USA > Nebraska > Nebraska history and record of pioneer days, Vol. VI > Part 2
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26. Many derivations have been proposed for this name, but all come from a root which means "wolf."
- 27. These Mahas, now called' Omaha, belonged to the Siouan group as did the Kanza and the Osage, but in spite of the relation, they hardly understand the speech of nations living north of the river Platte.
: 28. At the beginning of the 19th century their number was upward of 1,000 of whom 280 were warriors.
29. War Department. MSS. No. 2592, folio 100. Also Colonies Cahier Book C13. Chapter IV, folios 235-235. The translations are dif- ferent.
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NEBRASKA HISTORY
The lieutenant general having assembled all the officers on duty and on leave, and the natives, told them that a sav- age had reported to him that he had found some branches and leaves of fresh sand cherries which seemed to be the fragments of a meal of some band which had passed very re- cently. He then gave an estimate of the distance we had traveled, which in our reckoning was about 300 leagues. He then took counsel whether we should wait for orders from the Viceroy of New Spain, who had sent the detachment to discover from the savage nations if any French had establish- ed themselves in the region, or whether, since we had thus far found no proof of such establishment, we should con- tinue our search with the Panane" nation (the only one which could give light on the question) and how we should commun- icate with them.
Names of Spanish Officers.
The military council was composed of Captain Thomas Aulguin. Aide-de-camp Joseph Domingue, Ensign Bernard Cazille: Captains Manuel. Theverio de Albas, Alonzo Reald, Pierre Lucan; Corporals Joseph Gregoire, Manuel Thenonorio de Alba, Laurent Rodrigue; Captain Christophe de la Serne3: and Captain Jean Arhive; these two last named are natives.
All were of opinion that we ought to find the Panane in order to learn from them the truth or to know whether the Apaches had deceived us-that for this purpose the detach- ment should cross the river and thereafter proceed in the best way to carry out the plan proposed.
Crossing Great River Full of Islands.
Upon this resolve the lieutenant general ordered certain savages to locate the ford of the river so that the detachment might cross to the other shore. In the afternoon we began to carry over the baggage on travois upon the backs of the savages. It was not possible to get it across otherwise. The great number of islands in the river makes navigation by boats absolutely impracticable. Since one day did not suffice to transport everything our camp was divided that night by the river. Besides we did not wish to expose our natives by crossing at night, because it was so cold.
30. It is the name which the Spanish gave the Pani.
31. These proper names are spelled in different ways. one finds Cerise.
Sometimes
. Ser notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
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Wednesday 7 of August.
At the break of day we crossed over the remainder of our baggage and people to the other side of the river of Jesus-Maria. This was not without much trouble, but at last we found ourselves together at noon.
Thursday 8.
We leave the river Jesus-Maria following the trail of the Panane. The native Captain Serne boasted that he knows the trail well. He lost his way, however, and came back to camp. He was sent out again and with him. Captain Joseph, Nar- vanno, four corporals and two soldiers. A servant of Captain Serne, Panane by nation, said that he remembered, although he had left it when very young, that the village.of his tribe was located on the bank of a river far to the north. Our sol- diers were ordered to find out the truth of his statement. They were ordered at the same time when they were near the village to let the savage talk alone with his people, to tell them they had nothing to fear, that we were Spaniards, their friends. And in case they found no one in the village to go. such distance as would enable them to return to camp the same day or ensuing night.
Another Large Stream Crossed.
: Since we left the river Jesus-Maria we have taken care to follow the trail which we found before us and which we believe was made by the Panane. We found, at a league from the river a large creek which it was necessary to cross and we thought from the water which was very warm that it was a branch of the river whose course was from west to east. We then marched over a plain, following always the trail of those who had gone before us. We saw a number of trees a league away and we met one of our savages who was of Cap- tain Narrans detachment and who had orders to wait for us to tell us to follow the creek and that he would follow the trail of those gone ahead since they found no one in the villages. The camp arrived at the bank of the creek and, as it was im- possible to cross with our arms, we were obliged to keep along its bank and follow the same route as that taken by Captain Narrans. We had already travelled three leagues to reach the creek; we marched three more to arrive at a plain. Fin- ally we halted in order that those following might not lose the way. At the same time two savages arrived from Cap- tain Narrans to tell the lieutenant general that he should not worry if the captain did not return to camp that ensuing night, that he was following the trail of the Panane who, ac-
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NEBRASKA HISTORY
Junction. of Loup River with the Platte, near present city of Columbus, Nebraska. Photo July, 1923.
