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Canku Ota |
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(Many Paths) |
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An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America |
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May 3, 2003 - Issue 86 |
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An Indian Family Feud |
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by From The Milwaukee Sentinel -
June 7, 1895
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credits: submitted
by Timm Severud (Ondamitag)
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The
Black River Falls Tragedy and Its Causes
Black River Falls, Wisconsin - June 2, 1895 - A tragedy of more than usual importance took place in Winnebago Indian circles last week, today old Chief Black Hawk, sitting in his camp on Levis Creek, Jackson County, mourns the loss of his brave son, George Black Hawk, who died Tuesday night from the effects of knife wounds inflicted by Jim Swallow (Nahrestha Kithagah), two weeks ago. Chief Black Hawk is a nephew of the old war-famed Black Hawk, and he fairly worshiped his son, who was his heir, and who would, had he not been thus untimely cut off, have assumed the chieftainship of the Winnebago tribe as soon as his father went forth into the spirit land and happy hunting grounds. It is a sore blow to the old chief, who smokes his pipe at the door of his hunting lodge with his grizzled face imperturbable as an image and his black eyes fix on a dismal future. His line will expire with his death, and the Winnebagos will be obliged to elect his successor from another royal house. Meantime Jim Swallow, the murderer of George Black Hawk, lies in jail in Black River Falls waiting trial. It is a case of considerable importance, as the families of the dead man and his slayer are two leading families of the tribe, the old treaty belts and other valuables being very nearly equally divided. Black Hawk has visit Washington many times and has many metals among his souvenirs.
Indian
Family Feud According to the ethics of the Winnebago tribe, murder is a misdemeanor, not a crime. The usual way of settling cases of murder among the Indians is briefly enunciated here. One Indian who kills another gives an opening to the relatives of the murdered man to take his life if they are so inclined. The murderer however offers ponies, blankets, beads and other things dear o the Indians heart to the dead man's relatives, and should they accept these presents, the crime is considered to be atoned. It is considered a brave act by the Indians to take a life for a life. Perhaps it is true that a sufficient quantity of firewater makes an Indian brave, and in such condition he would want a pony or a blanket if he had been sober. These children of nature have their vendettas and their amenities, and perhaps they are no more extreme than those of the whites who speak Anglo-Saxon accents and eat with a spoon instead of a knife. Would
Not Accept Ponies George
Black Hawk spoke here, saying that he had seen Swallow's relatives in
Nebraska and had talked with them and that the settlement would be perfectly
satisfactory to them. 'But,' said Black Hawk, 'If you want to be brave,
do what you like.' Swallow
replied that he had nothing to kill anybody with. Old
Hinockah stepped forward, handing Swallow his knife, saying, 'If you are
a brave man and want to take a life do it now.' At
this Swallow struck Hinockah in the neck with the knife. Then he wheeled
on Black Hawk and struck him a severe cut between the eyes. As Black Hawk
fell to the ground, Swallow jumped upon him and made five other severe
gashes on his body. Black Hawk was taken to his father's camp and an Indian
medicine man was sent for. George Black Hawk's mother, meantime, started
getting out the healing herbs, digging them with a fire shovel from the
ground. The
last chapter in this singular story of revenge and apparently causeless
manslaughter is told by Thomas R. Roddy of Black River Falls who is as
well acquainted with Indian traits and language as any man in the United
States, and who has traded with the Indians for years and has thus been
brought in constant touch with them. Said Mr. Roddy to a Sentinel reporter: "I went out the next day, being summoned by the district attorney to act as interpreter. The justice of the peace also went out with a stenographer to take the statement of George Black Hawk before his death. At the same time the sheriff started with a posse in pursuit of the murderer, who had fled to the upper settlement. We knew that the six wounds were very severe and might prove fatal, but had hope of George's recovery. Here old Black Hawk called me to him and told me in his native tongue that the Great Spirit appeared to him in a dream in the night and told him: 'George looks well, but he cannot live many days.' The old chief said that while for the honor of his people he was bound to kill Swallow, his son's slayer, he had decided to let the state take the matter up. Then the sheriff came and asked me to go with him to capture Swallow, adding that if I would do so he though we could capture him. We started early and found him at the camp of Old Green Cloud. We arrested him and he now lies in jail awaiting trial." |
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