. The captive was now bound to
the stake, and as the merry execution
ers leaped high about him with the fag-
gots, Tau-cum-wa sat in the outer ring
of spectators trying to form plan for
the advancement of her son, endeavor-
ing to take advantage of the circum-
stance of the sacrifice to call the favor
able notice of the assembled warriors to
her candidate for the honors of chief.
Her scheme was soon perfected and was
impaired to Pe-she-wa, who carried it
out with spirit worthy of the son of so
noble q mother. The plan was to save
the victim from q horrible death, to
snatch from the fire the hapless victim,
to cheat the warriors and the women of
the pleasure of the sacrifice.
The scene had now become one of
great animation. The whole of the
camp had gathered. On the outer linn
its Of the throng Stood the gloating
weaans Aelding up their babes 10 elade