indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第9节
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Sioux who sided with the United States in her struggle with Great Britain
in 1819。 For having espoused the cause of the Americans； he was ill…
treated by the British officers and free traders； who for a long time
controlled the northwest； even after peace had been effected between the
two nations。 At one time he was confined in a fort called McKay； where
now stands the town of Prairie du Chien； Wisconsin。 He had just
returned from St。 Louis； and was suspected of exciting his people to rebel
against British subjects。 His life was even threatened； but to this
Tamahay merely replied that he was ready to die。 A few months later；
this fort was restored to the United States； and upon leaving it the British
set the buildings on fire； though the United States flag floated above them。
Some Indians who were present shouted to Tamahay； 〃Your friends'； the
Americans'； fort is on fire！〃 He responded with a war whoop； rushed into
the blazing fort； and brought out the flag。 For this brave act he was
rewarded with a present of a flag and medal。 He was never tired of
displaying this medal and his recommendation papers； and even preserved
to the end of his life an old colonial stovepipe hat； which he wore upon
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state occasions。
The Sioux long referred to the president of the United States as
〃Tamahay's father。〃
The following story is told of him in his later days。 He attempted one
day to cross the first bridge over the Mississippi River； but was not
recognized by the sentinel； who would not allow him to pass until he paid
the toll。 Tamahay； who was a privileged character； explained as best he
could； with gestures and broken English； that he was always permitted to
pass free； but as the sentinel still refused； and even threatened him with his
bayonet； the old Indian silently seized the musket； threw it down into the
waters of the Mississippi and went home。 Later in the day a company of
soldiers appeared in the Indian village； and escorted our hero to a sort of
court…martial at the fort。 When he was questioned by the Colonel； he
simply replied： 〃If you were threatened by any one with a weapon； you
would； in self…defense； either disable the man or get rid of the weapon。 I
did the latter； thinking that you would need the man more than the gun。〃
Finally the officer said to them； 〃I see you are both partly wrong。
Some one must be responsible for the loss of the gun； therefore； you two
will wrestle； and the man who is downed must dive for the weapon to the
bottom of the river。〃
Scarcely was this speech ended when Tamahay was upon the soldier；
who was surprised both by the order and by the unexpected readiness of
the wily old Indian； so that he was not prepared； and the Sioux had the
vantage hold。 In a moment the bluecoat was down； amid shouts and
peals of laughter from his comrades。 Having thrown his man； the other
turned and went home without a word。
Sad to say； he acquired a great appetite for 〃minne…wakan〃； or
〃mysterious water〃； as the Sioux call it； which proved a source of trouble
to him in his old age。 It is told of him that he was treated one winter's
day to a drink of whisky in a trader's store。 He afterwards went home；
but even the severe blizzard which soon arose did not prevent him from
returning in the night to the friendly trader。 He awoke that worthy from
sleep about twelve o'clock by singing his death dirge upon the roof of the
log cabin。 In another moment he had jumped down the mud chimney；
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and into the blazing embers of a fire。 The trader had to pour out to him
some whisky in a tin pail； after which he begged the old man to 〃be good
and go home。〃 On the eve of the so…called 〃Minnesota Massacre〃 by the
Sioux in 1862； Tamahay； although he was then very old and had almost
lost the use of his remaining eye； made a famous speech at the meeting of
the conspirators。 These are some of his words； as reported to me by
persons who were present。
〃What！ What！ is this Little Crow？ Is that Little Six？ You； too；
White Dog； are you here？ I cannot see well now； but I can see with my
mind's eye the stream of blood you are about to pour upon the bosom of
this mother of ours〃 （meaning the earth）。 〃I stand before you on three
legs； but the third leg has brought me wisdom〃 ＇referring to the staff with
which he sup… ported himself＇。 〃I have traveled much； I have visited
among the people whom you think to defy。 This means the total
surrender of our beautiful land； the land of a thousand lakes and streams。
Methinks you are about to commit an act like that of the porcupine； who
climbs a tree； balances himself upon a springy bough； and then gnaws off
the very bough upon which he is sitting； hence； when it gives way； he falls
upon the sharp rocks below。 Behold the great Pontiac； whose grave I saw
near St。 Louis； he was murdered while an exile from his country！ Think
of the brave Black Hawk！ Methinks his spirit is still wailing through
Wisconsin and Illinois for his lost people！ I do not say you have no
cause to complain； but to resist is self…destruction。 I am done。〃
It is supposed that this speech was his last； and it was made； though
vainly； in defense of the Americans whom he had loved。 He died at Fort
Pierre； South Dakota； in 1864。 His people say that he died a natural
death； of old age。 And yet his exploits are not forgotten。 Thus lived and
departed a most active and fearless Sioux； Tamahay； who desired to die
young！
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GALL
Chief Gall was one of the most aggressive leaders of the Sioux nation
in their last stand for freedom。
The westward pressure of civilization during the past three centuries
has been tremendous。 When our hemisphere was 〃discovered〃； it had
been inhabited by the natives for untold ages； but it was held undiscovered
because the original owners did not chart or advertise it。 Yet some of
them at least had developed ideals of life which included real liberty and
equality to all men； and they did not recognize individual ownership in
land or other property beyond actual necessity。 It was a soul
development leading to essential manhood。 Under this system they
brought forth some striking characters。
Gall was considered by both Indians and whites to be a most
impressive type of physical manhood。 From his picture you can judge of
this for yourself。
Let us follow his trail。 He was no tenderfoot。 He never asked a soft
place for himself。 He always played the game according to the rules and
to a finish。 To be sure； like every other man； he made some mistakes； but
he was an Indian and never acted the coward。
The earliest stories told of his life and doings indicate the spirit of the
man in that of the boy。
When he was only about three years old； the Blackfoot band of Sioux
were on their usual roving hunt； following the buffalo while living their
natural happy life upon the wonderful wide prairies of the Dakotas。
It was the way of every Sioux mother to adjust her household effects
on such dogs and pack ponies as she could muster from day to day； often
lending one or two to accommodate some other woman whose horse or
dog had died； or perhaps had been among those stampeded and carried
away by a raiding band of Crow warriors。 On this particular occasion；
the mother of our young Sioux brave； Matohinshda； or Bear…Shedding…
His…Hair （Gall's childh
