The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-29

SCALP DAECE--fIow THE UTEs CELEBRATE
THEIR VICroRlEs.--Abont 5 o'clock yeste;.
day afternoon our reporter went over to the
Ute camp, situated about four miles from
Denver, and about three miles from the La
rimer-: treet bridge over the Platte. Already
preparations had commenced for the grand
scalp gIorification, one of the redskins hay
ing manufactured a drum by stretching a
deerskin over the lin of cheese-box.
Three other drums were soon manufactured;
frying-pap, o tin ard.caD, and brass ket-
tie being used for the bodies Of the drums.
Having covered bis face with paint the fell
low with The tin drum laid down in his
tent and commenced practicing the weird
music of the scalp.dance lie 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 trappipgs,
covered with beads, and painted with red,
yellow, green, brown, and white. About
an hour before seDdown aud before many
chiefs had returned from Denver, the scalp
poles were pulled up, and the dusky war
riors selected portion Of the prairie remote
from any wigwam, where they again 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 aud their
faces TO the blood.stained swaying scalps,
and commenced u strange chant, beating
time upon the drums with sticks, which had
for heads leaves secured to one end with
plant twigs. About bali hour they thus
sat chanting, when The squaws began 10 col.
lect, equally as extrapagantiy attired and
painted.
about thirty had gathered around. when
the squaw Of the brave who had killed one
Of the Sioux stepped 10 front, took one Of
the scalp-poles, and commenced 10 march in
a circle 10 front of the musicians, adding at
the same time the sbrillRess OF her voice 10
make the din unearthly. One by one the
sQuaws fell la behind the scalp bearer, until
about doxen were making the magic cir.
Gle.
Then up cones another sqlsaw aud takes
another pole, atsd starts procession, moving
in a 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 third process
sion, moving inside the others, and ia the
same direction as tie outside circle. And
zicw drops Into line with the outside esrcle
the third scalp bearer and her followers.
korakaalie, seemingly the oldest eaieriI the
collection, advances in frCnt of the braves
who arose to their feet dspea the advent of
The Wosnea-aud proceeds to dance. A.oNer
also advances to the front and commeaaes TO
harangsie The BRACES
"a the open prairie, lustastbe sun issilik-
igg behind che mounttins, half huRdvad
Indian warriors with faces rendered savssek
fierce with paint, aud ,galnents of flaming
colors, are standing Ia line Whieh sways TO
and fro in time 10 beating of drums and tie
change in tone Of the Gendish music Of the
Scalp-cbant. In front of these the eeteran
haired warrior OF tbe tribe dances with
strange antics, and the stslwart form of a
huge brave Is bent ia all conceivable shapes
as he in loud aud excited words reesHDts 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, being beaten 10 the dust
with reveDgeful fury or held ia their teeth,
when the savage grin is most intense and the
chant most uproarious. Their. march is of
a limping nature, each procession giving way
With the same leg. In strange unison TO the
swayiDg of the braves. These things, to.
gether with the weird music only knowa |
among sayages, when at regular intefyalSl
the shrill voice or he women rises above
those of the men, and occasionally the start
ling war hoop rings ioud over all, render
he scene one never TO be forgotten.
About q teen hundred persons must have
Visited the camp and witnessed the scalp-I
lance, which continued for many hours, and
o which Washington, ia the name OF the
ribe, welcomed all white felix's, ''both
raves and squaws," as he expressed it,
gcnper Times, July is.
"A greenhorn sat long time very atten-
iYelY mllsing lIrnn n "a ne-hnf .arsa chair AfI