The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-01-11

tnelI uketbNby BdNB bueI tutlotns an but
glare Of the bright freight, q resplen
dent appearance.
A little apart from the lines near the
group Of chiefs, was the principal figure
in this vast crowd IA young girl gaud-
lily decked out with paint and beads,
holding the medicine stick" This
consisted of long pole on which were
fastened bits of colored cotton streamers,
and, at close intervals, one after
the other, round looking glasses and
shells. As she moved and swayed with
the music she turned the "medicine
stick round and round, and the mir
rors catching the freight, glistening
and rejecting, it shone like so many
brilliants. It was esteemed 8 great
honor to carry the wand of the "med-
icine man and the bearer of it was evi-
IDENTIFY an object of envy.
We walked round between the line OF
dancers and waited for the next figure,
which, after pause, was announced as
before by the master of ceremonies.
This time the dancers formed in straight
lines, radiating from the fire, giving the
lines the effect of the spokes of Wheel
They stood, men and women, one be-
hind another, too close to count them,
and at the sound of the music began
the dancing and singing again. The
movement was so regular it called forth
our admiration. After a time there
seemed to be stir in the circle where
the medicine man sat, and presently we
saw him rise up and take basket-a
round, willow one, such as the squaws
use-and fill it with cornmeal, and,
placing the basket inside of his arm,
walk down the first line of dancers. He
first sprinkled with the meal the heads
of those dancing and then scattered it
along the path where they danced,
going through this ceremony until each
line of the wheel was duly powdered.
This, we were told, was the benedic-
tion of the great chief to his people,"
recognition of their contributions to
him in the shape of horses, cattle, etc.
for, although claiming to be a religious
doctor. he is not unlike other ministers
of men, quite willing to be substan-
TALLY rewarded for his services. This
ceremony concluded the harvest dance.
We fingered moment to watch the
vast crowd disperse. A few of them
remained for the night where they had
danced; others mounted their ponies
and accompanied their friends to the
villages near Fort Apache.
This custom of dancing at harvest
time has been an annual one, but it was
never before associated with the object
OF raising the dead. But Knock-e-ti-
Klinny had made the rounds of the
different tribes, his dance had been at
tended with much ceremony. great
hopes had been inspired, and the In
dians were becoming impatient for the
results. They wanted him to make
good his word and bring the dead to
life. The corn was ripening. Where
were their friends? The time had come
in Knock-e-ti-Kl career when
coup d'etat was necessary, and he de.
clared one.
The dead would not return, He
could not restore them as long as the
whites remained. Imbued with this
religious conviction, is it to be won
dered at that the war spirit could not
slumber or the whites fail not to take
warning2 The Indians near Fort
Apache became bolder and more indie
pendent. Threats were heard of what
would soon happen. By some military
strategy of the department commander,
General Wilcox, company of infantry
was taken away from this post, reduc-
ing its strength. The medicine man,
now eager to rest his cause on any for
lorn support, announced, we afterward
learned, that his power had sent the
troops away. He pointed to the then
new comet and repeated that it was
good medicine the rest of the whites
would soon follow.
General Carr reported promptly all
these proceedings to the department
commander, and was referred by him to
the Indian agent. The medicine man
could not be arrested by the military
then, for he was travelling on the agents
pass, and was reported ga good In
dian" The agent had long known of
his dances and prophecies, but he
thought them of no consequence. When
telegraphed to by General Carr, he re
sponded quickly: "Arrest the medicine
man or kill him, or both. General
Wilcox notified General Carr of this
order, and also stated that two compa-
nies of cavalry would be sent from Fort
Thomas to this post.
By this time the medicine man had
left for Oibicu, forty-hve miles to the
southwest. We were told he would re.
turn and hold his last dance here.
General Carr waited, hoping he would
return, as the increased force expected
would then be here, and if any outbreak
took place here or on the roads he
would be prepared. The medicine man
did not return, nor did the troops ar
rive. The telegraph wires were down
(cut we learned, by Indians), but it was
not supposed that the department com
mander would revoke the order fol
sending troops without General Carr's
knowledge, and leave us without helu
until after the report of the massacre
had been fully confirmed, as he thought.
The story of the fight has been writ
ten-the treachery of the scouts, the
death of the brave officer and his brave
men, and the wonderful march of Gen.