SS Dart; North Atlantic, 1887 

Aboard VonHot 10 up the Ohio (25 years ago)

Remembering 26 December, 1862  

On August 17, 1862, four young Dakota men on a hunting trip in the Big Woods killed five settlers near a settlement in Acton Township, Minnesota.  Some accounts say that the men acted on a dare, following an argument about whether or not they should steal eggs. Others say that the men were provoked when the farmer refused to give them food or water, or liquor. The victims included Robinson Jones, who ran a post office, lodge, and store, and four others, including his wife and 15-year-old adopted daughter.

Realizing that they were in trouble… ( Big Indian belch for emphasis )… the four men – Wahpeton men who had married Mdewakanton women – returned to Rice Creek village to tell their story to Red Middle Voice, the head of their band, and Cut Nose, the head soldier of their lodge. Red Middle Voice lobbied his nephew Chief Shakopee III for support, and together they traveled to Little Crow’s village near the Lower Sioux Agency. Chaska tell the story in five mutinies with his usual deadpan face.  

In four moon time they sing death song and dangle on gallows heap plenty fuss… feathers… paint. Chaska tell the story with handless clock face.   Ugh.  Dead fuckers.  You English don’t fuck around.  Not me English you stupid Indian.  How many coup we count on way to He Sapa.  Too many where nobody sees plenty.  You open my eye with long knife for Dancing Bear.  You open my bottle fur mein own scare.  Thabo no go aloft.  You look for singing grass at sea.  Chaska Thabo and Heinrich are old pirates and realizing they could not let it be.

Henry fears pity will make him sleepy- pass the trawl…

…and the sea will rise- and catch us all.