River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-08-09

are part OF q horse when noun ted, and when
unmounted no animal whom the rein guides
can keep pace with them up a mountain side.
II was hard matter to get them to come here.
They bad seen few white faces, except behirS
y raised musket The railway has nsyer sc1s
within 100 miles OF their reservation IL was
not the journey that they feared, for when alone
IN the mountains ii is il common 1au1t for al
most any OF them to take, but d savage dread of
contact with things new and strange possessed
them, and when the wagons at the agency were
ready to start several of the foremost braves,
who had been almost persuaded TO make the
trip, refused to go along.
The wagon started off with about forty per-
sons, including Maj LIewellyn, two assistants
and the Mexican interpreter located at tn
agency Several squaws, with little ones, were
in the party, and a maiden The sight of
train of cars awed the Indians into exclama-
tons of "de-sa-r a- tara" (wonderfull, many
times repeated with whispered breath. Thest
barrel breasted fellows, who would face bean
empty handed, were afraid TO step into the cars,
andsthe squaws, with the little ones hidden N
the folds of their skirts, cringed behind their
trembling lords. At last, when assurances OF
safety had been piled mountain high before
them, they suffered themselves TO be led falter-
ingly aboard, and as the train moved Of they
covered themselves with their blankets and
dropped panic stricken between the seats After
recovering from the fright, seats were slowly
retaken and the Journey from then on did not
disturb them, although thy were profuse IL
expressions of relief when they felt the ground
again solid beneath their mOccasins. But then
apprehensions were not even vet to be quoted
The corner of th grounds assigned them for
camping is overlooked by mound just ont
side the fence On this mound during the
pitching of the wigwams a crowd Of Mcxicans
gathered to watch the operation Indian sus
picious were reused that all was not right
They thought that night attack on them was
intended, aud insisted on spending the night
n nf UrOnnH8 A u09d
of diplomacy was needed to convince them
that the spectators had been impelled only by
curiosity. Then they consented to occupy
their quarters. but keen ears were ever alert
during the night for strange noises. 1t was IN
the afternoon of Saturday before the exposi-
ton opened that they arrived. Sunday was
given TO the preparation of pigments and the
arrangement of toggery for Mondays opening
parade. No part of the procession was more
striking than that formed by this half-tamed
band.
MUSIC HATH CHARMS
At the camp, after the parade. the Apaches
put aside much of their finery and gather in
groups for games and songs. Their singing
always attracts crowd to the tents. The
fashion is to sit in q circle, the leaders in a
row, provided with tom-tons or other sounding
instrument, and the rest of the party with
twigs, if proeurable or sticks or anything with
which they may beat time on the palm of one
hand Two Comanches, renegades from thelI
| own tribes, known as N0nducHe JOuu ana
| Domingo handsome fellows with hawk eyes
| and perfect teeth, are the best singers of the
| band. John has provided himself with a
| large dish pan. His knees are spread far aparl
| 10 hold it. A half dozen others have
| tins of various sizes, the small
| est being dipper Buckskin has
been stretched into drum covers for joints Of
| stove pipe and for kettles Bows tightly
| strung rest between the legs of three or -four
/ others, and one genius has fashioned a rude in
/ strument with two strings, resembling banjo
| Every performer has stick about double the
| length and thickness of lead pencil John OF
| Domingo ses the movement, and when all the
| little tins and toms-toms have caughtthe rhythm
! which is a fast, regular eating, and the bow
string are thruming aud the palm switches fall
/ Jug in time with 1t, whoever may be IN TIM
| lead starts a song compass of five notes II
rarely exceeded except TO strike an occas
/ ional octave, and there is invariably
| MINOR refrain. The entire band keep a
! this for hours, with only Occasional
momentary resting spells AS the song pro
| crosses members of the circle rise, three o
/ four at a time, AMI bob up and down witt
! deacon-hke faces The bobbiug is raid to Cal
muscles in play that would quickly exhaus
| pei ons not used to IT, but it looks like a tamt
| and lazy performance. The signal for the enc
| Of it is gwen by an old fellow with striped
| reed, on which he pipes succession of nerve
| trying notes The Apaches have gwen exhlbl-
| tons of horsemanshp and of their triba
| dances. 1t is thrilling sight as they teal
round the race track, whelping like pack o
| hounds on the scent and their eyes cleaning
with excitement One may get an idea from i
/ of the ferYor of the chase the terror o
attack when the wretches feel sure of victor,
and dare give open battle. At thei
dances all clothing IL thrown aside
except the clout aud hanging strips of clotf
known as gee strings. The performance il
| much more fantastic than the informal affai
above described, their bodies being painted
| in most grotesque fashion, and the dancing
| being not only demoustratiye, but attended b.
quaint ceremonies, to which bonfres often lent
a lurid charm A legend is usually re- enacted
| in the long dances, which are apt to be llttl
| more than tests of endurance. One OF them
| known as the Devils Dance, performed herr
| during the first week Of the exposition, lastet
! cor u aEOusiY Tor four uoys. 1t represents thu
story of the devil tempting maiden, whom ht
| comes near winning party OF young bucki
start out TO rescue her, and, after vicissitudei
| lasting nearly 100 hours, virtue trlumphs anC
the villain comes TO grief
The lives of this isolated and picturesqu e
| people are not without romantic touches. On
| of the white exhibitors in the main building
was formerly frequent visitor to the agency
| and was thrown a good deal in contact with the
| Indians. In time he discovered in one of the
maidens warm feeling toward himself which
he was not disposed to regard as other than O
| friendliness and gratitude for numerous tribes
and sn a favors that it had been in his way tC
bestow on her. Thai was several years ago.
On The second day of the exposition as he was
| arranging his wares, his wrist was graspeC
| from behind and he turned to see the figure o.
an Apache woman vanishing IN the crowd
| lee wing with him silver circlet from her OWL
arm. s"rhat means, - he explained in the even
ing, as he pulled back his cuff to show the
ornament ''that must see her before either
Of us leaves here. She is probably married
| but she doesn't forget. 1t would be as good al
my life was worth to take off this bracelet foi
| an hour while stay in Santa Fe, and shan'
| lare go away or let her go without hunting beI
up and learning what she wants to say 70 me .
| + WE.