Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-19
FACING I'ORTUREs.
The Sublime Courage Shown By
an American Indian.

self sacrifice of which the American
Indian at his best is capable is given
by o. II. 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 u 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 lowas 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 sgreed on condition that the cul-
prit be given month 70 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,
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 fortunes 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
II never saw a more 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 Iowas village.
Como had asked that his identity should
not be disclosed, but one of the Iowas
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 its 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 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 plaintive
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 q moment more ;
single horseman rode up. 1t was Como
| This was his remarkable story:
The fires of the death circle were
;, burning brightly, and the squaws witt
their burning sticks were preparing II
, make the first attempt to extort a or!
t Of pain and agony, when an old man
the father of the dead Indian, raiseC
D his voice:
Stop" he said. "Let me speak.
am the one that has suffered. My Sol
+ was killed and scalped by Musqua
kie. was hungry for revenge, and wer
!" the one that killed and scalped hin
here l would shout with Joy at hi
+ torture But this young man is brave
Never have seen such bravery before
He is too good a man to torture an,
kill Release him and let him retur
: to his own people"
Although the entire village a fey
hours before had been eager for re
venge. there was a murmur of approx
I al as the old man gathered his blanke
about him and took his seat. Withou
] any ones making single objection
. Como was removed from the circle an
' given food and drink. A few hour
. later he was led from the camp, allow
a ed TO mount his own pony and depaI
. in peace.