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cording to all indications, were not far off, and that the main command might march since he counted on rejoining them very soon. .
Friday 9.
The camp being ready to march we saw, at more than a league's distance, some one approaching at a gallop. We were in advance and we found that it was one of our people who had been at the discovery. They told us that, eight leagues distant, on the other side of the creek we were following, thy found the Panane in a bottom, singing and dancing ac- cording to custom of the savages. They seemed to be in great numbers. They had not judged it wise to approach nearer to them for fear of frightening them away during the night.
Upon this news order was at once given to cross to the other side of the creek. It was carried out with so much good fortune that everything went over without getting wet, al- though the mules were up to their girths in the water. We marched three leagues along the creek and found it conven- ient to halt at five leagues distant from the tribe, according to the report of those who brought in the news.
Council with Panane or Pawnee Nation.
'As soon as we were in camp the lieutenant general sent the savage of Captain Serne to visit and talk with those of his nation, assuring them of our friendship and good will, and that we were taking this means of letting them know our good faith. Although the lieutenant general wished to send two soldiers with the savage to see that he was not insulted by those of his nation, the native told him that he had nothing to fear and that it was better to go alone, that if the soldiers accompanied him they might believe that there was deception and bad faith in what he proposed to them. This was agreed to and the savage started at 11 a. m. to see his nation. May God and the Holy Virgin, his mother, give him success. The general named the creek Saint Lawrence. The river Jesus- Maria makes a junction with this creek at the place where we are, in such manner that if we had not already crossed it would be impossible to do so.
At 6 p. m. we saw Francois Sistaca, which is the name of the savage of Don Christophe de la Serne, coming on the gallop. He related to the lieutenant general and all the others that he had been to see the band seen dancing the night be- fore and, not finding it, he had followed the creek and had seen them crossing to the other side where they had a village and many people. He stopped at the bank of the creek, dis-
* Sce notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
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NEBRASKA HISTORY
Pawnee Village at forks of Beaver Creek and Loup River, near Genoa, Nebraska, photo 1875.
Photo- graph furnished by J. W. Williamson, Genoa.
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mounted, and called to the people crossing the river, making the signs of friendship and peace used by savages. As soon as he was seen many savages came to him and, among others, four at the head of them with tomahawks in hand, without bows or arrows, making cries, and seeing them approach. within a stone's throw, he was afraid, made a sign with his cap as though he were calling people back of him and mount- ing his horse he galloped eight leagues to camp without stop- ping.
Saturday 10th of the month.
Feast day of the glorious Martyr, Saint Lawrence (died Aug. 10, A. D. 258). The camp marched along the river, fol- lowing the band (of savages) and having discovered .on the other side of the creek a village with a number of houses and people passing from one side to the other by a ford, making calls easily heard because only the creek was between us, we?' made the signs of peace and friendship spoken, of : before.' Twenty-five or thirty savages came to the edge of the creek.i to talk with us. We heard easily what they said. ` The sav- age of Don Christophe la Serne, who recognized the language of his nation, told the lieutenant general that they asked for peace and that he should come into their village.
They made signs looking at the sun" which meant that the Spaniards need wait only one day for their visit. At once' the savage of Don Christophe La Seine resolved to cross over to the other side in spite of the fear he had the day before. .The camp halted opposite the village and the savage took off. his clothing in order to swim across, with consent of. his mas- ter. The lieutenant general told him to tell his nation that he would come and visit them with no design of doing them the least injury, as they could easily see since he had just dis- covered them without any strategems, as he might have done when he learned they were singing and dancing not more than two leagues distant. Thus they might confer with us in en-' tire safety for peace and the friendly union which should ex -; ist between brothers and subjects of the same king. " The lieutenant general gave tobacco for the savage to carry to' them, which is the usual custom at these meetings.
