Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-07-17
FACING 10RTUREs,
The Sublime Courage Shown by
an American Indian.

The Sublime Courage SHOWN 0\
an American Indian.
(. no
WILLING TO DIE FOR ANOTHER
Story Of . Dramatic Episode In Which
tho Iowa and Musquakis 1tibs'
Fjaursd-Hsroism That Won III,
Admiration Of the Ensmy.
A striking story Of the courage land
self sacrifice Of which the American
Indian at his best is capable IS given
by o. H. Mills in the Des Motnes 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 a Mus.
, quake, in which the latter killed the
former and then in q moment of fren-
| " scalped his victim. The two tribes
were at peace, and this act, allowable
only in time of war;, was, In Indian
eyes, an i%ntolerable breach Of good
faith. .
The Musquakies offered all. sorts of
reparation, but the Iowas would ac-
cept nothing but the person at the Of
fender. to be tortured and put to death
in Precipitation Of the outraged spirit
Of the dead man. 10 this the Musqua-
kies agreed on condition that the cul-
prit be given a month to fortdfy him
self fol. his terrible ordeal. But just
as the month was about to expire he
fell ill 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.
\ council was called to debate tho
matter, before which appeared Como, a
brother Of the sick man. There are
no squaw men in our family" he de-
clared. II will go in his place."
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 him,
at the: head Of which Black Hawk,
then a young but widely respected
chief, was placed.
ri never, saw a nor pathetic scene"
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 the
party arrived at the 1owas' village.
Como had asked that his identity should
not, be disclosed, but one Of the 1owas
who was present at the time the young
Indian was slain saw that the guilty
party was not being delivered, and
Black Hawk told the whole story. The
Iowas accepted it as true and, after a
brief council consented to the arrange
ment. The death circle was staked out
and patrolled with armed guards, and
Como was placed in it's center, while
his escort was entertained in the tepee
Of the chief. 1t was a chill November
day, and the sun was just sinking be.
hind the cliffs of the Des Moines river
when the escort left the camp.
They paused on a hill about a half
mile distant from the camp. They
could see that the fires had been lighted
round the death circle, and in the hush
Of the evening came the p~laintive
sound Of Como chanting his death song.
Having Travelled some two hours,
they halted and made camp. About
midnight they heard the clatter Of
horses feet, and in a moment nor a
single horseman rode up. 1t was Como!
This was his remarkable story:
The fires Of the death circle were
burning brightly, and the squaws with
their burning sticks were preparing to
make the first attempt to extort a cry
Of pain and agony, when an old man,
the father Of the dead Indian, raised
his voice:
Stop he said. let me speak. !
am the one that has suffered. My son
was killed and scalped by a Musqua-
kie. I was hungry for revenge, and were
the one that killed and scalped him
here I would shout with Joy at his
torture. But this young man is brave.
! Never have l seen such bravery before.
He is too good a man to torture and
kill. Release him and let him return
to his own people"
Although the entire village a few
hours before had been eager for re.
I venge. there was a murmur Of approx.
al as the old man gathered his blanket
! about him and took his scat. Without
any ones making a single objection,
Como was removed from the circle and
given food and drink. A few hours
later he was led from the camp, allow.
ed to mount his " pony and depart