This young warrior, of fine size, figure and countenance, is now about
25 years old. At the age of 21 his heroic deeds had acquired for him in
his nation the rank of “bravest of the brave.” The savage practice of
torturing and burning to death their prisoners existed in this nation. An
unfortunate female taken in war, of the Paduca nation, was destined to
this horrible death. The fatal hour had arrived, the trembling victim,
far from her home and her friends, was fastened to the stake; the whole
tribe was assembled on the surrounding plain to witness the awful scene.
Just when the fire was about to be kindled, and the spectators on the
tiptoe of expectation, this young warrior, who sat composedly among the
chiefs, having before prepared two fleet horses, with the necessary
provisions, sprung from his seat, rushed through the crowd, loosed the
victim, seized her in his arms, placed her on one of the horses, mounted
the other himself, and made the utmost speed towards the nation and
friends of the captive. The multitude, dumb and nerveless with amazement
at the daring deed, made no effort to rescue their victim from her
deliverer. They viewed it as an act of the Great Spirit, submitted to it
without a murmur, and quietly returned to their village. The released
captive was accompanied through the wilderness towards her home, till she
was out of danger. He then gave her the horse on which she rode, with the
necessary provisions for the remainder of the journey, and they parted.
On his return to the village, such was the respect entertained for him,
that no inquiry was made into his conduct; no censure was passed on it,
and since the transaction, no human sacrifice has been offered in this or
any other of the Pawnee tribes. Of what influence is one bold act in a
good cause!
On the publication of this anecdote at Washington, the young ladies of
Miss White’s Seminary, in that city, presented that brave and humane
Indian with a handsome silver medal, on which was engraven an appropriate
inscription, accompanied by an address, of which the following is the
close:—“Brother, accept this token of our esteem; always wear it for our
sake; and when you have again the power to save a poor woman from death
and torture, think of this, and of us, and fly to her rescue.”