The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-08-14
THE.HLukB.AkY bAnCE."
An Annual Celebration by tho Indian
Nhaf .ateis Of Minnesota. lH.f.

An Annual Celebration by tho Indiazi
0laf ssi9 OF Minnesota. l#.gFa5
Drainnd tvian.> Tribune. N. y
The gay and festive red man was in bis
glory Tuesday Last. His face daubed with
paint, his head adorned with gay feathers,
bis limbs ornamented with veregatcd bead
work Of many colors, and His gaudy blanket
coquetiehly hanging over one shoulder,
Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed
like unto him. It WIS bis day to be ont,
and he strusted about town In solemn
majesty, conscious Of bis supremacy, and
satisfied in his own mind, no doubt, that
he was thing 10 be admired. ~.
The occasion was the grea! Blueberry
Dance, with which tho Indians inhabiting
the pine forests In this vicinity celebrate
bountiful bluebe1ry harvest. This year the
yield Wssgreat, and the braves had plenty
Of pocket money to spend in personal
adornmenL The hop came of Tuesday
afternoon in front Of the store kept by Jas
Hallet, the Indian trader, at the west end
Of Front street. Tbs sound OF the drums
and the chanting Of the warriors soon drew
a large crowd, largely composed OF ladies'
and children, who looked upon the strange
ecene with intereHt. isIs IA .sTs
Z About dozen Of the younger braves
were eeated in circle about a large drum
which they beat necessarily with long
sticks. Some half dozsn sticks ornamsntet
with feathers and colored cloth were stuck |
in the ground around the drum. The older
braves, many Of them ahakiug with the
inh1mities Of years, and number Of
squaws and their pappoosee, sat upon
their blankets grouped about the or.
chestra. ,,..a-s,s' N
The drummers drummed until the tom.
tom, tom.tom, became monotonous; then
some hideous]y painted, bow.lecggd red
devil would yawp out into melody, and
wonld be joined by all the drummsrs in
a chant which Can ba likened only 10 the
music OF an amateur string band. The
soul'inspiring music would Immediately
have its effect in setting the warriors legs
in motion and tho entire gang would drop
their red or blue blankets, jump to their
feet and hop up and down about the
dIumme1s with peculiar step, which de-
ties description, and it is said is Impossible
10 successfully initiate. The drummera
would thump ths drum and sing, and the
warriors shake themselves around for a
lew moments, when they would suddenly
come to an abrupt stop, drop into their
blankets, and perfect silence would reign
Tor Eve minutes, after which the same
cert moSy would be gone through with
again. S1+,l7 Il o-&la
The dancing attracted much attention
but the Indians cannot be considered q
success as accomplished terpsichoraau ar
lists. There is, to be cure, in their roman.
tic grouping, dramatic figuring and origi.
nal costuming some pointers for the mod
eYn ball room, which might be introduced
with startling effect. Tho manner in which
the chiefs wear their shirts, for instance,
would command attention il NOT admira.
ton, when introduced properly with slow
music and red fire. Come to think OF It |
such costume would bs quite comfortable
on hot night.
McColl, the photographer, made several
Intellectual attempts to obtain view Of the !
group. The "salvages," however, evident
ly were afraid the camera might 20 of and I
hurt some Of them; for whenever they OBJ |
served the camera pointed In their dIrec-
ton the stakea were hastily pulled up, and
they moved OF 10 safer quarters. A bicycle
which stood against building near by at
tracted much attention, and group con-
stantly surrounded it, with the greatest ad.
miratiop and wonderment depicted in their
features. SS... b i-z IS 49, II q
The day festivities closed with grand
war.dance in the evening, which Was re-
petition Of the blucbe1ry dance, with ten
timea the noise, the Indians having in all
probability by soms means succeeded in
firing their rcd blood with cheap whisky.