The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1913-07-23
FACING TORTURES.
The Sublime Courage Shown by
an American Indian.
WILLING TO DIE FOR ANOTHER.

Story of Dramatic Episode In Which
the Iowa and Musquakie Tribes
Fieured-Heroism That Won the
Admiration of the Enemy.
A striking story of the courage and
self sacrifice of which the American
Indian at his best is capable is given
by o. 81. Mills in the Des Moines Reg
lister and Leader. 1t was told to the
white men by the famous Sac chief,
Black Hawk, who himself saw the In
cident.
1t all began with an unfortunate
quarrel between an Iowa and Mus
quake, in which the latter killed the
former and then in moment Of fren-
zy scalped his victim. The two tribes
were at peace, and this act, allowable
only in time of war, was, in Indian
eyes, an intolerable breach of good
faith.
! The Musquakies offered all sorts of
reparation, but the Iowas would ac-
cept nothing but the person Of the Of
fender, to be tortured and put to death
in Precipitation Of the outraged spirit
of the dead man. To this the Musqua-
kies agreed on condition that the cul-
prit be given q month to fortify him.
self for his terrible ordeal. But just
as the month was about to expire he
fell i'll with a raging fever In that
condition he could not be carried across
the prairie, but a failure to produce
him at the appointed place would
arouse the suspicious and perhaps the
hostility of the Iowas.
A council was called to debate the
| matter, before which appeared Como, a
brother of the sick man. There are
no squaw men in our family" he de-
clared. 81 will go in his place"
l The others tried to dissuade him and
described to him the tortures he would
have to undergo, but he insisted upon
making the sacrifice. Accordingly an
escort was selected to accompany him.
at the head of which Black Hawk,
then a young but widely respected
chief, was placed.
81 never saw a more pathetic scene y
said Black Hawk, than the parting OF
Como and his father and mother and
other relatives. The whole tribe was
overwhelmed with gloom"
In the middle Of the afternoon thu
party arrived at the Iowas' village
Como had asked that his identity should
not be disclosed, but one of the Iowa;
who was present at the time the youn:
; Indian was slain saw that the guilty
}, party was not being delivered, ant
Black Hawk told the whole story. Tht
Iowas accepted it as true and, after {
brief council. consented to the arrange
ment. The death circle was staked ou
and patrolled with armed guards, ant
Como was placed in it's center, while
his escort was entertained in the tepet
, of the chief. 1t was q chill Novembe
day, and the sun was just sinking be
hind the cliffs Of the Des Moines rive
when the escort LEFT the camp
They paused on hill about hal
mile distant from the camp. The!
could see that the fires had been lighted
round the death circle, and in the husl
Of the evening came the plaintiv,
sound of Como chanting his death song
Having travelled some two hours
they halted and made camp. Abou
midnight they heard the clatter o
, horses feet, and in a moment more
single horseman rode up. 1t was Como
; This was his remarkable story:
The fires of the death circle wer,
burning brightly, and the squaws witt
their burning sticks were preparing t,
make the first attempt to extort a or.
Of pain and agony, when an old man
the father of the dead Indian, raise,
his voice:
"Stopr he said. Let me speak.
am the one that has suffered. My Sol
was killed and scalped by a Musqua
kie. L was hungry for revenge, and wer
the one that killed and scalped hin
here 1 would shout with joy at hi
torture. But this young man is brave
Never have 1 seen such bravery before
He is too good a man to torture ant
kill. Release him and let him return
to his own people"
Although the entire village a few
hours before had been eager for re
venge, there was a murmur of approx
al as the old man gathered his blanke
about him and took his seat Withou
any ones making a single objection
Como was removed from the circle an,
given food and drink. A few hour
later he was led from the camp, allow
ed to mount his own pony and depar
in peace.