The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-09

| ing around he was astonished to see
Rant Che Wai-Me standing before him.
| with an uplifted tomahawk in ner
hand She thus accosted him: Am
your wife? Are you my husband II
so, will go with you to the Ma Sne-
hunnche Cor the American big nouse)
and shake the hands of Incoinee,
(Which means great father. Mahas-
ka answered. "Yes, you are my wife.
am your husband. l have been a
long time from you. am glad to see
you. You are my pretty wife. and a
brave man always loves to see pref
| t. woman"
When the PARTY arrived at Washing
ton "a talk" was had with President
Monroe. The present Of a medal was
made to Mahaska, and treaty was
concluded between the United States
and the Iowas. 1t is treaty Of the
cessation of limits, etc., and consid,
Grafton thereof. These conditions in
cluded a payment, in that year, of five
hundred dollars, and payment OF
the same sum annually for ten years
thereafter. Provision was made for
blankets, farm utensils and cattle, and
assistance promised them in their az.
ricultural pursuits under such forms
as the president might deem expedi-
ent.
During that visit Mahaska would
occasionally indulge in a too frequent
excess Of fire water. On one OF these
occasions he was exercising a hus-
bands privilege on the Flying Pig
con-" The agent hearing the scufhe,
fastened to their room. MahasRa
hearing him coming, lifted Up the win,
dow sash and stepped out, forgetting
that he was two stories from the
ground. In the fall he broke his arm;
yet so accustomed he had been to
fracture and wounds that he insisted
in riding the next day, over rough
roads and pavements, distance OF at
least two miles to see a cannon cast.
The Death of Rant-Che-Wai-Me.
On his return to his country and TO
his home, Mahaska began in earnest
to cultivate his land. He built for
himself double log house and lived
in great comfort. This, he said, was
in obedience to the advice of the great
father.
Soon after his return to his home it
was his misfortune to lose his favor
tie wife, and under very fearful cir.
cumstances. They were crossing a
tract of country. Mahaska, having
reason to apprehend that hostile bands
might be met with, kept in advance.
Each was on horseback, Flying Pig
con" carrying uer child, Mahaska the
younger, then about four years OF age.
Turning at a certain point to look
back to see what distance his wife
was from him, he was surprised, CHS
position was a nigh one, enabling him
to overlook considerable extent of the
country, not to be able to see her.
He rode back, and, sad to relate, af-
ter retracing his steps five or six
miles, he saw her horse grazing near
the trail and presently the body of
his wife, near the edge OF small
precipice, with the child resting his
head against her body. The horror
stricken chief, alighting near the spot,
was soon assured of her death. Stand
ing over her corpse, he exclaimed in
his mother tongue: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
bratuskenee, shimgan-menia, manga.
gappoo," which being interpreted
means, God Almighty, I am bad
man. You are angry with me. The
horse has killed my squaw." At that
moment the child lifted it's head from
the dead body of its mother and said:
Father, my mother is asleep"
The inference was that the horse
had stumbled and thrown her. The
occurrence took place about four days
journey from his house. Mahaska,
within that time, was returning to
his lodge, bearing the body of Rant.
Che-WaiMe, with the child in mis-
arms. He proceeded at once TO dis
pose of the corpse. His first business
was to gather together all the pres
ents that had been made to her ut
Washington, also whatever belonged
to her, and placed them with the body
in a rude box: and then, according to
the custom of the Indians of that re-
gion, the box was placed upon high
scaffold, and left to await the great
/ awakening,