River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-12-17

*Member OF the Forty-eighth Congress.
An indian Auction.

A correspondent says: Il witnessed
an interesting feature in Indian life a
short time ago at one of the camps in
the Kaw Agency, Indian Territory. A
tent had been erected, and all the
effects of dead brave were deposited
in the tent. The Indians were going
to hold an auction. At early dawn be-
! fore the sun the Indians gathered
around the tent. The auctioneer,
stepping out of the tent holding a
blanket IN his hands, began In loud
voice to invite bids on the blanket.
Four dollars, sang out an old man
who had patch of yellow paint under
his right eye, and sat on the outer edge
of the circle which had now formed
around the tent. Il will give you five,
cried one of the Indians sitting in the
circle, 1t is yours, said the auction
eer, and the bidder, after depositing a
due bill for the amount, received the
blanket The auctioneer now brought
out pair of beaded leggings, and the
bidding began.
| One thing was noticeable, the num-
| Der bidding never exceeded two, and
the article was invariably knocked
down to the second bidder Moccasins,
necklaces, fans of eagle feathers-in
fact the whole raphcrnalia of a COM
| plete Indian outfit was brought out and
sold to the highest bidder. Finally an
Indian pipe of red stone-a very large
and handsome One-was brought out,
and the bidding became livelier Five
! dollars was shouted Eight sang out
! a trader, who, besides myself, was the
| only paleface in the audience, and who
already saw the pipe in his minds eye
hanging with his other Indian curiosi-
ties; but he was doomed to disappolnt-
ment when hungry-looking member of
| the circle, who was evidently wanting
his breakfast and was anxious to bring
| the ceremonies to close, said: My
brother, that pipe has been smoked in
many councils. Our brother who lies
buried on Wonder hill, pointing to a
pile of rocks on high hill in the dis
lance, thought much of that pipe. l
am not willing it should fall into other
hands. My brother, | will give pony
for the pipe These remarks OF Old
Hungry were received with few short
yells, which denoted great satisfac-
ton.
At this point member with nothing
on but breech-clout came dashing
into the circle, holding in his hands a
skillet filled with live Goals. He was
followed by another one bearing in his
arms a lot of cedar, which was de-
posted over the Goals: These two
were followed by the siead Indians
relatiVes-wife, sister and children
moaning and wringing their hands.
The burning cedar now began to pour
forth a volume of smoke, and one by
one the members of the band rushed
into the smoke, bending down close
| to the Goals, turning round and round,
with many wild gestures and with
outstretched blanket, the smoke at
times completely hiding them from
view. Come on, my son. said one Of
the party, taking a firm hold of the
traders arm, and reluctantly the pale
face was drawn into the smoke, where
he performed the smoke act to the
evident satisfaction of the party
Hastily Withdrawing in fit of cough
ing and gasping for breath, he was
met with many cries of Good, my son!
The ghosts will never trouble you.
The performance was now ended by
the auctioneer turning over all the
receipts of the sale to the relations.