The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-12


sometimes were victors, but oftener
not, and the return to camp with the
spOils, where the women admired the
warriors or wept for the slain.
The danger of such raid only
added TO its excitement. 1t was the
great outlet of the Kiowa people, and
when the tribe was compelled by Gus
ter TO come in and settle on the reser-
walton, even the presence of Fort Sill
in their midst could not stop them
from raiding.
Setangya (Sitting Bear) was the
leader of the principal Kiowa war So
ciety. Satanta (White Bear) was Sec
Ond in rank, and Adoeette (Big Tree)
was not lacking in Importance. Sa-
tangya and Satanic were signers of
the Medicine Lodge treaty of 1867, by
which the Kiowa agreed to go on the
reservation. There seems TO have been
a mental reservation, however. with
regard to raids. for the three chiefs
were leaders in these forays.
Setangya's son, while engaged in
raiding in Texas. was killed by the
whites. The aged chief-he was sixty
years old at the time-visited the
scene. and managed to collect his sons
bones. These he tied into bundle
and took them back with him to Okla
homa. special horse was assigned
the task of carrying this bundle wher-
ever the old chief might go, and from
this time until his DEATH the bones of
the son accompanied the father.
In May. 1871, year after Setangya's
son was killed. the three chiefs assem-
bled a large war party and prepared
for an elaborate raid. The warriors
rode into Texas, attacked a wagon
train and killed seven men. Forty-one
mules were added to their herd, and
the success of this exploit was the
subject for much Boosting, after the
Indian fashion.
The agent at Fort Sill heard the
not keep from telling the story of the
fortunate raid to all who would listen.
Unfortunately for the three chiefs. the
agent did not view this battle" with
the Indians eyes, and caused the lead
ers to be arrested. They were to be
taken to Texas and tried there for the
murder of the seven men.
Setangya, however bitter old Indian
as he was. felt that he knew better
way of dying than being hung by the
white men, as he thought would be his
fate if he submitted to arrest His son
died fighting. and he determined to do
likewise.
Singing his death-song, the old Kiowa
wrenched the letters from his wrists,
drew a knife which he had hidden in
his clothing. and sprang upon the
guard. A volley of shots stopped him.
fired by the surrounding soldiers. And
so died Satangya, as he wished to die,
fighting.
Satanic and Big Tree were brought
TO trial, and their sentence was life i'm
prisonment in the Texas penitentiary.
This sentence was not served, how
ever, for only two years later they
were given their freedom on condition
that the Kiowa would become peace
full and behave we'll But the Kiowa
were still a raiding people. Peace i'm
posed such burden upon them that
in 1874. they uprose and caused con-
siderable trouble.
Satanic was arrested again. The
popular chief, princely and dignified,
as he has been described, was taken
back to the Texas penitentiary.
Perhaps the memory of Setangya's
death came to him, or perhaps he felt
that he was disgraced by the outbreak
of his people after his release. At any
rate, he jumped from an upper story,
and was killed.
Big Tree, the last of the chiefs who
were on the fatal raid, was held at
Fort Sill. He was younger. and there
fore less firmly an Indian in his ideas,
than the other two. He became friend
ly, accepted Christianity, and lived on
his allotment of land in peace.
20. 1882. Western Newspaper Union.)