The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-07
INDIAN SCENES.
Life Among the Sioux-A Cattle Hunt and
a Dog Feast.
TFrom the Denver News

From the Denver News.]
Life at the Sioux agencies is full of in
terest and romance these days. The
glory Of warfare departed, the ridiculous
phases of savage tranquility manifest
themselves on every hand. On the day
OF the surrender of Dull Knife's Chey-
enne tribe the warriors were scarcely
disarmed before they were found con-
STRUGGLING war clubs with round rocks and
rawhide after their peculiar manner.
The day after the Crazy Horse surrender
cattle were issued to them in the usual
proportion of an Indians ration they
asked as favor that the herd of wild
Texans Oe turned over to them alive, so
that they could enjoy sensation like
that of buffalo hunt. The request was
granted. About twenty steers were
turned loose upon the plain, and the say
ages-armed with bows aud arrows and
mounted upon ponies obtained from Red
Clouds peace band-gave chase. All
the thrilling whoops OF battle were
shouted, and the terrific feats of horse
manship and the ski Of the savage with
his rudest weapon were exhibited.
Goaded by the twinge Of the well-aimed
arrow, and rendered almost frantic by
the unearthly yells, the swift and long
winded Texans skipped over ridge, gully
and stream like the wind. Every moment
a poor brute would receive it's death
wound from the unerring shaft, and oc-
casionally a maddened one would turn
and delight his pursuers by plucky re-
sistance When the animals were nearly
all slain, three Or four made dash over
a sheer precipice fifteen feet in height.
The reckless reds were close upon their
heels and turned neither to the right nor
left, but followed pell-mell to the bot
tom. From the cloud Of dust emerged
every savage firmly seated and evidently
grat1fed at the thrilling experience. In
about twenty minutes the cattle were all
slain, and squaws and boys who followed
the chase soon made the butchery COM
plete.
A grand peace council was one of the
interesting sights afforded couple of
che visitors at Red Cloud agency the
other day. Little Wound, one OF the
most powerful of Sioux chieftains,
summoned the other leaders of his
nation to his grana council tepees, there
to talk over lasting peace and agency
reforms. Two immense tepees were
placed side by side and made to furnish
room for 100 men. AS the deliberators
were gathering in this gorgeously lorna
mented chamber, the master OF cere-
monies and an assistant were slaughter
ing dogs for the feast, which always fol-
lows such q momentous carnival of
Oratory. A rawhide lariat was wound
once round the neck of the animal,
when a brawny Sioux took hold at
either end Of the fatal cord, pulled back
ward and forward with a "see-saw"
motion, and TINS strangled the victim.
Then the dog was thrown upon blaz-
ing campfire, his hair pretty we'll singed
off, and then the carcass was artistlcally
carved. Thus about a dozen of the
largest of their pets were slaughtered.
A number of pots were on hand, each
for its special purpose. All the heads
were thrown in one, all the legs in
another, the tails in another, and SO on.
These were placed upon the fire in the
midst of the circles of debaters now as
sembled. AS the guests stepped into
the circle, an attendant flung q bright
red blanket upon the sward directly in
front of Little Wound, Crazy Horse,
and other prominent chieftains, while
these dignataries motioned the white
men to sit there.
An old man opened the proceedings
by an appeal to the Great Spirit, during
which the chiefs in the array were inn
pressively deferential One after anoth-
er of the savage orators then arose,
stepped to the center, and uttered for
chile harangue. This continued for two
hours, when, dog being done, the lead
ing chief announced that the feast would
take place Immediately after another
prayer. This was pronounced, and all
the queer features of the Indian dog
feast we're soon under way. Dogs feet
were no less greedily demolished than
canine tenderloins, and the warrior who
received a tail for his portion seemed
equally pleased with his neighbor who
picked long ribs. Guests were treated
Just as royalty, but their opinion Of dog
meat is scarcely such as would justify it's
wholesale adoption as an article of diet.
Dog soup and coffee followed, all mixed
and taken from the same dish. At the
close Of the feast the prayer or benedic-
ton was pronounced, and the assembly
adjourned inexcellent spirits. Hundreds
Of squaws and children crowded around
during the council and feast, but were
not allowed admittance.