The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-12
THE SIOUX SUN DANCE.
Description by MaiOr.GeneraI Curtis
BarbarOus and Horrible RIGes-SIcIx on.
Ing Details Of Self. VonInre

Malor-General Curtis writes 10 his wife, from
Fort Sully, the follow ing account OF one OF the
horrible demonstrations of the Sioux Indians,
Whlch ne witnessed recently near that ForI:-
FORT SULLY, June 2-The whole of the
three thousand Sioux encamped above us gave
me early information OF their design to have
tner animal sun dance at tins time and place,
the season OF the year, the trees in iull lea T.
having now arrived; and they wished me to
inform Colonel Recor the commander OF the
soldiers, that however bosterous their demon
strations might be- they would all be peaceable
and OF pious character.
ION yesterday, June l, the dancing was de.
ayed at intervals to allow tortures to be inflicted
Two or three men stood over the devotee with
needle and KNIFE, very quietly performing
penance according to the customs of all these
sacerdotal rites as tollows:-
FIRST, they cut the arms in several places by
striking an awl IN the skim raising il and cutting
out about hall an inch. This is done on DoLh
arms, and sometimes on the breast and back
Then wooden setons (stcks about the thickness
OF common lead pencil) are inserted through
a hole in the skin and flesh. Then cords or
ropes are attached to these sticks by one end,
and to the pole at the other end the victim
pulling on the ropes till the seton sticks tear out
the flesh and skin. | saw one with two setons
thus attached TO his breast pulling till 1t seemed
to draw the skin out three inches and finally
requiring nearly his whole might to tear out the
seton. One painted black had iour ropes attached
at once The pulling ont Is done in the dance
the pulling carried on Ill the time of the music
ny fS1h; JClhS ISIh, anu eye, nPau. ana front
all facing the sun in the form OF supplicatIon.
One had four setons attached to four dry buffalo
head bones.
"These we're all strung and suspended to his
flesh by ropes that raised each head some three
feet Off the ground. He danced hard to Gear
them out, but they would not break the skin.
One came OIL the stick accidentally, but it was
again fastened. Finally these heavy weights
leach at least twenty-five pounds weigh) not
tearing out by their own weight and motion, the
devotee gave comrade horse to take hold of
the rope and tear out the setons. While these
men were being thus tortured, their female re-
lations came in and had pieces cut out OF their
arms, TO show their appreciation and valor and
devotion TO their knsman. Still, as soon as the
victim could be prepared, the music was re-
newed and the dismal dance went on; the VIC
TINS bodies now mingled with blood, paint and
setons.
There being several steamboats, and many
soldiers here, great Gro d OF spectators rather
embarrassed the performers. so they concluded
the performance at IL o'clock, having only
danced twenty-iouT hours instead OF folty-eight
as they usually Go. All the devotees gave away
all their ponies and other valuablcs 10 their
friends, had their wounds carefully dres. ed by
attendant medicine men, and sat down to an
abundant feast Of dog soup and buffalo meat
$50 ended this most barbarous and painful ex-
h1bltlon OF savage idolatry The picture Is still
deeply impressed on my senses, but / cannot
give halt the horror OF the scene, either by pen
or pencil"