, 1890-01-30
YDANCE
How the Half-Breeds S
Enjoy Themselves.
MUSIC BY HUDSON BAY
Not Much for Elegance, but
Great on Noise.
CONFESSIONS OF A REPORTER.
How Cowboy Lnriated a Part
ner--The Dresses Of the
Ladies. Etc.
CONFESSIONS OF A REPORTER.
Written for the RKyrrw.
nx a. NJ Kl-aan

Wcst, anu nNl hcti OcSWfn iiIc III
nearly all .ts many phases, but there
was one thing that never had the
good fortune 10 enjoy, that was u
genuine half-breed dancc.
I tise the term "half-bIced" 40 as
not to he confused with war, scalp
or other Indian dances, and for the
reason that a dance Of the kind of
which write mtlch resembles and
b patterned after those ofthe whites.
Full-blooded ssawashcs may attend
these social gatherings ON the outer
verge Of civilization, and take part
In the pleasure there 10 be found,
utIneverthclcss theIndians Of mixed
blood are generally In the majority,
and always tho promoters and
managers of the affair.
The desire to attend dance of
this description had been great for
.some time longed TO take u all
In, writc IL up and let the readers of
q witlely-circulated journal know
just how IL was.
Last summer Tom Savage and
myself were camped at Okanogan
Smiths ranch, on tho north shore
Of that beautiful body of water
known as Ossooyos lake. We had
been travelling ON horseback for sew
eral days, having ridden up Kettle
river from tho Columbia, then
crossed the intervening mountain
range, and on n certain day In the
latter part of July, when the mer-
curry Registered no In the shade, We
had arrived at this cool, pleasant
place and decided we would take a
much-necded rest.
During the evening Of the day Of
our arrival, MIR. Smiths herder,
who managed TO keep posted on the
doings OF other people for many
miles around, informed us that there
would be one of the dances that /
lonped to attend Mt Ingram's ranch
OH Kettle river the following night.
To say that Mr.. Savage and /
had Il mind 10 90 would be drawing
II mild, we determined at once to
take IN the sport II st should be the
last act OF our pure and happy lives.
We questioned the herder, and as
cefialncd all the facts about the in
tended jolliIication that wits possi-
BILE, Our desire To he present on the
occasion of somuch mirth becoming
stronger as the talkative COW punch-
er detailed 90 us the fun we would
likely enjoy.
ON THE ROAD.
Bright and carly The next morn
ing We were in our saddles, speed
ing along over the undulating coun-
try, but gradually climbing the di-
vide separating the Okanogau and
Kettle river valleys. We were ON
the great Colvillc Indian rescrva-
ton, and were intent on sizing up
the vast area of land going to waste
on account OF their being only one
Siwasb to ten square miles.
II was beautiful day, although
very warm, until we gained the sum
init and secured tho benefit Of the
cool breezes that continually blow
up or down the many gulches. In
the early afternoon we started down
the northern slope, following Il
stream called Teriota creek.
About 4 o'clock we met Mr.. ~
gram and his klutch, he having
one of the natives for wife. Mr..
Ingram Informed us that no
dance would take place at his house
that night, or at least he was not
aware that my such affair would be
given until his new house, which he
was building, would be completed.
Sadly disappointed we proceeded on
our Journey.
In another hour we reached Ket-
tic river, and then rode eight miles
UP that stream To Ebaults ranch,
lust across the line In British Column
bia. This was the place ut which
wo had intended procuring fresh
horses to carry us To Ingram's five
miles further up the river.
1t was not long after disposlng OF
our hearty evening meal and look
ing after our tired and jaded horses
until Mr.. Savage and retired to the
double bed we were 10 occupy. My
disappointment was great. had
calculated so much on the idea oi
taking part In what I considered
one OF tho most interesting features
Of frontier life and during the hot,
long ride OF the day i had been
planning how ! would write q
description of the occasion and
publish II, 30 those within the Dor,
ders of civilization co1id form some
idea Of social pleasures In the fai
West. So heavily did the dlsap-
pojntmcnt weigh ON my mind that
J feared could not sleep.
A SURPRIsE.
But Joy ofjoys. a messenger ar
rives at the ranch and brings the
welcome tidings that the dance, a
surprise party, would go on. Every
,scdy was invited, good time WAS
expected and IL we wanted to enjoy
the fun all we had TO do was TO sad
die our horses, mount and go.
1t scarcely appeared an instant
until we were ON our way, bounding
over the pnir!e-like river bottom
toward the scene Of the festivities.
had ridden fifty miles thi day to
eee what was to he scen and Was de-
ternlined To take II all In.
In due time we arrived at the In
Gram ranch, disnounted uni after
promieing Savage to say nothing
10 his wife about his interest In the
affair, we were tlshered into the
rooSn where the company were AS
semblcd.
II appears at this time almost i'm
poAih1e 20 describe the scene that
met our eycs- A low room about
awenty feet square, around the
ssiecs or which were rough