Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-15
AL Inalan "stlong. g.Mearl Dancs. .

An Indian "stIOng. Heart Dance"
II was in the fall Of 1873 that
my friend Parkin, Of Fort A. Lin
coin, wrote me that there would be
a big Indian dance that night in the
Medicine lodge Of the Rec scouts, at
that place, and as | was anxious to
witness one Of their dances, of
which had read SO much, l
mounted my cayuse" and left for
the fort. 1t was late when reach
ed the fort, and my friend and l
climbed up the high hill, where the
Indian quarters were located, and
followed the sound of the Medicine
drum and soon found ourselves at
the door of the Medicine lodge,
Being just alittle backward about
entering, my friend took the lead
and entered. shall never forget
the sight as | found myself among
that motley crowd of redskins. The
lodge was a large, long building
about nine feet high, and the roo
made of rushes and then covered
with dirt. A few upright post
kept the roof from falling in, an,
on oneof them was fastened a small
, piece Of tin which held a solitar,
candle that shed but a feeble ia
over the room. Before the dane
commenced had a little time t
look about me, and was surprise,
and pleased to fnd that my frien,
and l were not the only white
present. Imagine my surprise whe,
/ found myself among the office,
Of the post aud their wives, Ger
George A. Custer and lady bein
among them.
General Custer sat on one of th
: beds I forgot to mention that alon
: all four sides of the lodge were tn
beds or cots of the Indians, hidde
by curtains or colored CALICO Of th
Indians, playing with a little pi
poose, and carrying on " conyersi
ton with a squaw, the child
i, mother, who was ornamenting
. pair of momasins. The clear laug
n of the General would frequently |
!. heard above the noise of the drum
" and the songs of the Indians (fC
ct the dance had already begun) as
he were having a Jolly good tin
with the little fellow. The General
j. Indian scouts were very fond ofhi
Z and considered him q great brave
in which they were not wrong.
now turned to witness the dane
There were about fifty bucks in Il
ring. about half Of whom We
stripped entirely naked, with Il
exception Of brtech-clouts, al
painted q bright vermillion; son
z, Tad half of their faces paintl
black, and the other half yello'
e; n which by no means added to the
beauty. They had q name for
u their dances, and this one ! four
n to be the "Stroug Heart whit
: tlloy were giving 10 their visitor
!. the Sioux, from Standing Rock,
Z. The "Strong Heart" dance is
J. called because the hearts of L
Indians are good, and IN this dan
E. they give to one another robe
IS. horses, rifles, revolyers, blanket
m and anything else they may ha
m with them. Eeach warrior then ste
- ont and relates the history of ]
exploits in battle and huntin
,% ,ol The pipe is frequently pass
!, around, and, amid the silence, t
a. a. smoke emitted through their nos
for slowly ascends in clouds to the re
I'm and finds its way to the outer wol
nd through the many creyices a
openings in the building. A eh
cs silently and slowly arises and co
mences a speech, speaking SLOW
until excitement gets the better
an him, and he gestures liercely as
reoounts the battles and adyentui
he has passed through he is nel
interrupted by his hearers, except
! by grunts of approval and
cultural Glow! How! !" Of
Indian braves.
, The dance was kept up until
80 ,oc "wee sma' hours" but becomi
'Tn somewhat tired and o little
ISo ,rSo warm from the closeness of
de- lodge, my friend and l took our