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！
The origin of his name 〃Tamahay〃 is related as follows。 When he
was a young man he accompanied the chief Wabashaw to Mackinaw；
Michigan； together with some other warriors。 He was out with his friend
one day； viewing the wonderful sights in the 〃white man's country〃； when
they came upon a sow with her numerous pink little progeny。 He was
27
… Page 28…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
greatly amused and picked up one of the young pigs； but as soon as it
squealed the mother ran furiously after them。 He kept the pig and fled
with it； still laughing； but his friend was soon compelled to run up the
conveniently inclined trunk of a fallen tree； while our hero reached the
shore of a lake near by； and plunged into the water。 He swam and dived
as long as he could； but the beast continued to threaten him with her sharp
teeth； till； almost exhausted； he swam again to shore； where his friend
came up and dispatched the vicious animal with a club。 On account of
this watery adventure he was at once called Tamahay； meaning Pike。 He
earned many other names； but preferred this one； because it was the name
borne by a great friend of his； Lieutenant Pike； the first officer of the
United States Army who came to Minnesota for the purpose of exploring
the sources of the Mississippi River and of making peace with the natives。
Tamahay assisted this officer in obtaining land from the Sioux upon which
to build Fort Snelling。 He appears in history under the name of
〃Tahamie〃 or the 〃One…Eyed Sioux。〃
Always ready to brave danger and unpopularity； Tamahay was the only
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
28
… Page 29…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
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；
29
… Page 30…
INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
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 t