Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-06-27
Letter from the NIodoc Country.
End OF the Modoc wnr-indian Joiinca-
tion-Dea,h Dance-The Modocs-Their
Blood Thirsty Charncter-The Massacre Of
Is52-ominou. Preparations.

Blood Thirsty Characteristics Massacre of
is5e-ominou. Preparations.
Correspondence Of the Bellows Falls Timesl
CANT TULE LAKE PENINSULA,
LAVA BED, June 5, 1873. !
The Modoc War is ended and the Off
GERS, troops and Warm Spring scouts are
to night holding high carnival over our
recent success. Rejoicing is seen on eve
ry hand-only the Indian captives are
gloomy and sullen, all else is gay and
glorious. The Warm Spring scouts are
holding a grand levee and concert at
their wickinps this evening conducting
the strange proceedings in their own pc
culiar manner.
INDIAN JoLIFICATIoN.
The evenings entertainment COM
menced by grand opening chorus of
war songs interpreted with yells, whoops
and screams, making night hideous TO
the uninitiated in Indian warfare. At
the first tap of the drum, Indian drum
officers and soldiers not on duty fastened
up to the Indian opera. Seated on the
ground in parallel rows and facing each
other we're some forty of the Warm
Springs, dressed in every variety of style
from the custom of ancient Adam to
that of a more recent date where some
of the principles of modesty evidently
had been consulted Their heads, hats
and caps were gorgeously decorated with
feathers of the richest plumage the
country affords, while suspended from
their necks and arms, there were great
profusion of beads and gewgaws of eve
ny description. Their feet were usually
decorated with the beaded mocasins,
while about their shoulders they wore
blankets of bright colors. In their
hands were Indian drums made of raw
hide stretched over hoop and secured
in place by sineEs, They are played on
by single stick bound with rag or
piece Of buck-skin, and consequently the
sound of them are not very sharp but
rather muffied. Other Indians held in
their hands punches of feathers, or q
few branches of sage brush, or bunch
of beads or Indian money strung on
buck-skin strings. These constituted the
orchestra proper, while others were
armed with their rifles, carbines, pistols
knives, bows and arrows or even with
their Indian riding whips.
The performance commences by low
gutteral chanting sounds, rather monot
onous at first, but gradually growing
! louder and louder, and more animated
until the whole band seem to have be
come perfectly frenzied and wild with
Joy and excitement, when one after
another jump upon their feet and utter
a succession of yells and whoops gestic
ulating the while in the most demoniac
manner, fourishing their knives and ri
fes, apparently in devilish glee. After
one or two of the Indians have exhaust
ed themselves with their wild actions and
unearthly yells, they return to theil
places on the ground and others take
their places in the dance. During al
this time, perfect time is melted out upor
their drums, and in their wild chanting
and even every motion is in perfect timt
to the music.
After the performance has been con
Quoted in this style for perhaps an hour
the programme changes, circle is form
ed around fire, the Indians standin!
shoulder to shoulder and similar chan
is begun, the Indians keeping time t.
the music with their feet and the swing
ing of their bodies to and fro. Again
the scene changes, and this time the In
dian orchestra forms in semicircle Oh
one side Of the fire, and their war song
are continued. Two Indians appear il
front of them and dance around the fir
parading some article of offence or de
fence which is fourished in most gro
tesque manner. A signal for these In
dams to retire is q SUGGESTIONS OF quicl
beats on the drums and peculiar SCUM,
made by the Indians, by putting thei
fingers in their mouths, which is followed
by succession of yells and crows. A
rest of a few moments is indcIg ed il
when the tap of the drum brings then
again in place and the chanting is re
: commenced. This scene is grand pan
tomimical one, and represents the cap
ture, killing and scalping of an enemy
The enemy takes up position insid,
the circle, and while engaged about som,
trivial matter, is surroun ded by tw,
nearly nude warriors, who with demoni
&C yells rush upon their victim, shoe
him down, and after hastily strippin.
him of whatever is valuable to them
complete their diabolical inhumanity b,
tearing off and holding aloft the blood,
scalp while they retire amid the inhu
: man yells of their companions and tn
opnlon-a - tLo;r