Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-14
FACTS CONCERNING THE LIFE AND
BURIAL OF CHIEF WAPELLO

give away, so they paid the govern
ment two thousand dollars ($2,00U
and gave the widow her share.
Wapello's sister had married the In
terpreter, Joseph Smart, and she was
more the interpreter than her husband,
since she spoke both languages fluent
~. Like Wapello, she was friend or
the whites, and at one time prevented
a massacre. The government had not
sent the money in time for them to go
of on their hunt and when 1t did come
1t was accompanied by orders not 10
pay it out for seven days. The Indians
discovered this and were so incensed
at the seeming injustice that they Went
out and commenced putting on the
war paint with fierce energy. Wapello's
sister CHANGED to hear them talking
land immediately called Beach (who
was the agent since Gen. Streets
death) and the Indians were lined up
and paid in time to prevent terrible
slaughter.
In the spring Of 1912, Wapello left
his village in the Des Moines. to visit
his favorite hunting grounds on the
Skunk river. But fate had willed that
he should rather pass into the better
hunting grounds. History tells us ne
died at the forks Of the Skunk, but II
has been learned from an authentic
source that he died in Prairie du
CHEN; whittier he had gone on busi'
ness, leaving his band in camp on the
Skunk river. In accordance with his re-
quest made some time before his death,
his remains were to be placed beside
those of Gen. Street, the former be,
loved agent. A rude "slab" coffin was
made and his remains were conveyed
in an OK wagon to that place. The inter
ment took place in the presence OF the
leading men of the tribes, Wapello hav.
ing requested that he should be buried
like the white man"
The aforementioned Mr.. Street gives
the following account of the interment:
81 was about thirteen years old q
that time and remember distinctly
seeing the procession coming up the
trail with the body Of Chief Wapello
and I felt sad to think that such good
and true Indian was dead. When tney
commenced digging the grave, the
chiefs, then sub-chiefs. were nearest
and farther back were the other IN
dams and whites. The idea OF buryine
the chief in this fashion was very re-
pellant to the Indians, and when they
had dug one spade deep they pauseo
and had great pow wow as to Whetn
or they should dig any deeper This
was repeated when they had reached
the depth Of two spades, and after
they had been persuaded to dig about
three feet, they refused to go any far
Their. Then they told all Of us white
people to 20 down to our house, which
stood nearby. We knew the Indians
well enough to realize that 1t would DC
folly to contradict them at this time
SO we compiled with their request. JUS,
what was buried with the chief Is no.
known, but 1t is probable that MS
trophies and other belongings peculiar
! to chief were placed in the grave.
| TT is supposed that at least twelve
interments have been made at thit
place. vet only six graves are marked
When the right Of way was granted tc
the C.. B. & @. railroad, it was granted
on condition that substantial fence
should be kept around the graves by
the company, or a certain amount o.
forfeit money should be paid to the
Streets each year. For time they
were neglected and many OF the stones
were broken of, but at the present
time they are enclosed by a. neat
white paling fence The remains Of
Wapello are reposing peacefully beside
those Of his pale faced friend, both
graves being marked by suitable mop
uments. On Wapello's grave is the FOL
lowing inscription:
"In Memory of Chief Wape1lo, Borr
at Prairie du Chen, 1887, Died neal
the Forks of Skunk, Mar. Is, 1912.
HCoc ond Enx NptiOnn