The New York herald., 1875-09-27
BEFORE THE coUNcn-A SAVAGE DANCE.
HEARTS OF THE INDIANS BA

H. a
Treaty Commission, arrived here to-day, accompanied
by General Luther P. Bradley, Commandant of the
Black Hills District and Captain Hewitt, Aide-de- Camp,
and escorted by Company NJ, of the Second cavalry,
under Captain John Mix General Bradley, soon after
reaching Camp Robinson, wrote order directing
Major Mills, stationed at Camp Sheridan, the
Spotted Tail Agency TO move his company of cavalry
to this point The order understood TO be meant
safeguard against possible treachery by the Indians
General Bradley, however, says that 1t is "merey to
add to the ceremony OF tho Council"
A FALSE ALARM
'Boots and saddles" sounded at the post to-day
in consequence Of false alarm. teamster
riding in with all possible speed and announced that
he had been attacked by Indians short distance from
the post and had Immediately mounted his led horse
left his wagon and team, and escaped Captain
Eagan ordered at the head of his company
before he proceeded to the place indicated he met
Indians who gave plausible explanation of what had
occurred by saying that the shots which they fred
not aimed at the teanster and that they meant no
harm. The story credited and the cavalry re-
turned TO the post General Bradley, however, has
undoubtedly taken a wise course Ataeast two regi-
ments Of soldiers ought to be stationed at the Council
If the young dissatisfied with the attitude of
the Commissioners outbreak of war is not at all
improbable The burning of the agency buildings and
the Of all the white hereabous would be
among the first acts of the savages Tho small force of
military at Camp Robinson, numbering less than 500,
would be utterly inadequate to cope with 80 900 well
armed Indians 1t would be opportunity OF in
auguratng in what the Sioux would deem a glorious
manner the red mans general war, SO long pending
and so long prophesied
THE COMMISSIONERS wAvERING.
The Commissioners show at the outset of their nego
tiation a lamentable tendency to vacation. When
they first reached the agencies the White River and
passed on northward to visit those the Missouri
they gave the Indans whether Intentionally or other
wise, at every point where they found them the i'm
preston that Shadron Creek had been appointed the
place for the holding of the Council They returned TO
this agency begin the great talk in the first of
September; but they here, announced
to the Indians who had come from a distance to the
White River and camped on streams adjoining Shadron
Creek. that the Council would assemble thirty miles
nearer to the Red Cloud Agency. At talk with the
Indians from the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River
agencies, held here Saturday, the Commission in
formed the chiefs that place had been selected by
them on Little Clay Creek, near the Grow
Buttes, to meet the Indians and that they would
not change their selection. To-day however, Spotted
Tail having brought his people far as Ash Creek,
called upon the Commissioners and made speech to
them full of his usual eloquence setting forth just
of his wish that the Council should be held
further from his agency than from this Red Dog re.
piled to him in support of the selection already made
by the Commission The latter answered Spotted Tail
by agreeing to submit the question of the location of
the Council to him and Red Cloud and four of their
chiefs Great delay might have been avoided ere now
had or the other been pursued by the CON-
mssion-either have adhered their own choice or
to have accepted that of the Indiana
The Commission Will date the beginning of the Coun-
Gil on next Friday the 17th and if all is not then in
readiness they will adjourn to another day. General
Terry expresses wish to shorten duration as much
as possible. The other members have the same dispo
stion, but certainly do not understand very well the
proper methods OF diplomacy to employ with Indian
chiefs.
A GRAND DANCE
There was some commotion in Red Clouds village
this morning 1t is situated beyond hill north OF the
agency on a bend of the White River Preparations
making for the grand Omaha dance which was to
be given in honor of the Commissioners Yesterday
the appointed time for the ceremony; but slight
dash of rain dampened the ardor of the bucks SO that
they deferred their coming until to-day. The great
drum, heard afar off, gave early warning of their ap
proach, and when they appeared on the brow of the
hil with the big medicine and the head warrior
of the society of omahas their head with the banner
of feathers held aloft and ances with human scaps at
tached prickng the air the sight imposing The
Omahas foot but great throng of braves
squaws and boys, all mounted, followed them some
times joining in the cultural music keeping time to the
heavy stroke Of the huge drum and sometimes shout
ing with all the strength OF their lungs The costumes
Of the dedicated braves have already been often de-
scribed; but as there is sometimes variation in
their performance may again some portion Of
it, The body brilliantly decorated warriors halted in
front of the stockade and the gates thrown OPEN
They marched slowly in, with rythm OF step and SOL
emn intonation. The first impression on the mind is
that the ceremonial is of daboical significance Many
of the figures look like devils just loosened from their
Internal cages others purely grotesque One of
them apparently has the duties of clown to perform
He does with circle was formed in the
of the stockade with wide opening toward the
house occupied by the Commissioners near which sat
the medicine man upon his horse. He wore huge war
bonnet decorated with long eagle feathers and bore in
his hand the banner of the Omahas a long smedicne
stick" frnged also with feathers. His body was
nearly naked and painted dull yellow On
the opposite side OF the Circle was small inner
ring, formed by the musicians sitting around
the Outside the circle at this point sat three or
four young squaws, who sung treble some Of the re-
rains On the left stationed the head warrior sit
ting stolidy upon parti-colored pony He wore war
bonnet similar to that of the medicine man. and carried
in his hand a bright and cleaning sword. Moc-pea-
lutah Red Cloud sat on the left of the circle of mus
clans. During all the ceremony, except when he joined
in part of the dance he sat with his head on his hand
his long, heavy hair dropping over his cheeks and his
face peculiarly sad He of the decorations
of the order Two little boys brightly dressed sat next
to Red Cloud They danced with the dancers
CEREMONY.
1t would bc but repetition of terms to attempt full
description Of tho ceremony At first the exertions
of the braves were very moderate and they seemed
very slowly 10 imbibe the necessary enthusiasm
and frenzy, but gradually their movements BECAME
livelier An assistant of the medicine man. who was
apparently master of ceremonies walked around the
circle uterng incautations reciting deeds in loud
metallic voice. Then by the braves rose from
the circle and began slow dance the stroke of the
big drum and the chanting OF chorus by all those