CHAPTER XVII
THE SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE
About 1825 the Wakpekuta band of Santee Sioux, living about the oxbow of the Minnesota River (in the vicinity of Mankato), was ruled by two brothers, Tasagi and Wamdesapa, meaning "the black eagle." Wamdesapa was a vicious man with an uncontrollable temper, and in a burst of passion he killed his brother, who was much beloved by his people. So outraged were the Wakpekutas at this murder that they arose against Wamdesapa and compelled him to flee from the band to save his life. A few renegade Indians accompanied him. From that time the Wakpekutas disowned him and refused to have any relations with him whatever. Wamdesapa wandered out into South Dakota and located about the lakes near the site of Madison, and hunted along the Vermilion River. As there were no settlers in that country he was left to his own devices.
A son was born to Wamdesapa, and was named Inkpaduta, meaning "scarlet point" or "red end." Inkpaduta inherited his father's awful temper and all of his vices. He was intelligent, shrewd, treacherous, and without shame. All history does not reveal a more terrible character. Wamdesapa died in 1848 and Inkpaduta succeeded
102
