Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-11-21
INDIANS AND THE TURKS
An Incident OF the Visit ofMohammed
Pasha TO Washington.
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In the early spring of 1855 Moham-
med Pasha and suite, of the Turkish
navy, visited Washington ard receiv-
ed much attention. They wore their
magnificent uniforms, the collars,
cuffs, and sleeves of which were
covered with heavy gold embroidery
and various decorations" of honor
Their sword belts and straps were of
gold webbing, and they wore on their
heads the scarlet felt ''fez" or skull
cap, with a small gold circular plate
on the top, and pendant silk tassel.
One bright afternoon they visited the
arsenal, where they were shown the
breech-loading rifles just invented.
and then treated to war dance by a
large party of Indians then in Wash
rngton. Secretary Floyd and his
guests, with an array of ladies, took
position in front OF the commandments
quarters, III grove on the bank of the
Potomac, where a circle was formed
by the ordnance soldiers. Into this
came the Indians, singing a war Song,
and they seated themselves on the
ground in circle, presenting most
picturesque appearance. Three of
their number then commenced beat
ing monotonously on drums and sing
ing an equally monotonous chant,
varied by occasional cries from the
others. At last Ole old fellow jumped
and began dancing, or rather jump
ing, and soon the entire party Except
the drummers) were joining in the
war dance, brandishing their pipes
and their tomahawks and giving the
war whoop. After the dancirg Little
! Grow" made a speech, which Gen.
Cullen translated. He described the
successful pursuit of the band under
lnk-pu-du-tah, which the year before
killed forty-eight whites, and took
four ladies prisoners. At FIRST the
Sioux refused to go in pursuit, but
after the arrival of Maj Sherman and
his battery, party of 125 started, led
by himself and Interpreter Campbell,
who was present They killed eleven,
and two ladies were rescued. Among
the Indians present were two who had
brought in one of these ladies, Miss
Gardiner. Little Crow" delivered
this narrative harangue with expires,
slve gesticulation, and there was much
regret that his own language was not
understood. The next morning a
Pawnee, who had been afflicted with
pneumonia, died. His funeral was
numerously attended. The corpse
was neatly dressed in a citizens black
suit and laid on a new blanket in a
handsome mahogany coffin, in which
were strewed natural flowers frsm the
public greenhouse. After a few re
marks at the hotel by Rev. John
Smith, of the Ninth Street Presby te-
rian church, the coffin was placed in
a hearse, and a long procession follow
ed the corpse to lis last resting place
in the Congregational burial grounds.
After the coffin had been deposited in
the grave, Rev. Mr.. Smith offered an
impressive prayer, which was follow
ed by an Impressive eulogy from
''Loup," chief of the Pawnees, and a
few appropriate remarks by Acting
Commissioner Mix. The Interpreter
then placed on the coffin the box con-
tanning the personal decorations of the
deceased, with his club and tomahawk,
and covered the whole with his buffa,
10 robe. The grave was then filed,
and the large concourse of spectators
dispersed.