Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-01-25
HEROISM OF INDIANS,
choetavs Who Voluntarily Sur.
rendered Their Lives.
In rursuance Of an Old Custon Of
the Tribe He Was Liberated
without Dail Untn the
Day Of Execution.

Without Dail Until the
Day Of Execution.
w. II. Draper tells the remarkable
story of William Going, the Choctaw In
dian, who voluntarily surrendered
himself and was executed at Alikchi, in
the Choctaw nation, last July. Mr..
Draper says:
"He was publicly and legally exc
cuted for Q murder he had committed
two years ago. Prior to the execution
Going was not in jail, but In Cuba, thou
sands Of miles away. But several days
before the date Of the execution he ar
rived In Choctaw nation, having come
alone and without orders to his own ex-
ecution. When he was led out to be
shot there was displayed the usual stoi-
cism Of his race. He knelt and PRAYED.
then turned to the sheriff and said L:
Let the shot be true!'
ut was not true, however. Sheriff
Watson painted white spot on the
Indians barred skin, over the heart.
stepped back four PAGES, and fired. The
Indian fell over and moaned piteously
for an hour, then died. So much for
an Indians idea Of honor. Going de-
serted q wife and riches in Cuba to
come back and die, that no disgrace
would fall upon his parents and rcla-
tives In the Choctaw nation.
Probably there Is no other class Of
people in the world in this respect like
the Choctsws. They believe in each
other as q child believes in it's moth
er. When one Choctaw Indian tells an
other that certain thing will be done,
1t can be depended upon that II will be
done. This custom of turning prison
er loose without bail commenced among
the Choctaws half q century ago. An
Indian murdered his sister. There was
no Jail, and the Choctaws had no money
to hire guard. After the Indian
judge had sentenced him to be shot the
former said: Now you can go free until
your execution day. Then want you
to come without being told. If you fail
to obey 1t will disgrace your family
The Indian gave his promise and ap-
peared at the appointed time. Ever
since then 1t has been the custom to
allow the condemned Indians to run
loose. Never but once. has o prisoner
failed to come freely and alone to his
execution. Tho number of Indians thus
shot within the last half century is over
100.
"Mnny pathetic romances are con-
nected with these executions. Indians
would leave their sweethearts or brides
to 60 away TO death. Probably the sad
dcst romance of all was that of yvalla
Tonka, the Indian baseball player.
About three years ago, at an Indian
dance near Eufaula, he shot another In
dian who sought to dirt with Tonkn's
sweetheart. lilo was tried and SEN
fenced to be shot six months later. I'M
mediately after passing sentence the
old Judge died and Walla Tonka was
legally free. Tho Indian girl was true
to her love and married him. Tonka,
being an expert baseball player, start
ed out that season with an Indian team
In a tour through the west. Because of
the fact that lie was under sentence of
death, and Ind no guard with him, he
was quite feature, and made several
thousand dollars. AS the time for his
execution drew near, Walla Tonka went
home to his wife. Having arranged his
matters, the stoical Indian bade his
wife good-by, set out alone for the ex-
ecution grounds, and wss shot to death.
Owing to the fact that William Going
va. sentenced also tehsapshot sapsh ut that
a confusion of names. 2Hd the man ex-
ecuted July 10 is comA A6n1y known as
Going or Walla TS1ka, which is an
error. - = 1Has
about ten years .sND6aH Indian of
the Choctaw tribe killed his brother.
He gave his promise to return, but never
did SO, having left the United States. II
Is said that SO disgraced were his par
cnts that they committed suicide. Gov.
Green M. Curtain, of the Choctaw ma
ton, feels proud as does every tribes
man, OF the heroic conduct of the late
William Going. While motion for a
new hearing was on, Going left his fate
In the care of friends and went to Cuba.
enlisted under Gen. Garcia and helped
hight for Cuban independence. After
the war he married senorita and
started coffee plantation. He claims
to have prospercd, but when informa-
ton came that his death was decreed ON
July 10. the condcmned. man came
away from all that had been dear TO
him. and was shot ut the appointed
time.
Several years ago a daring brave
named Coulter was sentenced to death
for stealing. lie came. to the courthouse
On the appointed day to learn that q
reprieve had been granted. He was
angry and demanded that he lie shot
Immediately. Accordingly the original
sentence was carried out.'-Leslie's
Weekly.
Women Goldsmiths
An interesting commission has been
given by the French government to 9
1oA,, - i,, cold %ov ,o,1,1n ~