The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-07-03


his :iagling fnger-tips. 'I've been
studying hard all day, and haven't a les
sor to get tonight, so that 1 feel free
and in Just the humor to listen to
good story"
SIS all the stock housed and fed this
wintry night, my son, and your chores
done in q neat manner"
Eyes, grandma; 1 have neglected
nothing; and now please reward me oy
beginning at once"
IT think then l shall tell you the
tragical story of Waw-wil-a-way, the
Shawnee Chief vino was killed few
miles below where we now live"
Grandma settled back in her chair,
took up her knitting, and as we all
looked around our home so filled with
comforts and thought OF the surround
ing country redeemed and made pros
porous and beautiful by the art OF civil
ization, it was hard for US to realize
that wild Indians had once rosmed
over these same grounds, then an al
most un broken wilderness.
"Waw-wil-a-way," began grandma,
was the old and faithful hunter OF Gem
eral Massie during his surveying tours,
and an unwavering friend of the white
man. What l tell you tonight may
serve not only to adorn tale but point
moral in this present day Of excite
ment over Indian troubles in the lar
west, by showing to you, dear boy, how
very unlustly the Indians have many
| times been treated. With their iuabll-
| ity, or least unwillingness to discrimi-
nate between friend or foe among the
pale faces, no wonder they have fought
the white race with savage ferocity.
Great excitement prevailed and wild
rumors of midnight butcheries were
afoat, The news spread with great
rspidity and the people of the valley
speedily gathered themselves into
block-houses and other places OF pro-
lection. Active preparations for war
began. The air was thick with rumors
and the blood curdled with thought OF
savage astrocities. All the settlers VINO
| lived on the creek which runs near our
farm were gathered into Old Town:
| Among the number was a man named
David Wolf, an old hunter, man OF
considerable means and influence, He
owned q farm several miles north OF
Old Town on this stream, After being
in the town several days he grew anx-
ious to know of the condition Of bis
stock on the farm, and Employed two
men, Williams and Ferguson, TO go
with him and look after it. AS they
were crossing a small prairie several
miles out of the town they looked up
and beheld an Indian of stately tread
and mien coming, walking over the
same path they were traversing. II
| 70, l,<, uni tho Shaw
nee chief, the old and faithful hunter oil
General Massie in his surveying tours,
and an unwavering friend OF the white
man. He was what might be called 8
good Indian. He never INDUCED II
erous and trusty. He had a wife and
settlers OF the valley, and were greatly
respected for their kind, frank and no
BILE demeanor. Waw-wil-a-way was {
great hunter, and was in the habit o
going to Old Town to exchange the
skins of wild animals for such articles
as he needed. He had left home tina
morning with his gun for the Purpose
of visiting Old Town. He approached
the party with an open. frank anC
friendly spirit such as always oharac'
terized his intercourse with white PEG
pie. He shook hands with them anC
inquired after the health of each ant
that of their families. Wolf then asked
him if he would not trade guns. Waw
wil-a-way assented, and the guns were
exchanged for examination before they
should complete the bargain. Wolf,
who was on horseback, opened the pan
of the Indians gun, threw the printing
out unnoticed by him, then handed il
back, saying they would not trade.
Wolf and Williams then dismounted.
They asked If the Indians had COM
menced war. The Indian said: mo:
white men and Indians all brothers,
now all one."
Wolf asked him II he had heard that
the Indians had killed Captain Her
rod.
The chief was greatly surprised, as he
had not heard IT, and seemed to doubt
it, but Wolf insisted that it was true.
Waw-wil-a-wsy said: Maybe some
bad white man killed Captain Herrod. ="
The conversation then ended, and the
men mounting their horses, the Indian
again shook hands wife them and said
goodbye in a very friendly way and
started on. After he had gone perhaps
ten steps Wolf raised his gun and
pointed it at him. Williams begged
him to desist and not shoot. Wolf said:
Yes, I'm going to shoot" and, taking
deliberate aim, shot the Indian through
the body. He did not fall, although he
knew his wound must prove mortal, nor
mid he submit to die without avenging
himself He seemed determined to sell
his life at as dear rate as possible. He
turned upon his cowardly foe and lev
eled his unerring rife at Wolf, who
jumped behind his horse.
The horse of William was frightened
and plunged about, leaving his body
unprotected. The Indian turned his
weapon upon him, and poor William
fell, shot through the body. He then
dubbed his gun and rushed with des-
peratlon upon Wolf. With one blow he
felled him to the earth. Wolf was
active, and made an effort to seize the
Indian by the long tuft of hair on the
top of his head He had shawl tied
around his head in the shape of q tur-
ban. Wolf seized this instead of the
hair, and gave q hard jerk. hoping to
bring him to the ground. The shawl
gave way and Wolf fell on his back
Waw-will-a-way then drew his scalping
knife and made q thrust at Wolf. See
ing his danger he threw up his feet to
parry the blow, and received the blade
Of the knife in his thigh. In the en-
counter the handle broke off and left
the whole blade fast in the wound.
Wolf made q stroke at the Indian, and
the blade of his knife entered the breast
bone. Just then Ferguson came to
VOLTS assistance, but the Indian strI ok
him on the head fearful blow and
felled him to the earth, laying his skull
partly bare.
The deadly strife now ended. Waw-
wil-a-way had all his foes lying at his
feet, and if he had had strength enough