Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-08-17

ambition is to kill buffalo. On sue
ceeding he changes the horn for small
tail, feels some pumpkins, and crows
over the other boys.
On acquiring each of the different
marks of distinction | have described
being the occasion of great JOY to Ok
chilla, he is required to give something
away, said gift being payment of
some article he received at his birth
feast.
At the age Of twelve he joins the
first war party, acting as supernumer-
airy, holding the extra horses, etc., for
the others. In going to war, the Indi-
ans walk long distances, or ride their
pack horses, leading the war ponies,
and never put a saddle on them until
ready for the charge; therefore they
are fresh, and equal to all emergen-
cies.
To organize war party, a few young
warriors will go around through the
camp, at night, singing love songs to
the squaWs, and finishing with signal
song, saying they are going to the Med
icine rock Ca well-knOWn landmark,
about twenty miles from the camp, and
will wait four days; all those wishing
to join procure their ammunition and
necessaries, leave camp quietly at diff
ferent times, and on the fourth day all
are at the Medicine rock where they
agree upon the route, and choose a
leader. They start for the enemy S
camp by an outside, untraveled road,
to hide their trail, travelling twenty
miles day, keeping in the timber as
much as possible. If the enemy should
discover their trail they would be cut
oft, and few escape.
When within ten miles of the enc
my's village, they leave the extra
horses, etc, with the boys in the tim
Der, and proceed, with their war rig
and horse, to the village, at night, and
get under cover, behind a knoll. or in
the woods. They are very cautious,
and prefer waiting to find some Indian
looking for his ponies, or Sqlaw going
for wood, that they may have a sure
thing Of getting scalp, and little dan
ger of losing one; on finding their vic
tim in a safe position they charge on
him like pack of wolves, and the first
warrior striking the enemy with a
hand instrument, counts the coup, and
some of the others scalp him.
The firing is heard in the village, and
all is excitement and confusion, the
men and SquaWs rushing for their
ponies, children crying, and dogs bark
ing. The attacking parties have got
the scalp, and are off like the wind,
and the others are after them, taking
different routes to try and head them
off; but it generally proves useless, as
the Sioux have the start, and the har-
dy wal horse will carry them 200 miles
in tWenty-four hours if necessary to
escape.
On their return to camp the war
horse, being now reduced to a mere
skeleton after his long race, is turned
in the herd, and on the nutritious
buffalo grass soon recuperates, and is
able for his masters next service. The
warriors are Toasted by nearly every
lodge in the camp, and repeat over and
over every little incident and detail of
the whole trip. They are listened to
with the most marked attention, and
approving words and gestures by the
men, women and children. The little
youngsters eyes glisten and almost
pop out with JOY and admiration at the
account Of about twenty or thirty
warriors charging an old man or
squaW, counting the coup, and scalping
them, and wind up by saying if it had
not been SO cold they would have kill
ed them all, when they ran like scared
coyotes the moment they We're pur-
sued.
War parties usually number from
ten to thirty, but annually, in the
1lIOIllII VI - tl1IC, tt1IcI lIlG sui ud1lCG.
large party of 500 start for the Yellow
stone to fight the Crows, who are on
their summer buffalo hunt, and many
fierce engagements have taken place on
the disputed territory. In these fights,
when they are equally matched, after
| fighting all day, the loss on each side
seldom exceeds ten men killed, twenty
wounded and thirty ponies captured.
In the summer Of 1873 large party OF
Sioux surprised a party of thirty
Grows on the open prairie. Having
no chance to escape to the timber, they
got in a buffalo WallOW and threw up
breastWorks. All persisted in their
post, and thirty-tWo Sioux bit the dust,
and lost a large number of ponies. AS
horse-thieves the Grows excel, and can
stand off the Sioux numbering three to
their two
The Indians wear one large eagle
feather of each coup the brave count
ed, and for each wound received il
battle a split feather. The number OF
I IL I I