The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-28
THE RED DUDE OF YELLOWSTONE.
Wi.iun-ion's Season in Washington
and the Tragic Outcome o: u.
I-ranl he s. Tottfs Grnlc ner.n.rrf

Wi-iun- joins Season in Washington
and the Tragic Outcome o: Il.
From The 81. Louis Globe-Densocrat
WASHINGTON, March l4-Ia the Catiin
collection Of Indian pictures at the national
museum is one before which the faces Of
visitors expand Into broad grins. "Wi-jur-
jon Going 20 and Returning from Wash
IngtOnn IS the title given to the double
sketch. The artist did not let humorous
fancy play with his palette and brush. as
mauv have supposed. George Catlin priit d
| himself on being true to life. Nothing hurU
him worse than 20 have some one question
the accuracy or fidelity Of any of LIS hun
dreds Of Indian pictures.
Wi-jun-j jon was an Assinaboine chief.
He went IN all Of his Indian t1ggery to see
the great Father at Washington. lie
returned 70 thu Yellowstone country out
fitted as a dude of the year 1892. When
| Wi-iun-jon was On his way t. Washington
he stopped at ST. Louis and reluctantly
yielded TO Catin's request to be permitted
TO paint him During the ordeal, for such
it was TO the Indian, he stood ''sullen as
death" AS a model he was perfect, but it
was evident that the struggle for self
control was almost too much for him. This
was the young chiefs first visit to civiliZa-
ton. lie and his companion had
come down TIE Missouri river from
the mouth Of the Yellowstone When
they came in sight OF the settlements they
adopted the idea OF taking a census Of the
white mems houses, so that they could re-
port on them when they got home. At first
they did this by making notch in pipe
stem for every house their Mackinaw boat
passed. But soon the pipestem was full.
The handle of q war club also gave out.
Then Wi-jun-jOn and his associate went
ashore and got several sticks and kept up
their notch register. Stick after stick was
filled. AT length they fioated down in front
of St. Louis, which was then a great city of
10000 people. The Indians looked in as
Punishment at the rows Of houses, Consulted
together earnestly for a few moments, and
threw the notched sticks into the river.
When Wi-jun-jon stood before Catlin for
his first portrait he wore bis leggings and
SHIRT of mountain goatsSiu. Quilts OF por-
cupine were worked into the skin, and the
edges Of the garments were fringed with
scalps. Above his head was the dress of
war eagles feathers. Over his shoulders
was thrown the skin of young buffalo,
with drawings to illustrate the feats he had
achieved. His hair, in long plaits, hung
down below his waist. He carried his shield
of the skin of butfalo'S neck, his bow and
arrows and his pipe of pence. He was the
picturesque savage complete in all details.
The Indian went on to Washington. The
artist remained in st. Louis that winter of
lS3l-'32. Artist and Indian met in the
spring. They were fellow passengers on the
first steamboat which assembled the Missouri,
the Yellowstone, commissioned by the
American Fur Company. Wi-jun-jon made
his appearance as the boat was about to
start What a transformation! During his
winter in Washington he had been a social
hon. He had seen everybody ard every
thing. He had been completely captivated
by civilization. And here was the
result. Every article of his Indian
wardrobe had been discarded. He
wore a suit Of blue broadcloih. On his
shoulders were epaulettes. His coat and
trousers were trimmed With gold lace in
profusion. Moccasins had given place to
hlgh-heeled boots. His hat was a tall
beaver, and above it nodded long red
plume. The hat band was of silver lace. A
broad blue ribbon around the neck sup
ported a big silver medal. White kid
pleted the unfortunate Indians outfit.
Wl-jun-jon had learned to smoke cigars
and to whistle Yankee DOODLE Civiliza-
ton had loosened his tongue He was
proud of his clothes, and of his accom-
plishments. He never tired of talking of
what he had seen in Washington.
1t was great day among the Assina-
BONES when their travelled Indian returned.
But the second day after his return the dis
manthng began. The flowing skirts of his
broadclorh coat went first. With their
gold lace trimming they made a pair of
gaudy leggings for Mrs. Wi-jun-j jon. The
rest of the coat the returned caief bestowed
upon his brother The band of silver lace
disappeared from the hat and made its
appearance around a squaw's leg. The
third day found the chief in moccasins and
buck skin Logging, above which fine linen
shirt, with stud and sleeve buttons, was dis
played. In week Wi-jun-ioa had ex-
hausted the stock of fire-water brought all
the way from Washington, and had
given away everything he had
brought with him except the blue
umbrella. To that he chung. AS he sobered
up ne began to tell in details what he had
seen. He described in his way the patent
office and the models of machinery. He
pictured the ascent of a balloon, a review
of troops, the battle ship, the big guns. the
steamboats,, the stages. Every day he had
fresh story. At first the Asslnaboiles
listened in great wonderment. Then they
began to doubt. Before long Wi-jun-ion
was openly denounced as a liar. But he
talked on. The other Indians called him
Lying medicine" But skepticism had no
effect upon the chief. He continued to
talk. Fear took the place of con-
temp. One of the tribe con-
cluded that it would be a public
spirited act to stop the tongue of Wi-iuu-
Jon. In his Indian simplicity he argued
that an ordinary bullet would have no
effect upon such a romancer. He studied
over various plans for getting rid of the
alker. AT length the suggestion came to
him IN dream. He hung around the fur
company's store at the mouth of the Vel
lowstone until he found an opportunity to
steal the handle of an iron pot. This he
took into the woods and battered until it
was straight and round and would go into
the barrel Of a gun. When he was ready
he charged his gun with this fearful missile
and walked into camp He found Wi
jun jon telling one of his marvellous tales.
slipped up behind, put the muzzle of the
gun almost TO the takers head and blew
10 H,c,