The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-18
INDIAN CHIEFS TRIED Nv Val DRESS.
Red Man %Floquence In n Murder Case
Where One Man Was n Coward

Satanic, Sa,ank and Big Tree were Kiowa
chiefs. The trial Of the frs, two for the murder
Of seven teamsters in Texas in 1871 was the last
notable one in which Indians figured. Such a
trial at this time would interest the whole country
Occurring AT an early day a, a place remote from
telegraph facilities and from railway commune
cation /, was little known beyond the town where
the chiefs were arraignedi in their war paint They
were desperate men, and the safety Of the court,
lawyers and witnesses required that the chiefs
should appear manacled
Judge Samuel W. T. I.anham. member Of Con.
gress for sixteen terms from the Eighth Texas
district, was the prosecuting attorney at the trial
held at Jsckshoro. Gen W T. Sherman was
the means Of having the chiefs brought 10 trial.
Transfers em ployed by Government contractors
TO deliver grain 10 forts along the frontier had
camped for the night on the military road be.
tween Fort Richardson and Fort Grim. They
were attacked by Indians whose weapons were
bows aud arrows and tomahawkS. Seven white
men were massaCred, horses stolen, and grain
destroyed A few transfers escaped
Gen, Sherman was On the frontier inspecting
Government posts, and came upon the scene a
few hours after the fight lie examined the ar
rows found in the dead and BY reason Of his famil-
iarity with the customs Of various tribes he said
Nt arrow Ildrhs were tuOSt OF INT hlONdS Nnllt
men in battle are distinguished by their flag
Indians paint the characters Of their tribe on
their arrows. Gen. Sherman FASTENED to Fort
Sill and informed the civil authorities, insisting
that they should follow up the massacre and bring
the perpetrators 70 trial. \ few days later Satan
Government supplies They had a pow pow,
the result, Of mean whiskey, Satanic mounted
a dry goods box and hoasted that be and Satank
and Big Tree had killed seven Tehanas CTexans)
and were sorry they had not killed more. A
Government Interpreter heard the speech and re-
ported TO the civil authorities Ares, followed,
and the three chiefs were started, handCuffed,
under strong guard 10 Jacksboro. On the march
Big Tree, whose powerful physique gave him his
name, tore nnsy his handcuhs and alone made
a ierOcious attack upon the guard lie fought
with such desperation that he was killed.
The march was, resumed and Satanic and
s Sat ni,S Mere F 5sT ra in P insirie ana onS Spba 1asSh "a, ~
trial, before Judge Charles Seward, The two
chiefs were fully advised Of their nights by the
| living in Virginia and W Voolfolk, living In Texas,
appeared for the chiefs Except for their man
acles, said Judge Lsnham, mo white men ever
bad fairer trials But IL was considered unsafe
to bring them into cour, without handouts for
they were the most powerful men ever saw y
upon appearing In their war paint and in their
war dress they wer" tried. They were con.
victed and told by the interpreter Of the cour, that
they could speak II they 80 wished. Satanic
I was the first 70 avail himself Of this right
Il shall never forget his appearance said
Judge lanhan lie was nearly seven feet
As IT, stood up the first question he asked Of The
Captain The title ~ which they knew the Judge
was II the Great Father knew that he, Satanic,
was W die. lie had been TO Washington once
and had been treated well, and he thought the
Great, Father could save HIM. When be was
told that there was no hope from that source he
er"sscd his hands and began pleading
chiei, Great Medicine, man. DO good 70 sick,
Don't want To die, lie, s9uaw go. Satanic
Slll go 70 his people on Red River, and he make
River open 10 p~alefaces Paleiaces can come
with ponies to bank u Red River and water po-
pies in rver, and he no, afraid. Red River be
line Of peace between my people and palefaces,
Don't want 10 die, Captain.
That was all he SAID, | took down his speech
and d iem Sn,s 1t Ts,,. Sp', s,, : a . hsns .n l9d i.Ss
almost leonine, he stood up, folded his blanket
about him. threw back his bead in defiance, and
spoke
No rS1 Silaid 10 no di tqO' Sap,s ln'' ssy SAM kis%H de ls'f n
sixty days Then he grunted that grunt which
only an Indian can make, IL was What We call
die now Killed Tehanas Wish um killed more.
= I's save SsMnk. TAX. EN- of pointing 10 his
handouts again Want 10 die here Want
10 die now. Not AFRAID Sa,nnk ready to die
now.
Il never saw such defiance in man or beast NJ
was depicted in his manner Giving another
grunt he sat down on the floor in his war dress
and paint. He had plated IN his hair the hair
Of several white women whom he had scalped
He was the incarnation u the devil. II was
q scene for a painter.
Before the day set for execution the Governor
Of he State committed the sentence TO life i'm
prisonment, but Sa,ank insisted upon dying
Anow After several years the two were pntoled,
Satanic went 10 his people and not long after
tried 10 inci,e them 10 deylment lie was brought
back 10 Huntsville, Tex and put in the peni-
,rntiary. one day he Jumped from a window
and broke his neck. He Was the more danger
Gus Of the two chiefs, for he was the diplomat
Of his tribe Satank went n Florida, and re.
main.d sullrn and unrelenting in his hatred ~
the whites until his death.
After the trial II Satanic and Satank Indian
drpredations in Texas ceased.