Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

Ponca Indian Dies of Exposure

The dead body of Ned Little Warrior, a Ponca Indian, was found on the Santa Fe right of way, between the depot and the Hutchins elevator and taken to the Haden undertaking rooms. It appears that the man was drunk in the evening and laid down on the platform in front of the door to the ladies waiting room in the depot. He was aroused from his drunken stupor by one of the employees about the depot, staggered off the platform and no more was seen of him or thought about him until his dead body was found the next afternoon.
Coroner Widney was notified and came over from Kaw City to investigate the case, but after learning all the facts and circumstances concluded that an inquest was unnecessary, as it was plainly evident that the man had come to his death by heart failure, caused by intoxication and exposure.
Undertaker Gill prepared the body for burial and it was taken by members of the Ponca tribe to their burial place in the reservation, to be interred in accordance with the rites and ceremonies of the tribe.
Little Warrior was a fine-looking Indian and apparently in the best of health, but like all warriors, little or big, red or white, who inter the list against King Alcohol, he met in glorious defeat. He was about thirty-five years of age and leaves a wife, but no children or other relatives to bear his name among his people. Aside from his one failing he was a “good Indian,” well educated, honest and industrious, and his untimely death is mourned not only by his tribe but by all who knew him – Ponca City Courier.