32. A party of Pani-Maha on a hunting expedition had evidently": retreated before the Spaniards in order to draw them to the country of the Otoptata. But the Pani-Maha had a species of religion based on the worship of a certain number of stars and their chief villages were always arranged in a certain relation to each other. On this ac- count, no doubt, these signs which the Spaniards interpreted in their own way.
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Shar-i-tar-ish was a principal chief of the Grand Pawnee tribe. Hle was son of another chief of the same name mentioned as Char-ac- tar-ish by Lieutenant l'ike who met him at the Grand Pawnee village on the Republican river in 1806. The subject of this portrait succeeded : his elder brother, Ta-re-ca-wa-ho as head chief. The latter was invited to visit the president at Washington, but refused because he thought the Pawnee the greatest people on earth and would not condescend to go in person.He sent Shar-i-tar-ish in his stead. Shar-i-tar-ish was then a young man, six feet tall, well proportioned and of fine appear- ance. His portrait was made at Washington. Soon after his return he became head chief and died a little later. aged thirty. He was suc- ceeded by Ish-ca-te-pi sometimes spelled I-ka-tap-pi and called "The Wicked Chief."
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End of Military Note Book.
The last leaves of the record of this journal were evident- ly lost like those of the beginning .. However, as we know that the massacre of the Spaniards took place the day after their meeting with the Optoptata and their allies, there is every ground for supposing that the manuscript ended at the date of August 10, 1720 and that its author was killed the next day.
News of the Massacre Carried to the French.
.At any rate the news of the disaster to the expedition was known in all its details at Kaskaskia about the beginning of November. The first rumors of it probably arrived a month earlier, for it seems the same event referred to in the , following letter. However, since the Spaniards were not al- ways in a body, the letter may refer to an isolated detach- ment.
Slavery and Human Sacrifice in Nebraska Region.
"All the nations of the Missouri", wrote Boisbriant on October 5, 1720", "have made peace with the Pani-Maha, but . they utterly refuse to consider with the Padoka. The Otop- tata and the Canzes have been at war with the latter (Pad- oka): They have taken 250 slaves." As in the village where they have taken these there were many Spaniards, twenty of these are among the slain. This news has been brought to Sieur Boisbriant by four Frenchman whom he had given permission to go and buy horses from the Panyouessa" (Wichita). Before the arrival of these French that nation had also defeated a village of Padoka. It had led away 100 4 slaves whom it had burned without mercy from day to day. Our French ransomed four or five from the flames, but their generosity was ill rewarded. The wretches ran away a little later and carried with them, the clothing of their liberators." -and further on "A Spaniard escaped from the defeat re- corded above. He is with the Canzes (Kansas). We have written a Frenchman who is on the Missouri, to ransom the Spaniard and bring him this . fall to Sieur Boisbriant. He hopes to draw from the Spaniard information of the com- merce which the Spanish carry on with the savages and to learn from him if there are mines in that wegion."
33 .. Letter dated at Kaskakias.
34. According to the Handbook of American Indians the Paniquessa were the Wichita. It is necessary to concede that these Indians lived at that time not far from the river of the Kanza.
* Sce notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 29-31.
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Chon-ca-pe, sometimes written Shunk-co-pe, was also called "Big: Kanzas." Ile lived in the first half of the 19th century. He was a. signer of the treaty of 1825 made at Council Bluffs, between the United States and the Otoe tribe. Soon after he was called to Washington to meet the president. At this visit this portrait was made. The grizzly bear necklace is a trophy of a victory over one of those fierce animals.
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NEBRASKA HISTORY
On November 22, 1720, Boisbriant gave more precise in- formation.
"The Spaniards to the number of 250, accompanied by the Padoka" nation, came to make an establishment on the Missouri. On the way they defeated five" nations. The com- mandant believed, after one splendid victory, he was strong: enough to withstand anything. He sent part of his force to conduct the slaves taken in the villages he had destroyed and advanced within 15 leagues of the Otoptata. His plan, was to extirpate that nation. He had with him then 60 Spaniards and 150 Padokas., .
Oto Deceive the Spaniards.
