Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1896 — A MONUMENT TO AN INDIAN. [ARTICLE]

A MONUMENT TO AN INDIAN.

i A Great Sioux Chief Remembered by His Tribe. After a delay of many months a I monument has finally been erected on ! the Lower Brule Indian reservation, near Chamberlain, S. D., to the memory of Iron Xation. for forty years head chief of the Lower Brule tribe of Sioux Indians. This, so far as known, is the first and only Instance in the west where a monument has been erected to the memory of a dead chief by popular subscription among the people of his tribe. Iron Xation was a prominent figure in Sioux history for a period of more than sixty years, and during the early part of his eventful career was distinctively a war chief, leading his warriors in numberless battles against the hereditary enemies of the Sioux—the Pawnees, Gros Ventres, Poncas and Crows. On one occasion, more than half a century ago, he led his warriors on a raiding expedition into the very heart of the Pawnee territory in what is now eastern Nebraska. A desperate battle resulted, in which fully 2,000 Indians participated. The Pawnees were defeated and their lodges and belongings burned or confiscated by the victorious Sioux. Many children were placed in charge of Sioux squaws and raised as members of the tribe. M present but one of the captives is yetj.alive, and, although in his old age, is contented to remain with the Lower Brules for the remainder of his days. On another occasion a war party of Gibs Ventres raided a Lower Brule village during the absence of the warriors .and murdered two Indian women, one of them being a sister of Iron Nation. As quickly as possible a Sioux war party was organized and set out in pursuit of the murderers, now in full flight for their reservation, east of the Missouri Itiver, near Fort Berthold. Upon arriving opposite the fort a band of Gros Ventres was discovered on the west side of the river, about five miles away. The Lower Brules had gone into camp, and Iron Nation's pony was quietly munching the grass some distance away. Without stopping to get his pony Iron Nation, boiling with rage and eager to reach and puhish the slayers of his sister, started on foot in a race which made him famous in Sioux history as a runner. The Sioux started pell mell toward the enemy to cut off their retreat to the opposite side of the river. Iron Nation started on foot simultaneously with four Sioux near him who were mounted. In the race of five miles he ou>listanced one of the mounted warriors. This feat is still frequently alluded to by the Sioux in their campfire tales. Iron Nation was always a warm friend of the whites. His grave over which the monument has just been erected is on a stream named by the Indians Medicine Creek. A church which was constructed through his efforts stands near by.