The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1898-02-25

8 - Young Folks Column Il 8


Amid the beating of tomtoms and the
shrill cries of the. aged squaws of the
camp Swift FaWn was brought forth
and placed by the side of Black Dog, and
the medicine men began their weird
chanting az 4 prelude to the ceremony
about to be performed.
In the meantime Mr.. Sproul had SUM-
moned the Indian agent from the near
est ton, and together the two
which stood Black Dog and Swift Fawn.
Instead Of an Indian girl Swift Pawn
was found to be II white girl, little
beauty. with an olive complexion and
long, blonde hair, worn down her back in
two long braids, Indian fashion.
Taking in the situa ton at glance. the
Indian agent commanded that the ccre-
mony cease at once and that Swift
FaWn be taken back to her Guardians
If guardians the two Indians who had
cared tor her for several years could be
called: Here she was seen by Rev. Mr..
sPf6tll and the agent. She spoke the
SIOUX language better than she did the
Ehgilsh tongue, but gave evidence. in a
th0tlsand diff rent ways that she had
COME from home of refinement.
Her real name, she said was Anna.
aud she had dim recollection of hay
ing been stolen by the Indians. after the
murder of her father and mother. many
years before: She had been led to be-
lieve, she added. that if the white urot,lt
ever took her in charge she would hc
sent to some sort of prison for having
hved with the Indians. For this reason
she had interposed no serious objection
when ordered to become the bride Of
Black Dog, although she bore him no
love. '''A' ~
BY threatening to punish the Indians in
whose, care the girl had been Rev. Mr.
Sproul and the agent secured from them
promise that no further steps should be
taken toward giving the girl in marriage
Then the Indian department at Washing.
ton was notified of the child's presence
among the red men. and through the Of
forts of Senator Kyle an order was So
cured removing her from the reservation
to the school at Sioux Falls.
ms order came very near proving
| worthless, for the Indians had become
alarmed when the wedding was STONED
| and were trying to have the marriagf
performed secretly when the orde,
reached the reservation When Mr.
Sproul presented the document, giving
MN authority to assume charge of the
glri, the Indians. especially the pair who
Canned to be the father and mother OF
SWIFT Fawn; were furious and for a time
IL looked as II the clergyman would neye,
| "A
was conceived, but this was frustrated r.,
SWIFT FaWn, who warned the minister o.
his danger and thus gave him an Gbpor
tunlty to protect himself.
=, FINALLY, the Indians when they saw
that their fight was useless, agreed t,
give up the girl, and then her repute,
father and mother told Rev. Mr.. Sbrou
all they knew of her. and their story re
called wildly a raid made by Sitting Bull
| 81, in I,V
palgn;, Some years ago they said, bant
of Indians, with Sitting Bull at the head
broke away, from the reservation ant
made a raid upon the settlers of lowe,
| Manitoba, killing men, women and chil
dren and setting fire to all the cabins, a,
we'll as driving off all the live stock
Among the settlers put to death were Mr.
and Mrs. Andrew Russell, who had re
Gently come from the East with their lit
tie baby girl.
The child was about years of age an,
remarkably pretty infant. For tbi.
reason the Indians spared her life Tn,
child WAS taken by Sitting Bull as hi
especial protege and the old Chief. 50 til,
Indians claimed really loved her and Law
lshed upon her wealth of love. BefT,
the. Wounded Knee campaign. it wa
claimed. the aged warrior seemed to hav,
Il: premonltlOn of coming evil. and :,
placed the child now known as Swift
Fawn. in the custody Of the Indians VIII.
! have since cared for her and who were
with the party when the Manitoba raj,
was made.
The only clue to the relatives of tn
child is a small linen handkerchief
marked with the name Russell and il littl,
silver drinking mug. upon With is en-
graved the name of LlelIa. These arti
Giles the Indians who have pretended t.
| be the father and mother of the girl re-
fused to surrender. insisting that the,
wanted to keep them as a. memeilto of tn,
little one they loved They promised
however, to carefully guard them and t.
produce them at any time they might l..
| needed