The Irish standard., 1893-01-07
A SIOUX HEROINE,
Old Betz, the Squaw, is Preeminent
Among the Indian Women i.
of Minnesota.
A FRIEND OF THE PALE FACES

A FRIEND UF lHE PALE FAtES,
Like Winona She Resolved to
Marry a Dusky Brave and
Eloped With Him.
Rarely, says contributor to '"The
Literary Northwest" is the name of an
Indian woman known far beyond the
limits of her village, and still more rarely
IS it met with in the pages of history. 1t
is not her fault She has been endowed
by the Creator with faculties which have
given to many Of her sex, in happier
climes, historical or poetical immortality,
The Indian woman, or eQnaw, is re-
nowned for her power of patient endur-
ance, her astonishing physical strength,
her Amazon-like bravery in battle in case
of necessity-and no noble human pas
sion can be more intense and touching
than her affeotion for her children. n.
The deep sincerity of affection for her
lover or husband is another characteristic
of the Indian woman. She is ready to
sacrifice and suffer all for his sake, even
life, in case of necessity or unrequited
love. This is illustrated by various
touching Indian legends; as for instance,
those of the maiden, Wlnona, who
plunged herself from the we'll known
high rock of Scarlet Dove, who carried
the corpse of Eagle-Eye, who had been
accidently killed near Lake Pepin,
wrapped in skins, as far as Pilot Knob,
at MENDOZA, placed it on scatfold
erected by herself, and then, with the
strap which she had used in carrying her
precious burden, ended her earthly ex-
istence to meet her beloved Eagle Eye
soon again in the world of spirits. Then
there is the story of Anpetueapa, who,
| with her little son in a canoe, plunged
into the Falls Of St. Anthony on account
| of the loss of her husbands undivided
affection.
| This noble natural trait in the charac.
ter of Indian women has been beautifully
pictured by Longfellow in his ''Song OF
Hiawatha'.. Mlnnehaha is, of course, a
merely poetical creation and never had
any personal existence; no more than
the angels whom Jacob saw in 8 dream
on ladder between heaven and earth.
Yet in this poetic creation of his own,
our American bard has rendered just
tribute to Indian women generally. Con.
jugal infdelity on the part of the wife il
said to be of rare occurrence among
Indians. Among the few Indian women
that have succeeded in making their
names widely known and respected
throughout and beyond the Northwest
"the Whortleberry Picker generally
known as sold Betz," ranks preeminent
and her uniform friendship for the whites
entities her memory to be held in favor
by them, in spite of some Of her pecuiia,
Indian traits which are not in accor6
with our civilized and Christian views O.
propriety.
According to some authorities Ole
Betx was born in the village of Kaposia
others claim that she was born neal
Mendoza. The date of her birth is alst
something which nobody seems to know
exactly. This may account somewha
fQrsthe several places in which individ
TpG5s are said to have been born and th.
|lncre6bly old age occasionally claimed
bbe 4dme Indians. tits thought by som.
thkt at The time of her death Old Bet,
| was about 50 years old.
/ During her girlhood she is reported K
have already exhibited traits Of daring
which forshadowed her future pre- emin
ence above the companions Of her agt
and sex.
It is related of her that like Winon,
she had resolutely made up her mind t.
marry the youth Of her affection, despite
the opposition Of some Of her relatives
What she could not do by force she en-
deavored to do by stratagem. The neces
Esary preparations were cautiously made
and on some other favorable occasion sht
eloped with her lover, each on pony
Unfortunately for the success Of the en-
terprise the scheme was detected too
soon. A brave, nearly related to her
quickly saddled pony, and with war
club or tomahawk pursued the two Low
ers. No matter how Betz and her com
Ipanion urged on their ponies, the enemy
gradually came nearer and nearer te
them, until he was near enough 70 drae
Betz from her horse. To prevent this
she made q bold jump from her pony and