Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-29

their black, braided hair. Paint and feafh
ers were in profusion. Some Of the almost
nude bodies Of the men were painted vari<
GUS colors. Frank Carson chose the yellow,
Wapachee thought he looked handsome in
black, White Mule picked the white, old
Myueus donned his -four sack leggins and
did his best and probably his last dancing,
and the interpreter was feet Of foot in his
paint and feathers, old epaulets and apron,
with his name in large type beautifully
beaded on it. The four blackened Indians
under the vithered cedar were mourning
and fasting. They were not TO eat or drink
for four days. During the beating Of the
drums, the singing by the choir Of SIX women
and the noise ofthe dancers. could be heard
distinctly the wailing Of the mourners. Un-
der the withered cedar were the
smoking embers Of small fire.
Hung in the branches Of the
tree was Q pair Of buffalo horns. Among
the dancers were Richard Rubedioux. a
French Indian who fought in the late war;
james White Water, who killed two white
men and but recently released from peni-
tentiary in Nebraska, and several Chflocco
students, and others who had attended the
agency school A diminutive specimen Of
brave who has been named Ben Harrison,
and who in his gay attire looked like
young knight, followed in the trail Of his
father and was conspicuous among the
dancers. Those who grew weary in the
arena would leave and stand around the
outer circle. Occasionally they would come
to the smoking fire, stoop down and warm
thier hands, then solemnlv feel the buffalo
horns and enter the dance with renewed
vlgor. We noticed a stalwart Kaw leave
the ring languidly. but after he had warmed
his hands over the fire, then rubbed them
over his face and smoothed the buffalo's
horns, be skipped back into the arena like
one who had found the elixir Of life. The
memory of the buffalo is their Brown
Sequard anointment.
TEMPTING THE DANCERS.
Chief White Horse took spoonful of
something. marched around the small
circle inside, made his obeisance. then suiIt
1t on the ground, made his obeisance again
to the cedar tree and returned to his post.
Then sir others came out and danced about
an old black lard can. They finally picked
up the bucket, amid the shouts OF the whole
army of dancers. The little bells COM
menced to tinkle, the queer, nasal voices Of
the choir chimed in, and the drums beat,
and the dance was again renewed. Then
followed silence, when Little Bear passed
around with 'slittle brown jug" and
quenched the thirst Of the choir. It was
warm, muddy water from Black Bear
Greek. Wapachee, in all his magni6cence,
waddled to the center Of the arena and laid
down straw, single straw; walked about
the center three times made his obe1sanco
to the cedar tree, and LETT as silently as he
came. Then the dancing ceased, and all
sat down around the circumference Of the
circle. The attendants brought in buckets
OF all sizes and shapes, some as black as the
ace of spades, old tin cans, lard cans, old
black coffee pots, and set them down at the
feet of the dancers. They contained food
prepared by the squaWs while they were
having o merry time This was done to
tempt them, but no one ate Finally sew
eral young Indians passed around with
black buckets filed with corn soup. This
they gave to each one out Of homemade
wooden spoon. The mourners had Increased.
Under the withered cedar, with blaekened
faces, stood six instead Of four.
Be it to the credit sof the influence Of
these schools, during all this ceremony four
Chilocco students, young men, were down BY
the spring dressed in citizens clothes, sing
ing gospel hymns, accompanied by the
harp, and reading the psalms Of David.
And 50 it would ever be, but they are ridi-
culed and dragged down, and the influence
is stronger than they can stand any length
of time.
The hot, sultry day was near close. In
the north the sky was leaden, and the low
distant thunder was ominous oil q coming
storm. Twelve miles lay between US and
home, II miles of an open prairie, with
streams to ford, and no means Of shelter,
not even a tree, and herds Of Texas cattle,
Wild as the buffalo almost. As we drove on
the Indians were lowering their flags. gath
ering up their valnsbles and preparing for
the storm that seemed almost ready to~bRrst,
The sky was black and the sharp flashes ok
lightning were dangerous. The clouds
seemed to hang right over the feast grounds,
and as We looked back it seemed as if dark
ness had blended with darkness.
E.H.D.