The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-01-17
AMONG THE REDSKINS.
"Beef Issue Day" in Sitting-Bu1l's
Camp--Squaws as Butchers.

Your correspondent happened to be
witness of one of the most novel and
interesting scenes a visitor from the
East can see upon his arrival at an
Indian Agency. ] allude to ''beef-issue
day" at Standing Rock Agency.
Arriving at the corral, situated on
the plains some two miles distant from
the agents office, picturesque scene
presented itself to view Hundreds of
Indians of all ages, from the papoose
to the withered old Chief hardly able
to totter, had assembled in groups
around the rail fence of the corral, and
on the fence were as many of them as
the shooting of the doomed cattle,
some sixty or more 3-year-old Texan
steers, freshly branded, and that
morning selected from the contractor
herd for the semi-monthly issue.
Evidently the day was regarded by
the Indians rs gala day. The squaws
ones were prepared to do the larger
portion of the work of dressing and
packing the meat. Therefore they were
not rugged up in Indian finery, as
were the younger squaws, the young
'bucks," and the children of both !
sexes. All excepting the very old
Indians were gaudily painted.
AT given signal the shooting COM
menced, and as ono after another of
the brutes fell to the ground general
rush forward was made to see the final
death struggles, while an old buck
chanted the death-song with an energy
showing he was evidently recalling
past scenes of bloodshed and death,
where far richer blood was shed and
scalps were carried away rs trophies to
add to the warrior S renown. Generally
the first shot proved fatal, but far too
often the poor creatures were wounded
repeatedly before dropping, often in
their rage and fright charging their
assailants, causing a lively stampede
among the red men within the corral
AS the last steer bit the dust bucks
and squaws, armed with knife and
hatchct, sprang upon their PROSTATE
forms, and after first cutting out the
tongue of the dying animal-the prize
first to be sccurcd-7proceeded TO finish
the work of death, beginning to re-
move the skin ere the breath had left
the body. While the skinning was
done carefully and skilfully, no system
or method seemed to be. used in the
ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the carcass, the
sole idea being to get meat, bones, and
viscera in the smallest possible COM
pass ready for removal to the Indian
tepees, where the feasting would COM
mence, and no portion excepting the
horns of the animal does the Indian
reject for food. Apportioned by the
agent to the different bands of Indians,
the meat is divided up among his band
by the chief and packed off to his
tepee by his squaws, dogs and ponies,
while he complacently looks on in
silent dignity.
In the centre of q group of Chiefs,
smoking, as they observed their toiling
women, sat Chief Sitting Bull, and as
we approached we were greeted with
the usual Indian salutation-''H Howl
uttered in deep cultural tone.
The sight and smell OF blood seemed
to have u most cXhilarating effect upon
them all, and the work was entered
into with IN evident savage delight
One old Indian, taking advantage of
the occasion, hailed his people in loud
tones, giving them some information
as the town crier of former years gave
tidings of lost child.
Those who had no wagons such US
are issued them by the Government
packed their meat on the backs of their
ponies or upon travois, the old Indian
method of transportation, consisting of
wopliant parallel poles strapped across
the back of the pony like the shafts
of a wagon, Trailing on the ground
some ten or fifteen feet behind the
animal, connected in their centre by
platform of wickcr-work, upon which
the burden is fastened. Even their
dogs are thus loaded down, often
dragging four or five times their own
weight OF meat. The work accomplish
ed by the small but tough Indian
ponies is surprising. Often the pory
carries Il heavy burden of meat and an
Indian as well, and very frequently
three full grown Indians are seen
riding one pony. AS these animals
are ridden when mere sucking colts
and required to perform herculeau
tasks it is no wonder the race has
become -dwarfed. Ncw 1OTk
Herald.