The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-08-19
FROM ARKANSAS CITY.
Arkansas Cry. Aug. .

DEAR News The Osages have been
enjoying very much of an un6ender
among us. Yesterday, according to
previous arrangement, "Haul Robe"
rode into town, at the head of his band,
some one hundred and twenty in all,
clad, in all the splendor of beads, red
blankets, paint, and every sort of fan
tastic Indian finery. Some of the party
brought willow poles, from which, with
the aid of blankets, they speedily con-
structed a long tent, large enough for
the entire party. a subscription paper
was passed around among the specta-
tors, and after the contributions had
reached a satisfactory figure, "He-wah-
hug-gah," the chief of the dancers,
formed his cotillion. This consisted of
about twenty of the young men arrayed
in style which is simply indescribablc.
Their faces were painted in red, green,
blue, yellow, and every other color of
the rainbow; their bodies streaked in a
style somewhat resembling mahogany
granting, their heads shaved to the
scalp-lock, and adorned with plumes,
beads, green boughs, horns, bears claws,
and everything in the line of the gro
tesque which Usage land affords. Buff
falo tails, turkey wings and feathers,
every possible device which the i'm
agination could suggest, were hung to
the dancers, and the general effect was
like that of a pack of bowling devils
net Lot fho NJ he -
consisted of a couple of drums formed
of raw-hide stretched over a hoop; each
drum being borne by two of the old
men, and beaten by two more. There
were also flies, or whistles, formed of
hollow reeds and cane-stalks. The
general effect was soothing to weak
nerves.
The procession moved from the tent
to the shady side of Norton & Co.'s
store, where large ring was formed
about the dancers, "Hard Robe" being
seated in smiling dignity at one side.
The band was i'll the middle of the ring,
and the evolutions of the dancers were
performed around it. The dancers car
ried bows, spears, queerly ornamented
shields of raw-hide, huge tomahawk,
evidently a theatrical property" of the
tribe,) and various other articles. Ex-
travagance of gesture, unearthly noises,
indescribable contortions, and very pro-
fuse perspiration, were incidents of the
dance, which lasted for about half an
hour. 1t fulfilled my most impossible
anticipations. No picture or descrip-
ton ever yet made public could do
justice to it's demoniacal grotesqueness.
The Indians remained camped in
town. all night, entirely peaceable and
quiet, except the strange ululation with
which, at daybreak, they incurred their
dead. The trade in jerked buffalo, raw
hide lariats, sugar, coffee, flour and
calico, was particularly lively.
Four tons of goods-the first INSTALL
ment of Keith s. Eddy's drug store
arrived to-day, meeting with n hearty
welcome. The type and press for the
Arkansas IrdceLler also arrived to-day.
We hope to greet the first issue next
week. Livingstone & Gray's stock of
ready made clothing is just open. Mr..
Meigs has a stock on the road he is
| planning a wholesale grocery business.
His new store, now enclosed, is the best
building south Of Eldorado. Benedict
Bros, of Dayton, Ohio, have arranged
and goods for the Texan trade. Hamil-
ton & Kinney, of Ottawa, have just sent
in an order for the Necessary lumber to
erect two-story building, some 20 X so
feet. Pond & Blackburn, of Emporia,
have just built and opened a real estate
and claim Office. Paul Beck, of EN-
poria, has just put up good blacksmith
shop, and has arrived with his tools and
stock. Bridge s. Lewis are hard at
work on their three-story hotel. Our
200 people are now permanently located
on our town site, and ''still they come
Some eighteen buildings devoted to
business purposes are now up, and
many more are in progress. The coun-
try about here is rapidly filling up with
an excellent class of citizens.
1 forgot to mention that Mr.. Silas
Moore, of Emporia, has just erected
apaint shop, and has already commenced
work upon the store-fronts, and that
Mr.. Grote, also of Emporia, has just
enclosed two-story building for a
bakery and restaurant.
The concentration of immigration
and capital at this point is truly remar-
kabie. We are decidedly ahead of
everything in this valley, Eldorado alone
excepted, and we may even challenge
comparison with her, if the work goes
on six months longer.
Come and see US, Mr.. StotIer, and
view the land where your possessions
lie.7 N.