Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-26
Vim. E. Curtis Writes of Monuments
Erected in Memory of Famous Indians
(By William E. Curtis, in the Chi
napn Rannrd Herald

4 -
(By William E. Curtis, in the Chi
cago Record Herald.)
Omaha. Oct. 18.-During the past
summer months several new monu-
ments to celebrated Indian chiefs
have been erected in different parts of
the United States. On the oath Of
July an account was given in these
columns Of the legislation in Illinois
site near Ottawa, and the dedication
of monument to Chief Menominee of
the Pottawatamies at Twin Lakes
Marshall county, Indiana.
On the 18th of May last a heroic
bronze figure, nine feet high, Of the
Indian Chief Mahaska white Cloud),
executed by Sherry E. Fry Of Creston,
was unveiled in the public park at Os-
kaloosa, under the auspices of the In
dependent Order of Red Men. The
statue is memorial to William Ed,
mllndson, a pioneer, by his son. j. D.
Fdmundson, of Des Moines. The pro-
gram of ceremonies included several
appropriate choral numbers by the
school children OF Oskaloosa, a poem
by Major Samuel H. M. Byers of Des
Moines and addresses by Congress-
man John Fletcher Lacey, Mayor L..
M. Bacon Of Oskaloosa, Carl Kuehnle
OF Denison and Wilson Brooks of Chi
cago, representing the Order CT Red
Men. There was public dinner and
reunion C I'D settlers, which was at
tended by Mrs. Semira A. Phillips and
Mrs. Amanda L. Martin, who came to
Iowa in 1843, and were personally
acquainted with both White Cloud
and William Edmundson his friend.
The statue represents the chieftain
in native costume, wearing a war bon
net, and holding the wing of an eagle
n his right hand He stands erect in
an attitude of attention as if listening
to far off sound
Mahaska, or White Cloud, as he was
nation. He was the son of Mauhaw
gaw, chief of the Pawoochee or
pierced nose clan, and removed
from Michillimacinac into what Is now
the state of Iowa, and occupied terri
tory which had always belonged to the
Sioux. The latter being unable to
drive him out of their country, muir
dered him in a most treacherous man.
ner at feast which had been appoint
cd to celebrate treaty of peace. Ma
haska inherited the craftsmanship Of
The ICwas, bit, because of his youth,
declined the responsibility and re-
gency was appointed until he had dis
tinguished himself in battle and in
council He went into battle MS
common brave, and in the first CAM
paign, when he was no more than IS
years old, got the scalp of the Sioux
chief in whose lodge his father had
teen treacherously slain. A few years
later he assumed the authority of war
chief, and with the CHASTITY ceremonies
common to his race in those days,
dedicated his life to further vengeance
upon those who had been responsible
for the death Of his father. He led
the Iowa warriors In eighteen battles
against various bands of Sioux with
out once suffering defeat, and when he
reached middle life, having satisfied
his vengeance, resigned the chieftain-
ship to prominent warrior of his
tribe, and formally announced that he
had accepted the advice Of Red
Head" General Clark, and had bur-
led the tomahawk forever. He visit
ed. Washington in 1924, and there ne
gotiated the treaty which coded the
territory now included in the state OF
Iowa to the United States He de-
clared at that time that he had never
shed the blood of white man, nor
had he ever permitted one Of his tribe
to do so or to commit any violence
against the white race. This state
ment is believed to have been true, al
though the early pioneers attributed
several hostile acts to Mahaska and
his braves.
In 1888 White Clouds son was kill
ed by the Omahas, and the Iowa war
riors demanded that the father should
lead them upon a campaign of venge-
ance but, notwithstanding the provo
cation, he refused to do so, and said
in reply:
II have buried the tomahawk for
ever. l am man of peace. The
treaty which have made with the
Great Father provides for the punish
ment of such crimes and l will appeal
to him."
Notwithstanding his attitude the
Iowas raided the Omaha villages, burn
ed and massacred until they were
satisfied and the government ordered
the arrest and punishment of the
principal chiefs Although White
Clouds refusal to join in the attack
was notorious he was included among
the prisoners and taken to Fort Leav-
enworth. While in prison there one
of his subordinate chiefs accused him
Of treachery and lack of paternal
loyalty because of his refusal to par
ticipate in the campaign, and threat
ened to kill him if he ever had a
chance. After an inquiry the pris-
oners were released. While Mahaska
was in camp on the Nodaway river in
the southwestern part of Iowa on his
journey home, he was overtaken and
assassinated by his accuser and other
members of his own tribe, who be-
lieved that he had betrayed them
This occurred in 1884, when Mahaska
was about SO years old.