Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-05
The Indian War-Dance at
the Pavilion.
A Large Crowd at the Fire
Works Display.
A Number of Small Fires During
the Day.
Events in Police Circles-Opposition at
the Primaries Today-Other
Notes of Interest.

hoNOiUihS W pIOSTdHlLuo CIlo L uuld
Indians who took part in the procession
yesterday gave war-dance at the pavil-
ion in the evening. After the fireworks
were over a large number of people
went to witness this unique entertain
ment. An admission fee of 10 cents
was charged, and it was understood that
the money was to 60 to the Indians.
There were about 1,50O people present,
filling the body of the house and the
gallery
AS success The Indian war-dance was
perhaps not worth even the small price
charged for admission, but as a failure
it was highly entertaining. The entire
crowd of sixty-fve Indians was present,
as 1t was supposed to take part in the
affair, but all of them except eleven
squatted on the rear of the stage and re-
fused to interest themselves in the pro-
ceedings. OF the eleven five of them
were squaws and six of them braves, The
squaws wore red dresses and black JERSEYS.
The braves wore breech-clouts and
plenty of paint. One of them who was
more afflicted with modesty than the
others wore pair of highly-colored
drawers.
When the audience was seated and it
was time to begin the five women formed
in row and began to slowly back upon
the stage from the flies. Facing them
were five braves, all provided with rattles
made of yeast powder cans impaled on a
stick with a few pebbles inside. These
they shook with regular motions, keep
ing time with one foot and at the same
time sang droning song.
The squaws continued to back across
,he stage faced a few feet away by the
men, and when they had reached the
center the two ranks circled round
apout each other several times. One of
the men carried bow and arrow in
stead of rattle, and at intervals he de-
livered himself Of half-hearted veil.
The dance consisted in lifting one
foot and stamping it down, evidently
not q difficult step to acquire. After
the performance had been carried on
with dle solemnity for few moments
the dancers seemed to be suddenly af-
hicted With bashfulness, al breaking
out into litter they rushed off into
the flies.
Then Mayor Hazard, who had been
viewing the performance from one side
of the stage, said to the chief of the
tribe who was seated near "that is a
very good beginning now have them
give us something else
About five minutes passed when the
same Indians came again upon the stage
and went through identically the same
perforr .ance. At this the audience
laughed and applauded. After another
short interval out they came again and
the dance was the same as before, ex-
cept that it lasted little longer. The
the bad boys in the gallery began. to
hoot.
"This won't do" said the mayor.
THAT dance is no good any more. They
must give another. Here, you," he said.
addressing the first-assistant-chief, who
understood some English, "have them
do livelier dance or fight and scalp
or something"
To illustrate scalping, the mayor
clutched handful of his own hair and
held it up. The Indian nodded and de-
clared that he understood. He went
back to the other performers, and there
was much talking and long time of
preparation. At last they were ready
and came on the stage, each having his
hair tied up in a knot-as they supposed
was wished-and then proceeded to 90
through the same old dance.
Having failed on English the mayor
tried Spanish. He addressed the chief
after style which may be translated as
follows: "That makes altogether too
many times on that one dance. Now
give us another See? Make them all
get up and take part. Have them run
around the stage and yell and whoop it
up. Don't keep the audience waiting
any longer but get right down to bust
ness"
The chief seemed to understand.
There was another long conference DUR
ing which the audience became very
restive and then the performers came
out again and executed the same dance.
Then the audience went out.