Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-06-25

companIed by band OF braves, VIII
hunted While their squavs worked
Yellow Head became oppressed on
night by dream that the Dakotas wer
about TO attack him. Early In tn
morning he requested his warriors L
assemble at his lodge. They did so, an,
two scouts were detailed TO examine tn
shore Ia search Of Dakotas. Rapid firinl
soon told the Ojibways that their scout
bad been attacked.
About twenty-five braves, including
old men aud boys. led by Yellow Head
swiftly padded their bark canoes TO
wards where their scouts were beini
fired upon, They were heading for
spot which presented favorable land
ing. The Dakotas anticipated and sen
a portion of their warriors to give tn,
Ojibways a bloody reception Thi,
strategy would probably have been sue
cessfu and very disastrous to the Glib
ways had IL not been for the fact tina,
the vancouver was discovered by the
Ojibway women. Instead of landing
where they first intended, warned by
their squaws, the Ojibways touched at q
nearer point of the main shore and sen,
their canoes back TO camp.
Between this point and the Dakotas
was q dense thicket through which
| Yellow Heed was swiftly leading his
| party, when they suddenly stumbled
upon Dakota woman and her little
son, whom Yellow Head by their dress.
at once recognized as the family OF e
Dakota chief whose scalp had teen
added TO the bloody trophies of OjIbway
bravery some time before.
Yellow Head did not deign to kill the
child, but tossing il aside, pursued the
woman, who fed through the thcket,
mingling her screams for help with his
war-whOop. Her swiftest pursuer,
however, was young warrior who out
stripped his chief In the chase.
hundred sturdy Dakota warriors
were Fastening TO protect the woman,
but still the young warrior continued
the pursuit
AS the woman was almost within the
protecting range OF Dakota rifles, the
young q. fbway plunged knife into her
back.
An Indian will not only risk his life,
but tortures at the stake, to secure the
scalp OF dead victim. Although the
Dakotas were sweeping down upon him,
he would not leave without taking her
head with him.
AS he was securing this bloody trophy,
Yellow Head warned him to flee. lie
did so, but his speed was somewhat i'm
peded by the burden of the woman's
head. The chief of the Dakotas. who
was armed with only a spear, pressed
him closely The Dakota warriors dare
not fire upon the fugitive for fear of kill
lug their CHI 'ef instead. Finally the young
Ojibway felt the spear OF the Dakota
chief pressing into his back Then he
called TO Yellow Head for hep. The
latter dispatched the Dakota chief with
single shot, thus saving his young war
rior'S life.
Yellow Head then called upon his lit.
tie band OF warriors to turn and with
stand the Dakotas. Only ten responded
to this call. But from behind an ambush
Of trees these ten braves and their chief
kept the Dakotas at bay all day
Alright the Dakotas retreated to their
village, and the Ojibways secured sew
eral scalps
This daring battle and brilliant VIC
tory over such tremendous odds gained
Yellow Head great repute among the
entire Ojibway nat on.
AT the beginning of the present CEN
tury, Waub-o-secg and She shebe, who
were camping. with their fam lies, at
Mile Lac, were surprised and massa-
cred by large party of Dakotas. They
were both Ojibway warriors of repute,
and their death could not b. allowed to
pass unavcaged by their tribe. Curly
Head, chief OF the Gull Lake band, ana
Flat Mouth, chief of the Pillagers, en-
listed leo warriors With these they
surrounded camp of forty Dakota |
lodges. at Prairie River.
Just efore daybreak they raised the
war-whoop and riddled the lodge, with
M
fire that only sixty Dakota warriors lived |
to rush out Of their lodges and make n |
stand against the Ojibways.
The battle raGel all day. At sunset |
only seven of their number were living. !
but those seven warriors, from the cover |
OF their lodges. kept the Objibways at |
bay and saved their own lives and also |
the scalps OF their fallen brethren. The |
only ObJibway who won enduring fame /
In this battle was a very young warrior |
named Strong Ground Having slain
a Dakota brave. This lad leaped into the
very midst of the Dakota lodges and /
his victims scalp under a run
ming fire.
These instances are only few OF the
best-authenticated accounts of the fierce
battles which once took place in these
Northwestern States between the once
savage tribes, the remnants of which
ire now leading quiet life on their
some OF which are situated
IN the very spots in Wisconsin, Mime
'ota and Dakota where their bloodiest
battles have been fought A very
,ursory glance into the actual history of
indian warfare Is sufficient to show that
he most sensational story writer's who
reat of these savage conflicts have
ardly exaggerated the craft, cruelty or
bravery of the participants.
FoRREsT CRIssEY.
GENEVA. Ill