The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-07-19
THE SIOUX SUN DANCE,

BARBARIOUS AND HORRIBLE RITES.
Major General Curtis, in letter, thus
describes this sickening procedure -
"FoRT SULLY, June 2, 1S66.-The
whole of the three thousand Sioux camp
ed about US gave me early information of
their design to have their annual sun
dance at this time and place, the season
OF the year, the trees in full leaf, having
now arrived and they wished to inform
Col. Recor, the commander of the sol
diers, that however boisterous their de-
onstrations might be, they would all be
peaceful and Of pious character.
"On yesterday, June l, the dancing
was delayed at intervals to allow tortures
| to be inflicted. Two or three men stood
over the devotee with needle and knife,
very quietly performing penance accord
ing to the customs of all these sacerdotal
rites, as follows =
First they cut the arm in several plac-
es by striking an awl in the skin, raising
sit and cutting out about half an inch
This is done on both arms, and sometimes
on the breast and back Then wooden
setons (sticks about the thickness ola COM
mon lead pencil) are inserted through a
hole in the skin and flesh. Then cords
of ropes are attached to these sticks by
| one end, and to the pole at the other end i,
| 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 it seemed to
draw the skin out three inches, and lit
orally requiring nearly his whole might
to tear out the seton. One painted black
had four ropes attached at once. The
| pulling out is done in the dance, the pull
ling carried on in the time of the music
by jerk, jerk, jerk, and the eye, head and
front all facing the sun in the form of
supplication. One had four setons at
tacLed to four dry buffalo head bones.
"These were all strung and suspended
to his flesh by ropes that raised each head
some three feet off the ground. lie
danced hard to tear them out, but they
would not break the skin. One came of
accidently, but it was again fastened. FL.
nally these heavy weights (each at least
twenty five pounds weight), 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 tortur
ed, their female relations came in and haC
pieces cut out Of their arms, to show theil
appreciation and valor, and devotion tt
their kiusmen. STILL as soon as the vic
tim could be prepared, the music was re
newed, and the dismal dance went on /: tht
victims bodies now mingled with blood
paint and setons.
"There being several steamboats, anC
many soldiers here, great crowd of spec
tators rather embarrassed the performers
so they concluded the performance a
twelve O'Clock, having only danced TWEEN
ty-four hours instead of forty eight, a
they usually do. All the devotees CAV
away all their ponies and other valuable
to their friends, had their wounds care
fully dressed by attendant medicine men
and sat down to an abundant feast of do
soup and buffalo meat.
$50 ended the most barbarous an
painful exhibition of savage ldolatry.-
The picture is still deeply impressed o.
my senses, but cannot give half tn
horror of the scene, either by pen or pen
cil."