The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-17
pUNCTUAL INDIAN BRAVES.
ri m MEYER MISS THEIR
ENGAGEMENTS TO NE SHOT

ENUAGE ENIS TO he SHOT. |
A roirt or Honor with Them and Their Fnmi-
lies to ne on Hand nt tho Tlne Not for
ThOir RScrution-Nothln Unusual for Them
in tho Case of NaliA Tonkn the Rail Player.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 16.-ZHck Mulhall, the most
extensive farmer in the Indian Territory, came
up TO 81. Louis the other day on business con-
nected with his stock interests. Ho left his
10, 600 acres OF wheat land, much of which was
planted in dollar wheat last season, to look
after tho sale OF q lot Of cattle, aud incidentally
to observe the movements of II stable of harscs
on which he has been making and losing money
by turns for several months. While he was in
ST, Louis Col. Tack. as nearly all the Southwest
calls him, stopped talking about the farming
future of his part Of tho world long enough
to discuss tho approaching execution of Walla
Tonkn, the Creek Indian who has been going
about the country as n member OF n baseball
team in face OF tho fact that he Is under SEN
tcnce of death and may be executed at any
time in tho discretion OF the tribal authorities.
walla Tonka was released on parole In order
that he might holp to win n ball game at Kansas
City against n team Of college players that had
long been q rival of the Indian club of which
Wallu Tonka was an important player.
Walla Tonka's situation did not seem odd to
Col. Zack. Indeed, ho was astonished that q
thing so commonplace TO him should have been
considered worthy Of sending about tho country
as a piece OF news. lie said that IL was \ very
common occurrence among tho Creek Indians
for q man TO receive n death sentence, ana al
the pleasure of the court resume regular duties
and continue at them until the date OF eNecu'
ton. on that day the convicted man, unaccoin'
panied by an officer, never failed TO DO at tho
execution ground in good season to receive Inc
death bullet. What was more remarkable, no
- - 4 = ~. -.-. ,-N n.rNa. m 1 Inn IN
squaw might shed u few tears over it, but that
wns all.
1t seems that there is some tradition that In
structs the full.blood Indian along these ex.
traordinary lines. There is n well-rooted beliet
that tho buck who balks at the conditions I'm.
posed upon him by the constituted authority OF
the tribe Is unfit to traverse the happy hunt
ing grounds. So he walks alone to the place OF
execution. He chats with his friends, eats
heartily, and il there is anything to drink. he
drinks. There is q line of men, all sure shots,
either with bows or with modern guns, and they
point their weapons at him. But the shot does
not come from any one Of these. There Is. some
where else, a surc-shot Indian who sends the
fatal missile whom the condemned man Is not
looking for it. Sometimes the gun is fired from
a tent, so that the relatives OF the dead Indian
have no way of knowing the identity OF the exc
cutioncr.
Several years ago there was n young Indian
who had been persistently suspected OF horse
stealing, hut the tribal justice was long delayed
in making a case against him. When the ac'
cuscd was finally caught and sentenced he
asked that the court extend the time OF his stay
on earth. 1t was an unusual proceeding, but in
view of the dignity of the offcndcr-he had
STOLEN many a pony and fooled his accusers-an
extension Of time was granted. The presiding
Indian did not take pains to inquire into the
purposes OF the prisoner. After the sentence
had been passed the young Indian announced
that he was about to be married. that he desired
to carry out his plan. and that his idea in hav-
ing the day OF his execution deferred was to give
opportunity for him to suitably provide for his
sQuaw. In view of this statement the
time was extended still further. The Indian
married the young woman and went to work
to make a living. Every opportunity was given
to him. but he found that he was not progress
ing rapidly enough and left the country. Only
the Indians who knew best the traditions OF the
tribe expected to see him again. lie went TO
one Of the Southwestern cities. set up a store for
the sale OF trinkcts. and made n good income.
His pretty wife went with him. and for a time
they lived very happily. 1t is not known
whether she had a full understanding Of her hus'
bands intentions or not. 1t is n fact. however,
that she did not show the least surprise when
when nc announced 10 ncT luuI I "aS Noout
time for him to go back to the tribe. Tho store
was closed. good bys were said to friends
and the young Indians went back to the
TERRITORY. There was yet time for a
n nntiy ETs To- he IN Minute the Souns BUCK
stripped OF all of his store clothes. went to thu
G Glum AZ of Of trees near nsSr "h rhnr sh Wa ,ss "A Is Sl.!lh Ea, d
cring, and the young slna" Of the condemnet
man WAS prominent in 1t: II this we're hctioI
there would be but one way TO TELL the story
from this point forward, but in view OF the fac
that it is true tale OF the strange people Of tn
Southwest it must have a different ending, Tn
young brave was stripped to the waist. While
he was smi!ingly, Looking at the crowd Their!
were several rifle shots and Mr.. Indian fell dead
After il was all over there was n bit Of moaning
from the widow. but the other witnesses wcr,
so cordial in their praise Of the courage of TIT
WAS very proud overthc honorable achievement
OF icr late master.
English as liunning Water. was missing on tn
day OF his execution, Several days later h
in a ravinc. In attempting to reach the oXecu
|, ton ground he was riding mt n rapid gait acros
) a a broken leg was tho portion Of the young In
dian. When he was brought into the viilag
!, there wSs 2 genera, su IN .n 'S HSs r n,' cIn the eG :,
; and that the breaking OF a leg was an inter
!, tional effort to escape punishment. wheroupo
J ana execution. This followed ut once. and wit
l his broken leg the buck was led forward al.
shot.
5 Col. lack Mulhall says that the Indians VIII
. were sentenced 10 death by hanging by the lat
I judge Parker. at Fort Smith. were never in IN
; slightest degree affected by the fact that the
J We're about TO die. The fearless manner /
e which they went to the sCaluld was proof {
\ that. But they loathed the manner OF dcstl
y They never felt n pride in going by tho whit
. mans strLngulation route. To die by bullet c
| arrow is an honorable ending. Yet many IA
u Indian danElcd n, ropes end by order OF Judg
j. Parker. who will ono day 10 written down q
) one OF the greatest ministers for good that tn
Southwest has ever had. He sent scores OF Inc
3 to the gallows, hut tho very vigor OF his nCthO,
j. sometimes cruel TO all appearances. tended I
J. prevent crime In that wickedest portion OF I'll
country,
o Probably no hotter proof OF the CrcoS Indian
devotion TO tho tradition of people has ev,
q been given than is furnished by an instance
y which some circumstance or other kept
q sentenced buck away from the execution groun
when the timo came for tho shooting. II
young fellow WAS VOL liked in the tribe, and Il
thai reason there WAS n great crowd present
y witness his cNcCu'iOn-n delicate cGrlplinCi
TO the condemned man. The hour arrived al
y the Indian wts not there. Ono minute past II
time he rushed through the lines and took h
place. There was u low vrunt OF approval fro
the assembled host. Rifles cracked and II
young man fell dead. One minute later n your
girl rushed forward, and, throwing lie
self aCros. the body OF tho dead man, e