Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-08-07

~ tHfC,
Major Gen. CARTS writes to his
wife, from Fort Sully, the following
account Of one Of the horrible 9cm.
onstrations OF the Sioux Indians.
which he Witnessed recently at the
Fort
The whole Of the three thousand
Sioux Indians camped about rs 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 me
to inform Colonel Recor, the com
mander Of the soldiers, that however
bcisterous their demonstrations
night be, they would all be pcacea~
BILE, and of pious character.
Yesterday, June 1st, the dancing
was delayed at intervals to allow
fortunes to be inflicted. Two or
three mcr stood over the deyotce
with needle and knife, very quietly
performing pcnance according to
the customs Of all these sacredotal
rites as follows
First, they cut The arms in several
places by striking an awl in the skin,
raising it and cutting out about halt
an inch. This is done on both arms
and sometimes on The breast aud
back. Then wooden sctons, (sticks
about the thickness of a common
lead penc9 are inserted through 4
hole in the skin and flesh. Then
cords or ropes are attached to these
stlcA5 :, 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 satoAs thus attached to his
breast, pulling till it seemed to draw
the skin out three inches and finally
requiring nearly his whole weight to
tear cut the seton. One painted
black mad four ropes attached at
once. The pulling out is done in the
dance, the pulling carried en- in the
time Of the music, by jerk, Jerk, jerk
and the eve, head and front, all IA
cling the sun in the form Of supplica-
tiQa. One Lad four setons attached
to four dry buffalo head bones
These were I'll strung and suspend
cd 20 his flesh by ropes that raised
each head some three feet off the
ground. IL danced hard to tear
them on but ihcy would not break
the skin. one came off the stick ac-
cidentally, but it was again tasten-
ed. Finally these heavy weights
(each at least twenty five pounds
weight not tearing out by their own
weight and notion the devotce gave
d comradc horse to take hold of
tie rope and tear out the setons
While these men were being thus
tortured, their female relations came
II md had pieces cut out Of their
arms 20 show their appreciation and
valor. and devotion to their kinsmcn.
Still, as soon rs the victim could be
prepared, the music was renewed,
and the dismal dance went on the
victims bodies now mingled with
blood paint and sctona
1hefe DcfNG SCNGldl SlcdHtoOt,t b
and many soldiers here, great
crowd Of spectators rather cmbar-
raised the performers, 50 they con
Guided the performance at twelve
o'clock, having only danced twenty
four hours instead Of forty eight, as
theY usually do All the dcvotces
gave ay,ay III their ponies to their
friends, had their wounds carefully
creased By attendant medical men,
and sat down to an abundant feast
Of dog soup and buffalo meat.
SO ended The most barbarous and
painful exhibition of savage idolatry
The picture is still deeply impressed
on my senses, but ! cannot give
half the horror Of the scene, either
by pen or pencil