The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-11
\ PAWNEE ROMANCE.
Drawing a Cold Death for the Sake
of Love.
EDWARD B. HBAToN, ALTON, 10 a.

large tribes of Indians, who, when not en-
| gagged in hostilities with the whites, made
war upon one another.
These tribes were the several bands oil
Sioux, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, who
roamed over the vast plains extending from
| Fort Kearney to the Rocky Mountains west
ward, and from the Yellowstone River on the
| north to the Arkansas OH the south. East OF
| these tribes, and bordering on the Missouri
River, dwelt the Pawnees, Poncas, Omahas,
and Ottoes, who, from time immemOrial,
| have entertained deadly feud with the
| first-named nations
This hatred had been constantly famed
| and maintained at white heat by forays,
| depredations, and murders, in the accom-
| plishment Of which many adventures Oc-
CURED, displaying a hardihood, constancy,
| and skill worthy of better cause and more
enlightened race.
Our office was, at the time specified, in
Omaha, then a young and thriving city, the
Capital of the Territory of Nebraska. Omaha
was much frequented by the Pawnees and
Omahas, who resorted thither for the purpose
of bartering their furs and trinkets for the
goods of the white man, and to beg, prac-
tice to which all Indians are as much addicted
| as the lazzarOni of Naples.
1t was owing to the latter propensity that
/ was indebted, one fine December morning,
to visit from Doctor Jim, Pawnee, and
his squaw. Notwithstanding the cold, keen
| air, neither had on other clothing than an old
buffalo robe, which scarcely protected them
from the wind. As consequence, their ap-
peal for old clothes was irresistible like
wise sent them TO the mess house, where the
cook gave them breakfast fully up to their
nar ,apfv which 10 oil irfnifa in, thnt
direction. / supposed this would terminate
my acquaintance with the Doctor and his
dusky spouse, but no sooner had they finished
their meal than they returned, and seating
themselves at the stove, made themselves as
comfortable as if they had been domiciled in
their own wigwam.
Not being rushed with business, turned
my chair and entered into conversation with
the Indian, who spoke our language brokenly,
bat intelligibly. / soon found was eOnvers-
ing with no ordinary savage, for the Doctor
proved to be the brother of the Big Medicine
or high priest Of the Pawnees, and a warrior
of no little note in his tribe. During the
forenoon ELECTED from him, among others,
the following incident of his savage but
eventful life
His squaw belonged to the Omaha tribe,
with which nation the Pawnees are connected
by ties of the closest intimacy. Their reser-
vations or territories almost joined, and they
invariably hunted in company. These hunts,
which were annual, took place in late Autumn,
and were the great epochs of Indian life. At
such times the villages were deserted by all
save the old and infirm, and the nations mi
grated, so to speak, ell masse to their hunting
grounds on the Republican and Arkansas
Rivers
At the time when our narrative commences
the hunt was over, the two tribes had reached
the Pawnee village on the Loup Fork Of
Platte River, had held their great hunting
feast and dance, and the Omahas had taken
up their line of march for home. 1t was
early Winter The shallow streams which
irrigate those regions were encrusting with
ice the cottonwoods which stoOp over their
tuTbid channels were leafless, and the north
west wind of Winter, signing drearily through
their branches, prOgnOsticated increasing cold.
The long swells of prairie were covered
with dead, brown grass, which ratified dry
and crispy under the returning feet of the
Omahas. Yet the tribe was in high spirits
Their hunt had been successful, and their
ponies were heavily laden with the delicious
flesh of the buffalo, which enabled them to
look forward without apprehension to the
tObluS w ihS JOuihty was ny
easy stages, for their village was near at hand
and they had no dread of hostile foe in such
close proximity to their homes. But they
were doomed to be cruelty disappointed On
the second night of tile journey, while en-
camped on the ElkhOrn, large tributary of
Platte River, they were surprised by war
party of SOuix, who before the Omallas could
rally, killed and scalped q couple of warriors
and captured several squaws, among whom
was the very sqnaw before me, who at that
time was affianced to Doctor JIM Or as he
was known in the tribes, Luck-oo-wa-ter-oo.
Word of this misfortune was quickly dis
patched to the Pawnee village, and party of
warriors under the leadership of Big Buffalo,
the great war-chief of the tribe, and amongst
whom was our Doctor, started at once in pur-
suit of the Sioux.
The trail of the foe was struck at the Old
California Crossing of Platte River, upwards
of 100 miles above Fort Kearney The Sioux
were directing their course for the Republican,
and Big Buffalo, with wary eye, followed
rapidly on in their footsteps. The country
they were now traversng was desolate in the
extreme Nothing but vast, level stretches
of stunted, brown grass met their gaze, or
hills of naked land, furrowed and plOwed by
the winds No horseflesh, save the hardy
Indian pony, can endure the Toll oil travel III
these wastes, or subsist upon the scanty yege-
tation confined mainly to the ravines.
Two days of such riding brought the pa
tient Pawnees in the vicinity of the enemy.
Big Buffalo determined to attack at once.
The charge was completely successful. The
surprised Sioux fed, leaving some scalps with
the victorious Pawnees, who, with the res
cued sauaws, turned their faces homeward
In the melee the horse OF Doctor Jim re-
ceived an arrow, which, at first thought to be
trifling, proved indeed serious. To add to his
distress, the Sioux, recovered from their
fright, were following in rapid pursuit. and
in overwhelming force. The weather, too,
became fercely cold, and death stared the
pair in the face, when Big Buffalo informed
them that, in order to save any, it was neces-
sary for the well-mOunted to push forward
with all possible speed
The spot where the lovers were abandoned
was on the banks of the Republican River,
which was frozen from shore to shore. They
were afoot, their pony having entirely sue
cumbed, and they were painfully conscious of
the near approach of their foes They ran
along the banks of the river with the hope of
finding hiding place Fortunately, they OBJ
served hole in the ice close to the shore,
from which the waters had receded. They
sprang into it, and by great good luck found
space sufficient under the thick, muddy ice
to advance some distance from the hole.