The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12

~\ HE JEW mad his .ADaddons the
4 Greek his Appolyon; the Chris,
- tiah his Satan, and the Central
West Inkpaduta. The metaphor is not
altogether good, for Inkpaduta was no
myth. On the contrary, he was a ,fiend
incarnate, Of whom there is not re-,
corded one single act that was not
stepped in bloodthirsty deviltry thrice;
refined. r., ,
A few Of his acts Of awful cruelty,
have come to the attention Of the white
public, but 1t is somewhat remarkable
that the general story of his long career
has never before been told. He was the
most active and by far the most capable
Indian In the great Sioux nation during
that heroic period when that people,
animated by patriotic valor which
has not been exceeded by any people,
in any age, were making their last
stand for their homes, their lands and
the graves Of their kindred. >..
Eighty years ago the Wakpekuta
band Of the santee Sioux lived on the
Minnesota river, just below Mankato,
and about the headwater lakes of the
Cannon, in LIE Sueur county. In 1924
- the old chief of the principal band died
and left the control Of his people jointly
to his sons Tasagi and Wamdesapa.
Tasagi, the elder brother, was a man
of calmness, courage and wisdom, and
was greatly beloved by his people.
Wamdesapa was quite the opposite Of
evil disposed, consumed by jealousy OF
his brothers. popularity, he murdered
him in manner SO cowardly that even
H., -
and they arose in fury and drove him
from the tribe. From that hour he was
utterly dishonored and disowned by his
people, and for many years was not
permitted to even enter the camps OF
his relatives. Gathering to him three
or four lodges of equally desperate men
he moved far away to the Vermilion
river of South Dakota and established
himself at what is now known at Mil
ler's Gulch, in the central portion OF
McCook county, where beautiful grove
provided shelter and fuel. Here for q
long time he resided, making an occa
sional trip to Fort Vermilion on the
Missouri, to secure necessary arms ano
ammunition, but for the main part sub
sisting upon the plentiful herds Of buf
falo which surrounded his home, ailt
even to limited extent cultivating the
soil. -, e g. ~ 81 s-s - :. /
+ i. + -.
The eldest son of Wamdesapa wa
Inkpaduta, born ten years before hi
father was disinherited by the tribe
At the time of his birth his parent
were hunting on the Watonwan, rot ia
from the present site of St. James. Hi
mother was a woman of the lower Sis
: setons, who Loyalty followed her dis
graced husband to the new wilderness
home, bearing with her the eldest born
Inkpaduta inherited all: of the ba,
distinctions of his father. He1wa
cruel, vindietive, passionate, conscience
less, but withal possessing the wisdom
of the serpent. The entire life of WAN
desapa served to develop the band tend
: encies Of his sons disposition, an,
when in 184S the old man died, leavin
Inkpaduta the acknowledged leader 20
the band Of renegades Of not more tina
a half, dozen lodges, he was already
postmaster in the arts and refinement
Of savage deviltry..
During that year Of his ascendane
to the chieftainship he learned that hi
- cousin, Wamundey had thru til
S>ath Of his father, become chief of tn
: