Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-04-26
THE NEz PERCES IN CAPTIVITY.
4 Visit TO the Camp Of Chief Josepli.--A
Clearly Tribd-.-J at Home.
I.eayenW0rth Times.

porter visited the Nez Pcrces' camp
above Fort Leavenworth, and, through
the courtesy Of Lieut.. Wieting, was
permitted for short time to observe the
condition OF the red captyes. The first
glance at the village revealed the fact
that many new tepees or lodges were
in course OF construction, and that those
If the old ones had become leaky or
worn, were being repaired with tent
cloth furnished by the government.
Everything about the camp bore Il
cheerful ASPECT, and appeared remark
ably Glenn. This is in u measure due
perhaps to the habits Of the tribe, which
require them to take q bath every
morning. The modus opcrandi OF the
bath IL in some respects peculiar, one
portion Of the process being u sweat
bath.
When the camp was first established
the artisans who were competent Tor the
work built u swcat-housc" consisting
of deep hole in the ground within ~
few feet OF the river and covered ingcni-
ously with earth, making The roof ap-
pear like n mound with top like the bot
tom ofan iron kettle. An aperture was
left on the east side; in front Of this u
fire wat built and several large stones
which had been collected were heated
red hot. In the bottom Of the hole was
placed sullicicncy Of water to create
steam; the rocks were then thrown III
and the members Of the tribe one after
another went into the oven, for such il
was, and remained until the body was
proluscly covered with prcspiration
After thlsa leap through the aperture
to the oper mir and u plunge into the
cold waters Of the Missouri finished the
bath His custom is M old one with
the NcZ i,crces md the bath il taken
regularly every morning, no matter
what the condition Of the weather il,
or what tho allmonts Of the body may
be, so long as the man or woman is able
To walk. This proceeding, which is not
unlike Turkish bath, is said by the
braves who can speak u little English TO
make Indian much good.
Chief Joseph wns found in his tent
enjoying u cigar IN company with his
wife and child and the warrior,
Charley" who was the first captured
and sent here some months before
Joscphs defeat by Gen. Miles, Charley"
having been recently released from the
guard-house and permitted to take up
his quarters with his chief, who had
honorcd him with n Trustworthy position
during the campaign The chief APP
pcnrcd Us tranquil us on the day Of his
arrival and was dressed about in the
same manner. lie stated through
Charley who acted rs interpreter,
that he was not unhappy, and that his
people were being treated rs well rs
could be expected. In front of his
ncntly-arrnngcd tent, stands IL large tree,
which he has blazcd, and on tho white
wood painted number ofhciroglyphics,
which detail the cause Of Is residence
on the banks Of the Missouri. The basc
Of the blaze is filled with long row of
Indian lodges painted in real. Above
these are horses, birds, wolves, dogs and
men, NIL represented iii such II manner
us TO convey the idea that they are MI
closely connected. One peculiar feature
il that the outline of the birds, if closely
observed, very much resembles the
birds carved on Clcopatru's needle,
don, and the position, too, is tho same,
being vt the top of all other characters.
Whatever il is, il is Of deep significance
TO the Indians, who I'LL seem to be able
to read it and understand its import.
Tho work WINS executed by Clsef Joseph
himself and we must say that his talents
M an artist of his kind are not of the
worst.
Several Of the tcpces in the village
are ornamentcd with pictures of vari-
Gus kinds.
was II few moments spent in II tent oc-
cupied by M aged Indian, who is known
as George Washington" the man who
usually conducted the religious exercises
Of the tribe on Sundays.
lIc was found reclining ona couch Of
skins and iii the last stages Of eonsump,
ton, Ills face wore II haggnrd appear
nncc, and his hollow, shaking voice, rs
he underworld to speak u few words Of
friendly welcome in broken English,
told too plainly that his days are NUM-
bcrcd. George was, only u few months
ago, when last seen bv the reporter us
robust MS any, apparently, and the
earnostncss with which he conducted
tho services spoke for his goodness.
When the last hand-shakc oi farewell
was given at parting he said, pointing
upward, a Soon 30; good-by; me no
chief but got good heart, meaning, per-
hnps, that he was huml le in spirit.
The hospital tent was almost empty.
Nearly I'LL of tho wounded have got well
and are able to take full rations, there
il one, however, among those who are
not well that will not probably last long.
He is tall warrior who was shot
through both hips. lie is very low and