The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-09-26
men we're scalped, the wagons destroyed

men were scalped, the wagons destroyed
and the mules driven OF.
Red Shirt has been IN several bloody
battles between his own tribe and the
Omahas on the Upper Missouri River,
and he thinks they are better fighters
than the white men. In speaking Of
fighters among his own people, he says
that Crazy Horse was the hraVest man he
ever saw. He never went Unto battle
without taking scalp, and during his
life killed more than sixty men with his
own hands.
When asked about his own deeds, Red
Shirt seemed ashamed to admit that he
had no greater number of dead men on
his list. He said that he had taken only
eight scalps in his lifc, five of these
being of white men and the other three
Omaha Indians. His first scalp was that
of the officer whom he killed in the fight
at the junction Of Horse Creek and the
North Platte River.
When asked why the Sioux scalp those
slain in battle, he gave the following
reasons: In former times the Sioux cut
off the heads of their victmis, but when
they began to fight the white man they
took to scalping, the same as they saw
the white man do. The scalp is taken as
indisputable evidence that man has
been killed, and whenever an Indian
warrior recounts his bloody deeds he
must produce the scalp to prove that
what he says is true. If he fails to do
this he is not believed. The scalps are
usually kept for time and then thrown
away. Some Of the old men wear scalps
on their shirts or leggings, and have
them buried with their bodies when they
die. In concluding his remarks on scalps.
Red Shirt said, with a touch of sadness
in his expression: 'tI don't Like to keep
scalps to look at them, for they always
make me think of fights in which some
of my friends have been killed" In
reply to the questions, care you sorry
that you have no opportunity to increase
the number of your scelps?" he said:
"No, am glad that war is at an end.
There are TOO many white men. The
Indian must do as they say. I do not
want to see any more of my people
killed. It is useless to shed their blood,
for in the end they must lose."
"Why do you have scalp dances?" was
asked.
"When We come back from big fight
with many scalps we make big feast.
Each man tells what he has done in the
war, and we rejoice. If we take no
scalps and have some of our people killed
we come back sad and have no dance" ."
sin the Omaha, or war dance, what
does each man say in his song?"
"He says: 4 have killed man. I am
very glad. 1 have another scalp. have
= scalps now mentioning the number),
and 1 am going TO get some more:
"Does an Indian feel bad when he
kills woman or childS"
"No, not when he does it in war. Our
enemies kill our wives and children and
We do the same. If an Indian kills one
of his own people he feels very bad, be-
cause it is wrong. It is not wrong to
kill an enemy"
'What is your idea of hea7en?"
At this question Red Shirts face
assumed a very puzzled expression, and
for some minutes he seemed to be in
study. He then answered very slowly:
"I have heard the old men say that there
is heaven somewhere above us. have
seen many dead men; but all that have
seen went down into the ground. have
never seen any of them go up to heaven.
I don't know what becomes of them"
This speech was greeted with grunts
Of approval all around the circle, and his
remark must have been funny in the
Sioux language, for all OF the Indians
present laughed much more than they
generally do. Mr.. William Irving, one
of the interpreters present, said that If
the Sioux Indians had any conception
of heaven he had never been able to find
it out, although he is married to a Sioux
woman and has lived for many years
among the tribe. He says they believe
in the existence of God, and when one
of the tribe dies the relatives punish
themselves by cutting their bodies with
knives, and call on God to vent his wrath
upon the living, to spare the departed
spirits. Notwithstanding this, they
seem to have no idea of any kind of
future existence. Red Shirt was last
questioned as to the impressions made
upon him during his stay in England,
and his reply was characteristic one.
s'I liked the people, "-said he, 'because
they were good to me; I like them better
than the people here, but this is my own
country and l wanted to come back.
During the interview Red Shirt did
not refuse to answer any of the questions
which were asked him, andit was evident
that he tried to be accurate in everything
he said.