The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-10-13

The Indians, who claimed the site of
the present city of Faribault as their
principal ancient camping ground and
who hunted along the Cannon and
Straight rivers, and thence to the head
waters of the Blue Earth and the Iowa
line, were known as the Wahpekuta
band of Dakotas.
A chronic warfare had existed from
time immemorial between all the Da-
kota tribes and the Chippeway on the
north and the Sacs and Foxes on the
south.
About 1910 the Wahpekutas were suf-
fering severely because of the unusual
bitterness of this war, which they at
tributed to the bloody propensity of one
of their own sub chiefs, named VAN
disapa Black Eagle, whose vicious ac-
tivity on the warpath provoked con
slant retaliation from the enemy.
One day Tesaga, (EIis Cane), head
chief of the band, attempted to remon-
strate with Black Eagle for his over
warlike disposition, which kept the enc
my ever stirring like Il nest of hornets,
but the savage warrior would brook no
reproof even from his head chief, and III
the quarrel that ensued Tesagi was
slain. Fearing the vengeance of the
tribe. Black Eagle with few partizans
mostly relatives fled to the Nermillion
river in South Dakota. Here, the out
law chief met his death in two or three
years and was succeeded by Sintomni-
dutah (Red all Over, also known as
Napenomnana Two Fingers) from the
fact that one hand had but two fingers
as the result of an accidental discharge
of gun. He was Il large, powerful In
dian and fully rs aggressive and warlike
in disposition as his predecessor-well
fitted to lead a gang of savage free
hooters.
I'm 1912 the government removed the
Sacs and Foxes from northern Iowa and
soon thereafter Sintomnidutah removed
with his band into their vacated hunt
ing grounds, fixing his principal camping
ground about where Fort Dodge now
stands.
The IawIess character of the band at
tracted to it desperadoeS and fugitives
from Justice from other bands, until it
became notorious even among the In
dams for its wild and desperate char
acter.
1t was called the RED Top band
perhaps from their habit of carrying
streamers of scarlet cloth tied to the
points of their long lances. Besides
these spears, they were armed with
smooth bored guns bought of French
traders, bows and arrows. a big toma-
hawk. a scalping knife and war cloth.
Sintomnidutah was married to sis
ter of the noted Sisseton chief Ish-ta
of his followers known as the Little
Rock band, often hunted in their terri
tory along the upper Des Moines.
In 1915 there lived at Red Rock in
Marion county, Iowa, a somewhat motor
ious western character named Henry
Lott. He was small. spare, dark com
plexioned man, who claimed to be of
New England origin. and his wife was
reputed to be the daughter of one of
the early governors of Ohio or Penn
sylvania. But the family had greatly
degenerated from its noble origin, and
the freedom of pioneer life was used
by it as an occasion for lawless deeds.
Lott dealt some in horses, but his
method of acquiring the animals was
very suspicious. He also pretended to
be an Indian trader; but the principal
commodity received by the red men in
in exchange for his furs was the por-
est grade of whisky.
In 1916 Mr.. Lott left Red Rock at
the request of his neighbors and after a
short soiourn at Peas Point, he located
upon the Des Moines at the mouth of
Boone river
Here he came into contact with Sin
tomnidutah and his wild followers, and
in December, lS4S, they became involved
in serious quarrel, which finally led
to dire consequences to the red and
white inhabitants of both northern Iowa
and southern Minnesota.
As to all the particulars of this quar-
rel, the accounts do not agree. Some,
say that the Indians traced five ponies
which they had missed to Lofts stable
and the chief gave him five days to quit
his dominions, and, on his failing to
comply with this order, Sintomnidutah
and his band decked their war paint and
forcibly drove Lott and grownup
step-son from their home. AS the two