The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-16
A CHOCTIW's MfRRIAGE
Ceremonies Ia Brooklyn that Only One White
Person Could Witness.

DR.. Charles Nelson, OF l72 Fulton street.
Brooklyn. Is a Choctaw Indian. over six feet
tail. massively built and ms red-skinned as In
dians ever are. He IL CO years Of age but he
seems hardly ~. Six months ago he came TO
Brooklyn 30 practise medicine with his Indian
remedies. On Saturday night last he married
n comely young woman Miss Elizabeth Doyle
who had paid him a casual visit few weeks
before. and had fallen in love with him on the
spot The marriage was speedily arranged
The young woman has some well-to-do rela-
tives in Brooklyn. IA we'll rs in Fall River
Mass, where she was born, and although n
Catholic. the religion espoused by the Indian rs
well she would not consent TO have the banns
published. rs II necessary when priest con-
ducts the ceremony; and so. TO avoid publicity,
tho Rev. Lindsay Parker Of the Sands Street
Methodist Church was engaged The ceremony
was performed IN the rear Of the Doctors medi.
cine shop. The Indians costume was a pair Of
buckskin brooches with fringe down the sides
Il short beaded md braided Jacket. and beaver
glass beads. Tho bride wore a sealssin can can.
also beaded with Indian handiwork. Tho cpre-
mony was that usually employed by Methodist
ministers, but after the minister had gone an
Indian ceremony was begun. which lasted far
into the night. None was admitted TO the fes-
uNitics except those whose veins contained In
dian blood and who could appreciate them.
Last night, when areporter called to get some
further account OF the peculiar ccrcmou. 30. an
Indian maiden sat hy a rcd-hot stove in the
b1rtors shop. She said that she was the Doc
tor = daughter.
Then your fnthcr has been married before -
-, Yes she said This is the third or fourth
lie .habitually marrlcs pale-iaced women.
You bet. My mother was a white woman.
| wouldn't marry an Indian"
Tho maiden spoke "A lllto Choctaw. but tho
most OF her conversation was in improved
latirr-day English. She said her father kent
on The 60 SO mum that she didn't get chance
% marry. and she didn't choose 10 do the
business up So rapidly ~ he had done IT,. A
heavy step WAS heard approaching. n curtain
IN the partition wis pushed aside. and
the Indian Do tor appeared. lie has quick
eye, IA stoud manner, and a. sanguinary east Of
i"atures, He wore a sealskin cap beneath
which glistened his long black hair done M In
queue fashion. He was wrapped in heavy
coat made OF the iawny skin Of aynung buffalo.
vokcd at the publicity his marriage had OBJ
tanned. lie said that as for himself he didn't
hlng his head toward the back room. objected
ON account OF her folks. As TO the Indian cere-
monies, h. said that they had war dance and
lie liked speedy marriage.
l knew fellow he said. who was on a
spree in south Carolina. He was in ahotel half
drunk. when young widow from the country
came IN. As soon rs he laid his eyes on her he
said' Are you marrledT, She said No.
have m"F Yes. will she said. They linked
ana marched OIL 10 the 'Squirc's, and never
knew happier couple"
Nelson was born n Hamburg. s. c.. his father
being u Choctaw Indian living on reser-
walton there at the time. HIS mother
was an E4giishwQman VINO WAS a widow
with children when Anthony Olive, tho
Choctaw. married her. Olive was u medi-
cine man, and Nelson chose his own name
Mheu the Indians Of South Carolina were moved
west Nelson, thrn an inialt, was stolen. His
slcp-sistrr followed the tribe recovered him
ana carried him back 10 his mother travelling
10y mules ON foot with him on her back.
All OF my Wives he said. have been white
women An Indian Will choose a pale faced
woman every time A white man may marry u
negro woman but YOU never heard of an Indian
doing it, ! admit that n yuun. suunw when
sue n wen dressed Is mighty nice creature,
bul give me Wllt" woman for wife,
Nelson Is u migratory physician and rarely
says long IN q place. This is his first visit IL
Bruoklyn. came" he said because
wanted money and a Wife"