Kiowa chief kills himself

[Will Killem]

On October 11,1878 Kiowa chief Satanta committed suicide by jumping
out his prison window. Satanta was born around 1820, probably in what
is now Kansas or Oklahoma.

 

He first emerged as an orator at the Medicine
Lodge Treaty council in October 1867, where he came to be known as
the "Orator of the Plains," although that title may havebeen a

tongue-in-cheek reference to his long-winded speeches rather
than sincere praise for his speaking abilities.

 

In 1871 Satanta and his fellow chiefs Satank and Big Tree were arrested

for their partin the Warren wagontrain raid. Satank was killed while trying

to escape.

 

The trial of Satanta and Big Tree at Jacksboro was a celebrated

event, primarily because it marked the first time Indian chiefs were forced
to stand trial in a civil court. The jury convicted the two men and
sentenced them to hang, but Texas governor E. J. Davis commuted the
sentences to life imprisonment.

 

Satanta was paroled in 1873, but was re-arrested for his role in the attack

on Lyman's wagontrain in Palo Duro canyon and in the second battle of

Adobe Walls. He was imprisoned in the Texas penitentiary in Hunstville

until 1878, when, demoralized over the prospect of spending the rest of

his life in confinement, he took his own life.

[Stan H]

I have always wondered about the report that he killed himself. Suicide was virtually unknown to most native cultures. Many believe the spirit would not go on to the next world if they took their own life. They were fearful that if a person killed themselves, their spirit would become a "bad" spirit and cause problems for those left behind.

Now, please don't get me wrong. I am not saying Satanta did not kill himself. I am just unsure of the facts. I could think of a number of other possibilities. But that is all they are, just possibilities.

It is issues like this that make the study of history so interesting. Thanks for the article, Will.

[Iain Sanders]

Didn't old sick Indians sometimes 'go out' by themselves to die alone in the wilderness or from bad Winter weather, perhaps to avoid becoming a burden to others? Not an unknown phenomenon in many cultures - & pills do it for some even now.

[Iain Sanders]

PS Also it was a custom to sing a Death Song & confront overwhelming odds face-on when escape was impossible or dishonourable. Perhaps that's what he had in mind..?

[Stan H]

Iain

You are correct in both comments, but neither was considered sucide.

Another point is the act of "staking" oneself down to the ground when facing an enemy. The warrior would drive a stake into the ground, tie himself there, and fight the charging enemy to the death. However, being killed by the enemy was a sign of honor and not considered sucide.

The old ones going off to die was considered a "duty" if they had no one to care for them and it was to lessen the burden on the rest of the band. Again, though, this was not considered "sucide" as it was simply letting nature take it's course.

I guess it is all a matter of interpretation.

Sorry, Will, I did not mean to hijack the thread.