Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-18
AMONG THE RED SKINS.
Tho Nations Wards-How They are
Fed, Social Features, Etc.

My trip to this particular part of the
country has been one of unusual interest
to me In many respects. Iarrived at the
agency via Oklahoma City, Frisco and
Reno City at midnight August 10, when
quite number of Indians were gath
cred together for issue day, frolicking,
dancing and having good time in gen.
eral. On Sunday we were, by the kind
ness of Mr.. w. 7. Darling, driven out to
the Cheyenne school building, about
three miles north of Darlington. and an
elegant frame structure it is. There we
found Prof. Davis, principal of the Chey-
enne Indian schools, who took pleasure in
showing us through the large building.
On the lower floor are three large school
rooms, and large, comfortable quarters
which Prof. Davis and family occupy.
On the next floor are to be- found the
boys and girls bed rooms, all nicely
cared for, good ventilation, clean beds.
etc. In the basement is their large
kitchen and mess room, Or as we say,
| dining room. A very large range is
along one side of the building with a
large iron reservoir. for hot water, hav-
ing right at hand constantly hot and
cold water. The entire supply of water
comes from the famous "Caddo Spring"
about three hundred yards from the
building. A large wind mill pumps the
water for use of the school house
and the waste at all times Is
sufficient TO supply all travel.
large trough being fixed about four
feet above the surface where everybody
| is welcome to water their stock. 1t Is
beautiful sight for the travelling public
as it is on the direct road from Kingtish-
er to Reno City.
From here we drove back to the OAR
lington hotei-which. by the way. is one
of the best in the land-had supper and
then went over on the bank of the North
Canadian and listened to the Indian war
dance which lasted until midnight.
Sunday night they all seemed to be joy
full, exceedingly so, on account of rs
sue day" which commenced Monday
morning at 8 o'clock.
Monday, August 18th, 1889,
| is day long to be remembered
by the writer as it was one of the regu-
lar days for issuing beef to the Cheyenne
| and Arapahoe Indians by the govern.
ment. About 1880 o'clock the Indians
living along the Canadian in their lodges
or tepees and those who came for miles
around began pouring over the hills tc
the issue yards which is some two miles
| southeast of Darlington, and a regular
cloud OF wagons and people on horse
back could be seen coming thither. The
bucks were generally on horseback as
| they do the killing, and their squaws are
on hand with the wagon ready to take
their allowance. On this one occasion
there were sixty beeves driyen
into the pens and at 8 o'clock Major Ash
ley, Indian agent. seeing the branding
irons were hot ordered them to COM
mence weighing, which they did. The
cattle are driven from the pens through
| long chute onto the scales, weighing
usually about ten at time, when they
are driven off the scales into a narrow
chute just wide enough for one critter to
stand in, and about $50 feet in length.
Alongside this chute stands Major Ash
| ley with the interpreter, George Bent,
and as Mr.. Ashley calls out the name OF
head of band who is to get the beef, In
terpreter Bent again loudly announces
IN the Indian language, for instance, "Cut
Nose," who is the head Of band of
| twenty-five, as each band of twenty five
are allowed one beef week; in bands of
fifty, two each week. The representa-
tive of the band Immediately walks up
to the chute and SO soon as the branding
iron labelling them Il. d." Qndian de-
partmenO is placed upon their back or
side, the ''buck" proceeds to cut his tail
off or stick his knife through the skin
of the head-something to designate his
critter. When they are all marked Mr..
| Darlington, who stands at the head of
the narrow chute, announces the fact to
Agent Ashley, when he at once orders
the gate thrown open and the
cattle rush wildly out upon
the prairie, pursued by those
who chase them out upon the prairies
and pull their Winchesters and 44s and
at every opportunity fire away at them.
The performance is rarely looked upon by
| less than from one to three thousand
people, and at the same time old ''Bull
Chip" an Indian, is loudly announcing
| the price to be paid for hides by the
traders at the agency, which sounds like
goose talk to those who can't under
stand it. AS soon as the bucks kill their
| critters, the squaws proceed to the scene
of action with their teams and as soon
as the animal is skinned they give to
each their portion and pretty soon they
are on their way rejoicing.
| Your correspondent had quite
an experience in securing pair
Of large Texas COW horns.
| When / arrived at the issue pens early in
the morning l began looking carefully
over the herd hoping TO see critter with
| extra large horns, which l might by
close observation capture ID answer as a
! souvenir on nv first beef issue" expe-
dition / found it, finally, and twas an
old bob-tail brindle Texas COW. l, of
course, watched closely every bunch Of
cattle that went into the chute until
finally my old bob-tal COW came in and
| kept my eyes close upon her. After
the branding of the bunch was finished
and old brindle was given to an Indian
named Crazy Mule they were all
turned out, and / lost no time in mount
ing my horse, as | was compelled
to stay close at hand in order to secure
my prize. i chased and chased with the
Indians after old brindle, when finally
two of the Indians shot her down. and
then was when the fun set in After
she was dead | began making signs.
big horn me: off big horns me-" etc.
Finally they understood me and they cut
them from the head and thanked them
very politely ana was about to mount
nv horse when an old buck took hold
of me and said, "two bits, two bits" |
very readily caught on to the racket and
began to feel for the two bits. / sue
ceeding in fishing out 10 cents without
disturbing four silver dollars, besides a
half / had also, but the old fellow per-
sisted in his ugh, ugh: two bits"
L ~ nd