Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-04-05
An Indian Tradition.

A hundred years ago the immense
deserts extending from the declivity
OF the Rocky mountains to the Red
river We're peopled by numerous bar
barous tribes, always at war with one
another
The following is little story re-
lated by an old missionary who passed
thirty years in the midst of these
1nuIans in the northwest
One day toward the end of the month
of July IS, while the Blackfeet were
At war with the Crow tribes, and each
was watching to surprise the other,
fifty of the latter were scattered over
the prairie, gathering wild berries. Not
Suspecting the presence of their enc
mics in the neighborhood. they had
dispersed themselves here and there,
without any anxiety, in the places
where the fruit most abounded, Their
horses were fastened to trees, and the
women furnished with kettles, hur>
ried with their fruit to the carts as
soon as their vessels We're filled.
Then had been occupied about an
hour at the work when suddenly
troop of armed horsemen appeared in
the distance. The Crows We're not long
in ascertaining that they were Black
feet coming to surprise and massacre
them.
There was not moment to lose.
They left everything on the prairie
which would impede their tlight-fruit
Jars and all We're left for the enemy;
they thought only of saving their lives.
A young chief of this tribe, who had
been married but few months, had
brought his wife with him. At the
first cry of alarm he took her up in
his arms and placed her on horseback
behind him. In the general scare each
one took his own course to escape
from the enemy.
After going some miles the young
chiefs horse, tired with the weight of
his double burden, began to slacken
his pace. His rider did his best to
urge him on, but In spite of his efforts
he realized that the Blackfeet were
percptibly gaining ground on him.
He saw that he must fall into their
hands If he tried to save his wife.
What, then, was he to do? Should he
abandon her on the prairie to become
the prey of his enemies or fall with
her rather than basely leave her to
her fate?
Meanwhile the Blackfeet were com
ing
II am going to place you on the
ground" said he to his wife Il am
aware that you will be made Il pris-
oner, but they will not kill you; it
would be otherwise with me. You
know the sort of death awaiting me if
they seize me. Alone with my horse,
| have n better chance to escape and
reach my camp. Once restored to my
own people, l will raise party of
warriors and we will go forth to res
cue you from the camp of the Black
feet. In four or five days you shall be
set free
Saying this, he removed his wife
from the horse and put her down ON
the grass.
The horse, relieved of half his bur
den, resumed his course more swiftly,
and the young Crow found himself
beyond the reach of his enemies
Meanwhile his wife, captured by a
Blackfoot. was conducted into the
enemy's camp to be given as present
to the chief OF the tribe
Toward three o'clock in the after
noon all who had escaped from the
Blackfeet arrived in the Crow camp
and related how they had avoided
their murderous tomahawk and arrow.
The young chief in particular, who
had only deserted his wife because he
was certain that they would not kill
her, and that he could deliver her.
endeaFored by his recital to gain their
sympathy and urged his friends to
join him in wrcaking vengeance upon
those who had attacked them so
treacherously.
Immediately thirty young warriors,
who burned with desire to display
bravery by doing a deed worthy of
praise from the old men Of the tribe,
pressed around him The war whoop
resounied, and that very evening the
avengers went in pursuit Of the Black
feet under cover of the night. They
encamped on the banks of the Souris
river. 1t was there at daybreak, the
Crow chief and his followers discoy.
cred them AT some distance from the
camp there was densely wooded
thicket, where thirty men could easily
hide themselves. They directed their
course toward this place and there
held counsel
The chief decided that his compan-
ions should wait in the coppice while
he went to the bank Of the river hard
by the camp OF the Blackfeet. where
he hoped in the dim light of the dawn
to discover some trace OF his wife On
the bank of the rive" lie sat down be-
hind bush and waited till the women
came In the morning with their kettles
:" water. He hoped to see his
wife 20 down 70 the river with the
others and to have an opportunity to
release her and return 70 his warriors
before the day commenced.