友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
九色书籍 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

indian heroes & great chieftains-第6章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




settlement might not be checked; commissions were sent out to

negotiate treaties; and in case of failure it often happened that

a delegation of leading men of the tribe were invited to

Washington。  At that period; these visiting chiefs; attired in all

the splendor of their costumes of ceremony; were treated like

ambassadors from foreign countries。



One winter in the late eighteen…fifties; a major general of

the army gave a dinner to the Indian chiefs then in the city; and

on this occasion Little Crow was appointed toastmaster。  There were

present a number of Senators and members of Congress; as well as

judges of the Supreme Court; cabinet officers; and other

distinguished citizens。  When all the guests were seated; the Sioux

arose and addressed them with much dignity as follows:



〃Warriors and friends: I am informed that the great white war

chief who of his generosity and comradeship has given us this

feast; has expressed the wish that we may follow to…night the

usages and customs of my people。  In other words; this is a

warriors' feast; a braves' meal。  I call upon the Ojibway chief;

the Hole…in…the…Day; to give the lone wolf's hunger call; after

which we will join him in our usual manner。〃



The tall and handsome Ojibway now rose and straightened his

superb form to utter one of the clearest and longest wolf howls

that was ever heard in Washington; and at its close came a

tremendous burst of war whoops that fairly rent the air; and no

doubt electrified the officials there present。



On one occasion Little Crow was invited by the commander of

Fort Ridgeley; Minnesota; to call at the fort。  On his way back;

in company with a half…breed named Ross and the interpreter

Mitchell; he was ambushed by a party of Ojibways; and again

wounded in the same arm that had been broken in his attempted

assassination。  His companion Ross was killed; but he managed

to hold the war party at bay until help came and thus saved his

life。



More and more as time passed; this naturally brave and

ambitious man became a prey to the selfish interests of the traders

and politicians。  The immediate causes of the Sioux outbreak of

1862 came in quick succession to inflame to desperate action an

outraged people。  The two bands on the so…called 〃lower

reservations〃 in Minnesota were Indians for whom nature had

provided most abundantly in their free existence。  After one

hundred and fifty years of friendly intercourse first with the

French; then the English; and finally the Americans; they found

themselves cut off from every natural resource; on a tract of land

twenty miles by thirty; which to them was virtual imprisonment。  By

treaty stipulation with the government; they were to be fed and

clothed; houses were to be built for them; the men taught

agriculture; and schools provided for the children。  In addition to

this; a trust fund of a million and a half was to be set aside for

them; at five per cent interest; the interest to be paid annually

per capita。  They had signed the treaty under pressure; believing

in these promises on the faith of a great nation。



However; on entering the new life; the resources so rosily

described to them failed to materialize。  Many families faced

starvation every winter; their only support the store of the Indian

trader; who was baiting his trap for their destruction。  Very

gradually they awoke to the facts。  At last it was planned to

secure from them the north half of their reservation for

ninety…eight thousand dollars; but it was not explained to the

Indians that the traders were to receive all the money。  Little

Crow made the greatest mistake of his life when he signed this

agreement。



Meanwhile; to make matters worse; the cash annuities were not

paid for nearly two years。  Civil War had begun。  When it was

learned that the traders had taken all of the ninety…eight thousand

dollars 〃on account〃; there was very bitter feeling。  In fact; the

heads of the leading stores were afraid to go about as usual; and

most of them stayed in St。 Paul。  Little Crow was justly held in

part responsible for the deceit; and his life was not safe。



The murder of a white family near Acton; Minnesota; by a party

of Indian duck hunters in August; 1862; precipitated the break。 

Messengers were sent to every village with the news; and at the

villages of Little Crow and Little Six the war council was red…hot。 

It was proposed to take advantage of the fact that north and south

were at war to wipe out the white settlers and to regain their

freedom。  A few men stood out against such a desperate step; but

the conflagration had gone beyond their control。



There were many mixed bloods among these Sioux; and some of

the Indians held that these were accomplices of the white people in

robbing them of their possessions; therefore their lives should not

be spared。  My father; Many Lightnings; who was practically the

leader of the Mankato band (for Mankato; the chief; was a weak

man); fought desperately for the lives of the half…breeds and the

missionaries。  The chiefs had great confidence in my father; yet

they would not commit themselves; since their braves were clamoring

for blood。  Little Crow had been accused of all the misfortunes of

his tribe; and he now hoped by leading them against the whites to

regain his prestige with his people; and a part at least of their

lost domain。



There were moments when the pacifists were in grave peril。  It

was almost daybreak when my father saw that the approaching

calamity could not be prevented。  He and two others said to Little

Crow: 〃If you want war; you must personally lead your men

to…morrow。  We will not murder women and children; but we will

fight the soldiers when they come。〃  They then left the council and

hastened to warn my brother…in…law; Faribault; and others who were

in danger。



Little Crow declared he would be seen in the front of every

battle; and it is true that he was foremost in all the succeeding

bloodshed; urging his warriors to spare none。  He ordered his war

leader; Many Hail; to fire the first shot; killing the trader James

Lynd; in the door of his store。



After a year of fighting in which he had met with defeat; the

discredited chief retreated to Fort Garry; now Winnipeg; Manitoba;

where; together with Standing Buffalo; he undertook secret

negotiations with his old friends the Indian traders。  There was

now a price upon his head; but he planned to reach St。 Paul

undetected and there surrender himself to his friends; who he hoped

would protect him in return for past favors。  It is true that he

had helped them to secure perhaps the finest country held by any

Indian nation for a mere song。



He left Canada with a few trusted friends; including his

youngest and favorite son。  When within two or three days' journey

of St。 Paul; he told the others to return; keeping with him only

his son; Wowinape; who was but fifteen years of age。  He meant to

steal into the city by night and go straight to Governor Ramsey;

who was his personal friend。  He was very hungry and was obliged to

keep to the shelter of the deep woods。  The next morning; as he was

picking and eating wild raspberries; he was seen by a wood…chopper

named Lamson。  The man did not know who he was。  He only knew that

he was an Indian; and that was enough for him; so he lifted his

rifle to his shoulder and fired; then ran at his best pace。  The

brilliant but misguided chief; who had made that part of the

country unsafe for any white man to live in; sank to the ground and

died without a struggle。  The boy took his father's gun and made

some effort to find the assassin; but as he did not even know in

which direction to look for him; he soon gave up the attempt and

went back to his friends。



Meanwhile Lamson reached home breathless and made his report。 

The body of the chief was found and identified; in part by the

twice broken arm; and this arm and his scalp may be seen to…day in

the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society。









TAMAHAY





There was once a Sioux brave who declared that he would die young;

yet not by his own hand。  Tamahay was of heroic proportions;

herculean in strength; a superb runner; in fact; he had all the

physical qualities of an athlete or a typical Indian。  In his

scanty dress; he was beautiful as an antique statue in living

bronze。  When a mere youth; seventeen years of age; he met with an

accident which determined his career。  It was the loss of an eye;

a fatal injury to the sensitive and high…spirited Indian。  He

announced his purpose in these words:



〃The 'Great Mystery' has decreed that I must be disgraced。 

There will be no pleasure for me now; and I shall be ridiculed

even by my enemies。  It will be well for me to enter soon into

Paradise; for I shall be happy in spending my youth there。  But

I will sell my life dearly。  Hereafter my name shall
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!