The Otoptata, warned by the Pani-Maha of the Spanish approach, marched to meet him. They called themselves Pani-Maha, which was rendered easier since they spoke the language of the Pani-Maha as though their native language. The Spanish commander, deceived, asked if there were any; French on the Missouri river and assured them that he would give them a great quantity of goods if they would deliver French into his hands. They replied that there' were French with the Otoptata and that they would make it easy for him to capture them. They passed the night together, but in very different ways. The Otoptata danced," the Padoka fled from fear, while the Spaniards, abandoned by their allies kept on their guard. The Spaniards feared nothing, since they trusted in such a great number of the pretended Pani- Maha.
35. The Padouka ( Comanche) are allies to the great Shoshonean family whose diverse branches, located at first in the north, successively. :occupied a wide territory which stretched from Vancouver Island . as far as Texas. In 1720 the Padouka dwelt near. the headwaters of the: Kansas. It was there that Bourgmont in 1724 came to visit them in order to break their alliance with the Spaniards. . But these Indians, essentially nomads, living in tents, always at war with their neighbors, later emigrated south and crossed the Red river. By virtue of infor- mation we may point out that this author of the Spanish manuscript already cited, who very well knew the Indians of Texas, was astonished because, in spite of his extensive researches he was not able to under- stand what had become of the great nation of the Padouka which numbered 2,000 warriors-and, in consequence, supposed that these In- dians dispersed and formed the following nations: 'Wetepahatoe (one of the tribes of the Kiowa), Kiawa, Kanenawish, Kalteka, Dotame, etc.
36. Two of these tribes, according to Father Charlevoix made part .of the Otoptata nation, but this statement seems doubtful. .
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Oto Council
Great Council of Otoe Indian tribe held with Major Long October 3, 1819 at Long's Encampment on the Missouri.river, about 6 miles north of the present Florence. Sketch made at the time by Thomas Seymour, member of Long's Expedition Chief Jetan for Chon-moni-case was one of the chief speakers;
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Oto Destroy the Spanish Army.
On the next day the savages proposed an Iroquois dance. The Spaniards agreed and unloaded their mules in order to rest. Abont two o'clock in the afternoon the Otoptata asked for the lances of the Spaniards for their, dancers to use in the dance and they were granted them." : The chief of the sav- ages during the dance formed his warriors in groups about the Spaniards who were always under arms. When he saw everything arranged as he wished he fired a pistol upon the Spanish. At the signal all his men attacked with such im- petuosity that all the Spaniards were killed in less than an instant. Only four of them were quick enough to mount their horses and drive their mules ahead of them. But some young warriors seized their quivers, shot and killed two of them. The two sole survivors of the sixty Spaniards pushed on to- ward Mexico, which they could reach with difficulty depriv- eu as they were of all provisions.
The chaplain of the detachment was made prisoner. The Otoptata chief was bringing him to Sieur Boisbriant, but the chief was compelled to turn back on receiving news that the Renards (Fox) had come to attack his village. A man named Chevallier was ordered to go in search of the chaplain. Spaniards Plan to Colonize Nebraska Country.
This undertaking of the Spanish shows the necessity of establishing a post on the Missouri. ; They brought with them a large number of oxen, cows and sheep which proves their purpose to make a .permanent settlement.
Booty from the Battlefield.
According to Charlevoix there were two chaplains. "All that was told me" said he "related to the chaplain who was- slain and from whom was taken a book of prayers which I have not seen. It was apparently his breviary. I purchased his pistol, his shoes were worthless, and the savage would not part with the ointment because when taken it was a sovereign remedy for all kinds of ills. I was curious to know how he used it and he replied that it was enough to swallow a little at a time and whatever illness one had he was instantly cur- ed. He assured me that he had not yet tried it and I coun- selled him not to do so. We find the savages here very coarse. There is much need of spirituality or at least that their minds should be as open as those who have had more intercourse with us."
37. According to Dumont the Spaniards, after having made a treaty with the Indians, had given them arms to attack the French. He adds what seems correct (after correcting the names) that the Oto and their allies, taken for Pani by the Spaniards, learned from the mouth of the latter (the Spaniards) that they had come to destroy them (the Oto). . See notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages. 20-31.
