The Act of Revenge by the Miami Indians
Again, speaking of the Miamis, it is said they possessed a quiet, persevering, but determined nature. To illustrate: "If the death of a brother was to be avenged, they proceeded quietly about the work. Patience, at such a time, was called actively into play; and, if needs be, months might roll away before a blow was struck. While this is generally true of most Indian tribes, it was especially true of the Miamis. A case in point is remembered by many of the earlier residents of Cass County. Many years before. from some cause, whether imaginary or real, an offense was committed by one Thorntown Miami against another, which was kept in remembrance until the favored opportunity presented itself. On the occasion referred to, the event having transpired on the evening of February 24, 1835) —No-ka-me-na, better known as Capt. Flower, a principal chief of the Miamis, was stealthily murdered by a drunken Indian called “ Lame Man," on the south side of the Wabash, opposite Logansport. It seems that Lame Man had long and silently nursed his wrath, and only waited the arrival of the opportune moment. During the day and early evening preceding, he had been lying around one of the trading houses, considerably intoxicated, watching his victim. Later in the evening, he disappeared, and was not again heard or noticed until, on the following morning, it was announced that Capt. Flower had been killed the night previous to compensate for an old grudge. An editorial notice in the Telrgraph of February 28, 1835, thus referred to him: “ Capt, Flower was one of the finest looking Indians be longing to the Miami nation, and his death is regretted by a large number of friends and acquaintances." This was but one notable instance of the many that took place in this locality, exemplifying a peculiarity of the Miami nation as strikingly characteristic. perhaps, as any belonging to other nations.
