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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 be spoken in
the traditions of our race。〃 With this speech Tamahay began his
career。
He now sought glory and defied danger with even more than the
ordinary Indian recklessness。 He accepted a personal friend； which
was a custom among the Sioux； where each man chose a companion for
life and death。 The tie was stronger than one of blood
relationship； a friendship sealed by solemn vow and covenant。
Tamahay's intimate was fortunately almost his equal in physical
powers； and the pair became the terror of neighboring tribes； with
whom the Dakotas were continually at war。 They made frequent raids
upon their enemies and were usually successful； although not
without thrilling experiences and almost miraculous escapes。
Upon one of these occasions the two friends went north into
the country of the Ojibways。 After many days' journey； they
discovered a small village of the foe。 The wicked Tamahay proposed
to his associate that they should arrange their toilets after the
fashion of the Ojibways； and go among them； 〃and perhaps；〃 he
added； 〃we will indulge in a little flirtation with their pretty
maids； and when we have had enough of the fun we can take the scalp
of a brave or two and retreat！〃 His friend construed his daring
proposition to be a test of courage； which it would not become him；
as a brave； to decline； therefore he assented with a show of
cheerfulness。
The handsome strangers were well received by the Ojibway
girls； but their perilous amusement was brought to an untimely
close。 A young maiden prematurely discovered their true
characters； and her cry of alarm brought instantly to her side a
jealous youth； who had been watching them from his place of
concealment。 With him Tamahay had a single…handed contest； and
before a general alarm was given he had dispatched the foe and fled
with his scalp。
The unfortunate brave had been a favorite and a leader among
the tribe； therefore the maddened Ojibways were soon in hot
pursu