Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1881 — Spotted Tari’s Daughter. [ARTICLE]

Spotted Tari’s Daughter.

Major Gordon, of the second infantry, now at Bt. Paul, was well acquainted with Spotted Tail, the Bioux chief, who was killed by Crow Dog at Rosebud agency. He first saw him at Fort Laramie, in 1866, he having come there on an errand so sad that it affected his after life He brought there the body of his favorite daughter for burial, and officers of the post, with other white residents of the neighborhood, took part in the obsequies. Spotted Tail killed a number or ponies at the funeral, and nailed the skulls on the posts supporting the coffin. These skulls still remain, and every year the commanding officers sees to it that the coffin is decorated with flowers and streamers. The daughter had a romantic histo’y, which is familiar to many army officers and plainsmen. She fell in love with Lieut. Brockhors Livingston, of the old 2d dragoons, and a direct descendant of the famous Chancellor Livingstons of New York. He seems to have reciprocated her love, and they lived tof ether as man and wife, though bound y no legitimate tie. Livingston at last took sick, became a prey to dementia, was sent to Europe and there died.. The poor girl awaited his return long and anxiously, and guarded as dearer than her heart’s blood bis son, a bright two or three year old son. At length news of his death reached her, and the wife —for so she considered herself, and so her native friends considered her — pined a few months with a slowly breaking heart, and then died. Her last words were the few English words of endearment Livingston had taught ner in days gone by. Spotted Tail took the beloved formwhere Livingston had first met her, and there buried it. Mrs. Livingston, the mother of the lieutenant, is still living in|New York, or was a short time ago, and has instituted inquiries relative to the son spoken of, with a view of caring for and educating him, but all trace of him was lost, for his dusky relatives preferred to keep him with themselves.