Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-08
FIGHT OF THE CHIEFS.
matOnka and Rolling Bear Meet fin
 Death Graple with Knifes.

Death GrapIo Wftn An1feBs
 Frank Wilkerson in the New York World.l
 And as Matonka rode and fought 50 rode and fought Rolling Bear. His lance, blood stained to the shaft. broke against the thigh bone of an Okanagan warrior. His quiver was empty and his musket shattered by @ ball. The fight was almost over when the two supreme chiefs met face to face. Rol- ling Bear knew that he had lost the fight. He knew that no Blackfeet could escape. He was afame with rage.
 He sprang from his horse, drew his knife, and in sight of the victorious Columbia In- dians challenged Matonka to single combat. Matonka knew that the result of the battle would be to further confederate the Colum- bia tribes and greatly increase his power. But he also knew that if he killed the great war chief of the Blackfeet nation in single combat that it would enforce the truth of his saying, "That one man was as good as an- other in battle" He resolved to risk the changes of the contest. He dismounted and tore the blanket on which he rode from his horse and wrapped it, fold on fold, around his left arm, and then signi6ed his willing ness to fight. The Blackfeet warriors, with the exception of Rolling Bear, were dead or dying The Columbia Indians gathered in Q great circle around the two chiefs. Many men shouted protests to Matonka, begging him not to fight, but to let them kill the Blackfeet chief. He mentioned his warriors to silence and inactivity.
 Rolling Bear knew hs was doomed to death, it mattered not the result of the duel. His heart burned for revenge He would embrace death with joy if he could kill the man who had out-generaled, out-fought and ruined him. Approaching to within 10 feet the two naked warriors stood motionless to gaze at each other. The physical constrast between them was striking. Rolling Bear was perfect specimen of the product of the war camps of the Buffalo-meat-esting plains Indians. He stood about 6 feet inches. His shoulders were immensely broad and powerful. His arms were long and slender. His chest was as round as a barrel. He tap- cred from his head to his feet like huge bronze wedge. His face was of the most pronounced Indian type. He was an impos- ing spectacle as he stood motionless with knife in hand and glared at Matonka through blazing battle-lighted eyes.
 Matonka was three inches shorter than his antagonist and four inches narrower across his shoulders. He was lighter, quicker, more muscular, and far more intelligent. The grayness of his face showed his realizs- tion of the danger he was in. It was evident that he held himself to the trial by power full mental and moral effort. But he was braced for the conflict and looked at Rolling Bear through resolute black eyes. The con- his knife was parallel with his ear. Matonka held his knife by his side with point ad vanced and arm drawn back and with his blanket-wrapped arm crossed before him. With a mighty bound and loud whoop | Rolling Bear sprang at his antagonist to cut him down. Backward and to the left, quick l as light almost, Matonka stepped, his blank l eted arm thrown out and raised to catch the descending blow, and he croHched under it's | protection. Then his right arm shot out like the piston of locomotive running at full speed once, twice, thrice, and each time his l knife was thrust to the hiit ip Rolling Bears broad chest. Then Mstonka 1eaped far back. The great Blackfeet chief stood motionless for an instant. His dark face twitched cenvulsively and blood gushed from his mouth. He staggered toward Ma tonka to kill him, then tottered and swaYsd,