Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-28
THE sMoHoLLA DANCE.
1t Was n Craze Among the Siletz Indians
Fifteen Years Ago.


1t Was Craze Among the siletz Indians
Fifteen Years Ago.
Correspondence Portland Oregonian.l
The excitement among the Sioux Indians
in regard to the. coming of the Messiah is
much like the craze that was. among the
Siletz Indians some IL years ago, caused by the
"Smoholla dance" Smoholla was, Think,
Sioux Indian, and claimed that while
upon a high mountain he fell into deep
sleep, and while he slept the Great Spirit
came aud told him that if the indians would
all dance ten nights IN succession the dead
Indians would all return to the earth again;
that the buffalo, elk, deer and beaver would
| come back, and the white men would be ex-
terminated, and the Indians would occupy
the country as they ouce did. Such was the
dream of Smoholla. This craze spread
among the coast Indians and set them wild.
At Siletz the Indians built three large
dancehouses for the purpose Of holding
their dances The houses were built partly
under ground, 40x60 feet, with an excavation
of six feet, covered with long boards, upon
which was thrown about one foot OF dirt,
with hole in the center of the root for
the smoke to pass out. In these houses
fire was kept burning all night. When
night came the Indians, men, women and
children. would gather in the houses, painted
| In gorgeous colors and dressed up with
beads, feathers, mink and weasel skins; in
fact, with all the ancient style OF the red
man, and the dance, under q leader, would
commence. and be kept up all night going
through all kinds of contortions and incan-
tations. working themselves into 4 perfect
frenzy before they would stop. When day
light came and they were reeking with
sweat, the men and women would so into
the cold river water, take bath and go
back into the warm house and sleep all
day. When night came again the same
thing would be repeated until ten nights
were passed.
By this time the Indians were exhausted,
and many OF them died from exposure. But
no dead Indians came back, and the dancers
gave 1t up in disgust. saying Smoholla was
great impostor. If an Indian refused to
believe this nonsense he was to be turned
into rock, bird, snake, bear, or some wild
animal. that lived in the big mountains,
where they would perish from starvation.
The grizzly bear was the favorite animal
into which the unbelieving Indian was to be
turned. In this excitement the Indians
gave up their work and were completely
absorbed in the idea of getting rid of the
white man, and IN seeing their dead friends
return to them again; when they could
enjoy the glory of the earth, as they did be-
fore the pale-faced. race came among them.
|. But after all it was only a dream, and
when the indians found out they were de-
ceived, it made them very angry, and they
said Smoholla was great liar. The dance
houses and the delusion have passed away,
and it would be hard indeed to make the
Siletz people now believe that dead Indians
would come back to life again. The SiIetz
Indians are leaving off all their ancient Gus
toms, traditions and superstitions, and are
trying to solve the great problem OF
Christian civilization.