Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1879 — Tragic Death of a Chief. [ARTICLE]

Tragic Death of a Chief.

Sioux City (la.) Journal. Pea Ridge (Dakota) Agency, Sept. 11. —Ten Cheyenne Indians, three men, six women and one child, nearly all of whom were participants in the Cheyeune outbreat at Fort Robinson, and subsequently turned over to Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses, left this agency with twenty-two horses they had stolen from different bands of Ogalallas, on the night of the 7th, intending to go across the country ou the east and north sides of the Black Hills to Fort Keogh, where those Cheyennes are who were captured by Lieutenant Clark last spring. It seems that Spotted Wolf (or Racer), the leader of the band, had for some time previous been inleve with Dull Knife’s daughter and her hand being refused by Dull Knife, he concluded to steal her and leave for the north. On Monday morning, Sword, of the Police, with five policemen, rede doWn to Young Man Afraid’s camp and took the trail of the renegades ana vigorously pursued them and overhauled them on Sage Creek, west of the Black Hills, and about 100 miles from this agency, on the morning of the 9th. • The police found them in camp, and after shaking hands with them Sword told them that he had come to take them back to the agency; that If they would go back peaceably they would not be harmed, and on their arrival at the agency they would be turned over to Young Man Afraid, who was responsible to the Good Father for their good behavior. Spotted Wolf said he would die before he arould go back. Sword told him that he had been ordered by the agent to briDg them back, and he intended to take them back, peaceably if he could, forcibly if he must; that is, alive if he could, and dead if he must, for, iu order to force a Cheyenne Indian to do anything he does not want to do, means that you must kill him first and argue the case afterward. He then drew his men up in line and ordered the runaways to mount audcome along, whereupon Spotted Wolf threw his blanket and squarred himself for a fight, and, in true characteristic style, resolved to follow the teaching of his aucestry—to die rather than surrender. He died. The other two men and the women were persuaded to give in and return. In answer to an inquiry whether Spotted Wolf was instantly killed, Fast Horse said he was. “Sword and I shot him through the heart. Hump in the right eye, Iron Bull in tbe left eye, aud Lone Bear through the top of the head.”

Red Bear—not a policeman—who went with the police force, proposed that they treat the women as all captives are usually treated by Indians, but Sword said: “No. When we were wild and used to go on the war path and take captives, we treated them cruelly and barbarously, but now that we are peaceable Indians living at an agency, and ia the employ of the Great Father, let us treat them with due respect, like white men tre »t their prisoners.” They arrived at the agency at 6 o’clock last evening, and the prisoners were, by order of the agent, again turned over to Young Man Afraid and the horses returned to their respective owners. ' t . The agency police merit praise for their bravery and fidelity, and for trying to do away with their old heathish customs, and for adopting the oivilized mode of living.