Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-05-16

Ell Reno, May Whlrlwind, tn,
head chief of the Cheyenne nation o
Indians, is dead. After years OF wa
he died peacefully. A few days agt
while out rounding up his ponies a
which work he exercised himself viol
emily, a messenger ran to him and In
formed him Of the death Of a grandchild
his favorite papoose-and without ut
tering word he fell dead on the
ground.
Thus ended the life Of the mightiest
chief that ever presided over the des-
TIMES Of the Cheyenne nation. the men,
bers Of which followed his remains to
the grave with lamentations Of sorrow
that could have been heard for miles
around.
The man who has waded in blood
to his ankles during his time and es-
capped probably ten thousand bullets
was killed by the shock of hearing Of a
child's death. The heart that broke in
that mans bosom for such cause GER
tainly was not Of cold-blooded savage.
The child was but 2-yeras-old and the
favorite child Of his favorite daughter.
In the calm Of his old days he would
wander around to the tepee Of his dau-
glitter, take the child on his knee and
play with her for hours The child was
a little girl-a nice ,brlght-faced little
papoose-and the old man talked not to
her Of war or the traditions Of the In
dians, but played and talked with her
as II he had been child himself.
NO tombstone now marks, and prob
ably never will mark, the spot In which
lie his remains, and yet he was a Ma
polean and Caesar and a Soloman
combined in his sphere. No wiser man
ever sat around the council fire of his
people, or no drawer warrior ever fol-
lowed their fortunes In the field.
Whirlwind descended from a royal
stock His parental ancestors for gen
erations before him, had been chiefs In
the tribes, while his mothers family
mad long and brilliant pedigrees. His |
mothers brother was the famous Black |
Kettle, he who fell by the sword of the |
gallant Custer at Washita in that mem |
0raDle battle that was fought In the |
middle of the winter twenty-seven |
years ago. Whirlwlnd, however. need |
ed no pedigrees to give him prominence. |
lie carved out fame by his own deeds
or daring and personal bravery; for II
Is conceded that with the single excep-
ton or Quanah Parker that not so brave
an indian lived In his time. And he had
some OF the greatest qualities Of gener-
alsnlp. Napolean in his system of war
rare mad TWO characteristics first he
was noted for his rapid movements;
second, for cutting the enemy's ranks
Whirlwind had the same haraeteris-
tics In his military life. In fact his
name Is derived from the former char
acteriStic. He struck terror here one
Jay, nrty miles away the next, and 40
on till the people said "he travels like
Whiriwind." That Is how he got the
name he bore until his death. although
i was not his right name.
WhirlWind was not q blood thirsty
nan. Colonel William Matthewson Of
Wichita knew him for over forty years.
He says that he was as true as steel TO
friend, white or red. When Mr.. Mat
.heWson wanted once to trade with the
commanches who were then a very
iavage as we'll as a very treacherous
'ribe, Whirlwind called thirty braves to
ils size ana volunteered to accompany
ne noted plainsman When they went
INTO the Commanche camp the warriors
Ind people Of that nation proposed 10
axe Mr.. Matthewson's goods by force
NhirlWind stepped in front of the Com
nanche chief and, pointing one finger
i Mr.. Matthewson and the other one at
he nose OF the chief, said: THAT white
nan Is the friend and brother Of the
cheyenne, and you cannot lay finger
N his property without walking over
he dead bodies Of myself and my brave
You can kill us, but we have
many more warriors left who will wine
Tour tribe on the face Of the earth.
commence your robbing work II you
lare and for every Cheyenne killed we
viii send ten of your people to the hap !
" hunting grounds" The result was
nat the Commanche chief bought the
FOODS from Mr.. Matthewson and offered
lin ponies to relieve his animals with. !
The Cheyennes never spilled a drop /,
Il blood 30 long as they could help Il
Until after Colonel Chivlngton massas-
reed the Indians at Sand creed Then !
hey became desperate and under Whirl
Winds leadership did great damage to :
he forces or the government Whirl- !
win would select a band OF young
)raves, dash into the opposition, cut
hem In two and thus separated do i'm
nense damage. When Black Kettle was .,
lilled Whirlwind was not present, but
he moment he heard Of his uncle's !
leath he organized his band and whip !
,ed Clusters forces every inche of the
prairie until they retired into camp
upply. He made 1t so hot for Custer
hat the government troops that were
Iilled laid scattered on the prairie for !
hree weeks In some instances. This /,
act 10 not In General Custors book.
Personally Whirlwind was very clever !
md genial, and had hosts Of friends
lmOng the white people in Oklahoma.
He always wore on his breast silver
medal presented to him at Washington
by General Grant, Of which he was very
proud. He was man of considerable
pride, and always wore the golden eagle
straps Of colonel on his shoulders. 1t
s not known who his successor will be,
out the indications are that he will be
IN educated Indian from what Is known
as the young crowd" who are now
practically running the affairs Of the
Shey ehHeS' s,,S,