Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-07-26
The Great Sioux san Dance.

The Northwestern Indian Commission,
consisting of Gov. Newton Edmunds, of Da-
cotah, Maj. Gen. S. R. Curtis, Hon. Orrin
Guernsey, of Wisconsin, and Rev III. W.
Reed, of Iowa. assembled for the first time
in full Board at Fort Sully, last month,
and while assembled here, the Indians held
what they term. the great 'sSun Dance"
which is of so rare occurrence that persons
who have spent q long term of years in the
Indian country never witnessed it. A COR
respondent of the Chicago Tribune thus de-
scribes it:
Like all Indian dances, this consists of
| short, jerking, jumping motions by merely
raising the heel, and as the drum COM
menced, with each stroke of the stick, they
went up and down, uttering sound with
their whistle and holding in their hands
some Offering, stretched out toward the sun
in solemn token of alteration. Occasionally,
as nature seemed exhausted, they would
stop and smoke, but no water or food could
toukh their lips and their rests were short,
and soon the dance was resumed by the re-
newal of the hideous monotony Of the
drums. All day and all night the continued
exercise was faithfully performed by all
who could endure the toilsome exertions.
On the next day, June let, the services
took a new form Each dancer was seated
near the sacred centre pole to undergo
graver tortures. Two operators, one with
an awl, and the other with butcher knife,
were seated ON either side. The one with
the awl would pierce the skin and flesh of
the arm, raising up conical piece which
the man with the butcher knife would cut
about ne-half or three-fourths of an inch
long These cuts were made in each arm,
in several places. Some had several above
and several below each arm. The devotee
must show no emotion, and it was surprising
to see the fidelity and endurance exhibited
in this regard. One uttered a mournful
cry, but our Interpreter informed me that
these cries were only supplications or wish
es devoutly made to the "Good Spirit"
But many of the dancers were further tor
tured by cuts on the breast and back. The
awl was thrust in and the flesh and skin
raised, and seton or cord, or stick of
wood was thrust through. A cord or rope
was attached to the stick, and the ropes
were attached to the center pole. The dam
Ger would pull on the ropes as he danced
till the flesh and skin would tear out. This
would sometimes take hours Of dancing and
much hard pulling to tear away the strong
flesh and tough skin. One who had two at
tached to his two breasts leaned back, dane
ing and pulling, till the flesh seemed to be
drawn out three inches from his bones
Finally he leaned back, throwing nearly his
whole weight before they tore out. The In
dian painted black was the most intense
performer. He had four of IL csc setons ar
ranged, two on his breast and two on his
back, attached by four ropes to the pole
above his head. He danced necessarily.
In the afternoon ha ananoad ror1ah ba
ed, but still, with eyes turned toward the
sun, and uttering faint sounds with his
whistle, he danced on, pulling at the ropes
till he tore them all loose. But he looked
pale and exhausted, and still without change
Of position or form, continued his weary
performance. Another had four setons at
tached to the breast and back, and to tho
ropes were attached four old dry buffalo
heads, including the pith Of the horns.
These heads so attached, were suspended so
as to hang about his hips and shake as he
danced in a vain effort to shake them off.
Although they were large and probably
would weigh twenty pounds, he continued
to dance without tearing out the setons.
Finally he gave friend horse totake them
by the horns and tear them out.
AS these victims thus displayed their
heathenish feryor, their female friends came
in and had their arms cut in several places,
to show their devotional sympathy with
their devotees But the "Sun dance"
which hal thus continued more than TWEEN
ty hours, and the whole exhibition three
days, was finally concluded on the third
day. The dancers, according to this ritual,
gave away to their friends all their proper
ty, horses, tapes, robes and blankets. All
had to be sacrificed. They had been some
what annoyed and oppressed with heat in
consequence Of the great crowd Of soldiers
and others, who DIVIDED around them, and
this was given as the reason Of the adjourn
ment. But some Of the dancers had really
fell from exhaustion, and had been borne
away by their friends; and at last accounts,
when we left on the 18th, the man painted
black was not expected to live doubt
whether he will survive this terrible ordeal.
The scene closed, leaving on my memory a
picture Of terrible superstition and san
culinary barbarity such as hope never to
witness again. cannot narrate the facts
so as to give an adequate idea of the chastlv
horror Of the exhibition, but the scene will
never be effaced from my memory, and
hundreds who witnessed it will bear me
testimony to its almost unheard of arrocitv
The sad story of its cruelties attest their
superstitious devotion in disregard of ALI
the missionary efforts Of our people.
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