Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-10-08
HAND TO HAND WITH kNlvgs
An Indian Dispute Settled by the Death
OF Both Parties to It.

An Indian Dispute Settled by the beatn
of Both Parties to IT.
William Weston, a ranchman living
twenty miles north of Eishomingo, l.
T., brings a story Of a most horrible
duel which was fought with knives by
two Indians near his ranch. There
hal been bad blood between the two
for some time which had started over
a horse race
The Indians were named Sewapi and
Nunechi. They had been restrained
from fighting several times by their
friends, but on meeting at a horse race
the quarrel was renewed, and it was
finally arranged that they should end
the matter by a duel with knives. A
large crowd Of Indians and halfbreeds
were present, and a ring was formed.
Each man had his second, who was
armed with "A Winchester rifle, ready to
shoot down any n who might be
tempted to interfere.
The contestants were stripped to the
waist, and each vas armed with two
sharp knives, the blades being about
eight inches long. When the men e n
tered the ring it was with the under
standing hat it was a duel tothe death.
Both were magnificent specimens Of
manhood, and they were equally adept
in the use Of the knife.
Amid breathiess silence the combat
ants slowly approached the center OF
the ring. There Nhey stood for a min
ute gazing at eaca other. while the
silence was most painful. Not a sound
could be heard except the occasional
stamp Of a horse on the outskirts of the
crowd. The spectators sat around per
fectly mOtiOnless, while the duelists
began slowly TO walk around each
other, watching for a chance to catch
II another of guard. It was prob
ably two minutes before a change
came. and then it was with the rapidity
of a lightning stroke.
Sewapi suddenly made a leap through
the air toward his enemy, and for an
instant the air appeared to- be fun OF
Indians and knives. which latter flashed
in the sunshine like streaks of light
As quickly as they came to- ether did
they separate, and Notwithstanding the
rapid play Of the weapons it was seer
that neither had received a scratch
Still, during the whole exciting scene,
not a sound could be heard except the
clashing steel as it came together.
Slowly the circling began again, and
the glittering eyes alone showed that
the walk meant death. Soon the same
leap was repeated, this time by Nune
chi, who seemed to fly through the air.
The fight was fast and furious. and
when they separated both were bleed
ing p~rofusely. SewaPi had a terrible
cut across his breast, while Nunechi
had the muscle OF his left forearm al
most severed.
The intermission was very short, and
both men sprang simultaneously 10.
ward each other. The struggle was
fierce, and suddenly a trip was given
and Sewapi fell on top of his antag.
onist. The Lghtninglike rapidity OF
the stroke and parry precluded the
possibility Of knowing who was getting
the worst Of it, until it was noticed that
Nunechi threw up his arms, stifened
out his legs, ano las dead with a knife
in his heart.
Sewapi sprang to his feet, gave an
earsplitting yell, and then slowly sank
to the ground, with blood gushing from
a dozen wounds. Before a friend could
reach him he, too, was a corase.-San
Francisco Examiner.