Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-08-06
How the Utes Celebrate Their YictO-
rieS,

rieS.
About three o'clock yesterday after
noon our reporter went over to the Ute
camp, situated about four miles from
Denver and about three miles from Lari-
mer street bridge over the Platte
Already preparations had commenced
Nfor the grand scalp Qualification, one of
the redskins having manufactured a
drum by stretching deer skin over the
rim of cheese box. Three other drums
were soon manufactured; frying-pan, a
tin lard can and a brass Kettle being
used for the bodies of the drums. Hav-
ing covered his face with paint, the fell
low with the tin drum laid down in his
tent and commenced practicing the
Wierd music of the scalp-dance He was
soon joined by others, when the scalps
taken from the Sioux were brought to
the front Of the tent, and poles to which
they were attached stuck in the ground
while the scalps swayed to and fro in the
breeze. One by one the braves gathered
around, decorated with their best trap
pings, covered with beads, and painted
with red, yellow, green, brown and white.
About an hour before shutdown, and be-
fore many Of the chiefs had returned
from Denver, the scalp-poIes were pulled
up, and the duSky warriors selected a
portion OF The prairie remote from any
wigwam, where they fixed the poles
about four feet from each other Then
they sat down in line on the ground
with their backs to the setting sun and
their faces to the blOod-stained swaying
scalps, and commenced Il strange chant,
beating time upon the drums with sticks,
which mad for heads leaves secured to
one end with plant twigs About half an
hour they thus sat chanting, when the
squaws began to collect, equally as ex-
trayagantly attired and painted
About thirty had gathered around.
when the squaw Of the brave who had
killed one Of the Sioux stepped in front,
took one OF the scalp poles and com
menced to march in Il circle in front of
the musicians, adding at the same time
the shrillness of her voice to make the
din unearthly One By one the squaws
fell in behind the scalp-bcarer, until
about dozen were making the magic
circle
Then up comes another squaw and
takes another pole and starts q procession,
moving in 4 reverse direction to that
taken by the first. Upon the arrival OF
Washington, one OF the chiefs, who
seemed to know just how the thing
should be done, three Of the Oldest SQuaWs
in the tribe formed Il third procession,
moving inside the others and in the same
direction as the outside circle. And now
drops into line with the outside circle the
third scalp-bearer and her followers.
Korankantie, seemingly the oldest chief
in the collection, advances in front Of
the braVes-WhO arose to their feet upon
the advent Of the wonderland proceeds
to dance. a Crier also advances to the
front and commences to harangue the
braves.
On the open prairie, just as the sun is
sinking behind the mountains, half a
hundred Indian warriors, with faces rem
dered savagely fierce with paint, and
garments Of flaming colors, are standing
in a line which swaps to and fro in time
with the Beating of drums and the
change in tone of the fendish music of
the scalp-chant. In front Of these the
veteran gray-haired warrior of the tribe
dances with strange antics, and the stall
Wart form Of huge brave is bent III all
conceivable shapes as he in loud and eX-
cited words recounts the circumstances
of the capture and eXhorts the men. In
front of all the magic circles OF squaWS
move round the ScalpS streaming above
their heads beng beaten III the dust
with reycngeful fury or held in their
teeth when the savage grin IS most in
tense and the chant most uprOariOuS
Thcir.march is Of a leaping nature, each
procession giving way with the same leg,
in strange unison to the SWaying OF the
braves These things, together with the
wierd music only known among sayages,
when ut regular intervals the shrill
voices Of the women rise above those Of
the men, and occasionally the startling
war-whoop rings loud over all, render
the scene one never 10 be forgotten.
About three hundred persons must
have visited the camp and witnessed the
scalp-dance, which continued for many
hours, and to which Washington, in the
name Of his tribe, welcomed all white
folk, "both braves and squaws," as he
expressed it-Deagcr (CoJ Times.