Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-11
A PIUTE FANDANGO.
Wsird Pictures of sarage High Life by
Moeuliuht.


Virginia New Chronicle.l
The Pluto fandango is still in full blast,
and on Wednesday crowds of whites went
out to see the dancing. A Chronicle re-
porter went out among the rest and spent
several hours viewing the novel sights wit
messed only at such place. 1t was twilight |
when he reached the spot, and the camp fires |
were blazing in every direction. Some
three hundred Indians were gathered about
vacant space which had been beaten down
by the dancing. They had just finished
their afternoon dance and were preparing
for supper. The squaws we're attending to
the work of preparing the meal, the
youngsters were scattered about gather
ing sagebrush and cedar-roots for fuel,
while some of the bucks were stretched out
on their blankets, fast asleep, and others
engaged in animated games of poker or
| monte. At first glance there did not seem
to be many Piutes present, but more care
| full inspection of the place revealed them in
astonishing numbers. They swarmed be-
hind piles of sagebrush in scores, and I'M
der old pieces of weatner-worn canvass,
raised standing from the ground by two
sticks, dozens would be packed. AS the
night came on they huddled closer about
their camp-fres, the light of which fell with
picturesque effect upon the. flaming red
blankets of the bucks, and the many hued
handkerchiefs bound round the heads OF
the squaws. In the central space the
children danced and sported, throw
ing showers of dust over eacf
other, and yelling vociferously. Many O
the squaws were nursing their infants, ano
one had pair of twins at the breast. The
5 bucks. who were gambling, sat in squads o
a dozen about the edge of their blankets
! and considerable coin was jingled. Poke
and monte were the favorite games. For
couple of days Captain Bob (who is a sort o
! Bob Schenck among the Piutes) had en-
able extent, despoiling Walker rive
guests of nearly all the coin they ha
brought. Yesterday the Walker river me
had consultation, and after considerable
: deGberation it was determined to set ira
4 for Bob in the shape of a monte game. Bo
watched the new game while and conclut
ed he saw piles of bullion beyond. Il
finally demanded place in the circle, an
: inside of half an hour was fiat broke. At
9 o'clock the gambling games brol
"a up, and all hands got ready fl
the dance. The bucks. Stripe
to the waist, first entered the ring, and ii
u squaws, attired in their best calico, followt
suit. The first buck that entered executed
20 dance something like burlesque on Il
= Highland fling. squaw sprang in mex
y. and in a few minutes about fifty were in Il
ring, kicking up enough dust 10 almost hit
them from view, while the rest of the tril
- sat round on the outside and shouted a
:, provingly. When the reporter left at mi
- night the moon, which had just risen, sshol
ie upon parcel of savages dancing like ma
is is men and darting in lugubrious melody whi
= sounded like the night calls of wild anims
IS prowling about the hills. All was neglect
except the dance; the fires were allowed
;. die out, and when the reporter was half
!. mile from the spot, the sound of yelpi
= dogs and screaming squaws mingled Wi
T. T. the monotonous tramp of feet; as if no o
= there had any intention of weak ening. I
ID fandango ended last night.