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NEBRASKA HISTORY
The spoils of the Spaniards were scattered everywhere. The letter of Charlevoix is dated at Michillimakinac. The following one was written to the Illinois by the engineer Lallemand who explored the mines of the Maramek river re- gion.
"The Spaniards of New Mexico"" Says he "came three or four months ago with the design to establish themselves on the Missouri. They had with them a number of mules loaded with all kinds of tools to work the mines. They drove with tnem a number of cows and sheep. In this array they arriv- ed at a nation called Octotata, two hundred leagues from here."
"They took only 40 days to reach the Octotata. It is pre: sumed that they did not move rapidly on account of the bag gage and the animals which they brought with them."33 Distance from Santa Fe to Nebraska Country.
"It is believed that it is not more than 120 leagues. from New Mexico to the Octotata. These savages say there is a fort built of stone four days journey from where they are."
"On their way they killed and destroyed many savage nations. They flattered themselves they would finish the others. The affair turned our differently."
Account of Charlevoix.
"The Octotata who were on the hunt learned all the cruelties which the Spanish had inflicted on their neighbors They dissimulated 'and came to the number of 60 to smoke the pipe of peace with their new hosts, the Spaniards, who suspected nothing. The savages all of a sudden gave a great cry which was the signal to strike them down, they did this so well only one remained. The mules took fright and fled on the run with their loads. The prisoner whom the savages had captured was a monk of San Juan de Dios. He escaped a little
. later. The savages were foolish enough to let him have a? horse in order to show them how to ride one." His shrewd- · ness had been too smart for them and he fled with all speed. Since then it is learned that other Spaniards had returned to the attack and that they had met the same fate as the first, excepting one whom the savages would send here at once. M.
38. This letter is dated April 5, 1721.
39. This note is found on the margin of the document.
40. This figure is, manifestly, incorrect. The figure of 300 leagues, as given by the Spaniards, approaches very much nearer to the truth. 41. Charlevoix says that the Chaplain who escaped from the "Missouristes" was a remarkable horseman and the Indians who, ac- cording to Dumont, did not know how to manage a horse, greatly ad- mired his skill. Before fleeing the "Jacobin" had nad the foresight to prepare a package of food.
. See notes by Addison E. Sheldon on pages 20-31.
NEBRASKA HISTORY 27
de Boisbriant has shown me several documents written in Spanish, among others one which is marked Escuadras with the names of those who apparently were on guard for that day.' The other papers are songs or hymns and prayers to the Virgin. There are some leaves of the breviary "or the Spanish monk and some rosaries with their crosses, evident proof that the savages have not made up a tale. From this it must appear that there are rich mines on the Missouri since the Spaniards wish to penetrate there whether desired or not."
Hope of Mines in Missouri River Region.
Poor Lallement who, in spite of his efforts, never suc- ceeded in discovering in the region of the river Maramek any- thing but very poor mines difficult to, work, had not yet lost his illusions. It was for him a deadly irony, the news of the death of the Spanish prospectors, duped like himself by the chimerical prospectus of the Company of the Indies, coming just at this time to beguile him.
In Le Page du Pratz there is a long account, very pictur- csque but fantastic, of the arrival at Kaskaskia of Indians bearing the spoils of the Spaniards. His account would make one think a whole convent had been massacred, so much one glimpses of defiling of chasubles, of stoles, of surplices; of crosses and candlesticks.
But what is for us more interesting Du Pratz adds: Spanish Maps of Nebraska Region.
"The Indians brought with them the map which had so ill-guided the Spaniards. After having examined it, it seems to me better, for the west of our colony which is toward them, than for the region which concerns us. According to this map it appears that the Red River and the Arkansas must bend more than I have said and that the source of the Mis- souri is more to the west than shown by our geographers- since the Spaniards should know that region better than the French who have given notes upon it." Where Did Massacre Take Place?
Let us now see whether the documents which precede, in spite of their apparent lack of certainty; may not, in reality, be sufficiently exact to determine with satisfactory approx- imation, the place where the massacre of the Spaniards oc- curred.
Not in Osage Country.
Let us observe, at the start, that the expedition did not go to the Osage," as Le Page du Pratz believed, but to the . Pani, most of whose tribes then dwelt to the north of or along
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