Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-06-08
From the 81. Pssi Times, May -. ]
An Indian War Dance.

A large number Of Winnebagoes were in
the city yesterday, Enthusiastically arrayed in
their uneou,h dresses, and hideously paint.
ed, They were on their way to their new
home on the Minnesota, and created consid-
cradle excitement by their war-whoops,
war-songs and war. dances. Their place OF
gathering was jus, above the Upper Levee,
where the American flag floated most con-
spicuously, and where they took up their
line of march for the city. followed by quite
respectable crowd Of civilized men, wo-
men and children. They crossed the bridge
at the Upper Levee, and. arrayed MS many
Of them were in red, whitehall once was
and blue blankets, presented very i'm
posing vet daholical appearance The prin-
cipal men led off, and the remainder follow
ed.
An interesting scene is transpiring be-
meath our window as we write. The old
time toats back again in the wild song and
whoop and dance of the Indian brave. The
wild, strange things that struck us five years
ugone with kind of wonderment, are re-
enacted down on Eagle street, like the re-
production of a thrilling drama, Of which We
remember nothing but the dread and terror
ii pred. A genuine old war-dance, this.
The Winnebago braves take up the dance
and song just as the Sioux left them to our
memory years snce-the same savage We
hemence Of srticulation-the same hcry
emphasis Of movement and far-sounding
monotony of voice-like far-otf yell, with
a cadenee-like a shrek borne on winds
from an ancient iime-the hoarse vatic!na-
,ions o. SYPHILIS in sea cave.
We cannot coun, them, SO mixed up are
thew with the crowd OF whites--many new
err having seen the queer spectacle before
The rows of painted faces--open mouths
bawl orchestral music. Two or three dan
GERS occupy an empty space and tear the
air TO tatters with faisetto whoops, and the
promiscuous crowd Of whites press close up.
on the reserved circle. Stark naked, ex-
ce pt in the Adamic covering OF breech
cloth, smeared with white clay and cosmet.
les Of various hues-faunting gay feathers
and streaming ribbons-the scene sintense.
" picturesque-and prudes that would
shudder at a white mans heel, gaze with
undirpuised admiration on the nude and
graceful limbs of the swarthy Indian.
During q great part of the day they loiter-
ed in and about ST. Anthony street, and at
3 O'Clock in the afternoon, performed a war
dance near the Capitol, which was witness
ed by a large number of persons. They
appeared 70 be in good spirits, and conduct
ed themselves in a credtable manner, that
is, for those hideous creatures, which, in our
younger days, we imagined the red men 70
be.
Poor, untutored, miserable, degraded be-
ings. You will soon be washed from the
shores of Time, and the white man VIII
plant his corn where repose your bones.
Go your way in peace!
MELANCHOLY AcciDENT.-We regret TO
learn OF the capsizing Of the schooner Elk
pertinent, Capt. Jennings, on Friday night
| last while on her way from this city to
| St. Joseph. She " as capsized while few
miles from St. Joseph. Her Captain was
drow ned; also, a young son Of Captain Me-
son Naper of this city, who was on board
and also the cook of the vessel, whose name
we could not learn. Capt. Naper's wife
and another on, lad Of about seventeen
/ years OF age, were also on board, and IN inc
/ cabin when the vessel went over. but were
saved by the young man keeping his mother
in one Of the upper berths, which was moi
immersed in the water. The people from
| St, Joseph came cut in the morning, and
hearing the voices Of thu persons in thu
cabin, Gu, through the vessel and rescuet
them.
The Experiment was owned by Capt
Naper, and was taken into st. JOSEPH
where she will be rghted
4 Capt. Jennings was q fine man, AM
much respected by his emp'oycEs,-Ih'eo
90 Democrat.
JASEsvILLR-Is situated on the east iorl
of the Cedar river and south line OF breMe
Co., about 10 miles west OF DUBUQUE MI Hu
TAO northwest from Davenport. TIT
town is about two years old; ontains goo
water power, partially improved; about 80
inhabitants and IS frame buliugs. In Tn
!. immediate vicinity Of the place are hi
, Weeds 90 called, about ten miles IN leng'
and from FIVE to eight in width. We giie'
, these facts from the Bonner published
Cedar Falls about nine miles south OF Jane