Black Coal - Arapaho

Black Coal 1840-1893

Black Coal (NIA WA SIS) was born in 1840 in to the "Antelope" band of Northern Arapaho tribe. His name was given to him after a victorious fight against Ute tribe, when he rolled in the ashes of the battlefield until he was all black. Years later, when he lost three fingers in a fight against U.S. army, he deserved also a another name TAG-GE-THA-THE (Fingers cut off). In October 1867 he participated in Fort Laramie treaty. He became the principal chief in 1871 after the death of Medicine Man.
In 4 July 1874 his village on Wind River (Wyoming) was attacked by 2nd Cavalry of Captain A. Bates and Shoshone scouts. It was a bloody battle: 26 Arapahos died and 20 wounded, also 4 soldiers and 4 scouts got killed. However, indians managed to resist and finally military retreated. Black Coal was seriously wounded at breast in this fight.
This episode convinced him to surrender. He became an Army scout. In this role, in November 1876, he participated on the attack to the Dull Knife's Cheyenne village.
In 10 July 1893 he died in the Arapaho Reservation. He was buried at the rocked ridges west of St. Stephen Mission (Wyoming).

Credits: Charlie