Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-13

fee of slave. or of any poor and for
lorn freeman who was willing to be i'm
molated for his own good, and ths graft
tlcstion Of the community. There il
no evidence that they ever went as far
as canuibalism, although on a pinch,
they are quito capable OF It, but
that the dag was celebrated in
pagan fashion was certain. II the VIC
tim was q slave, of course he had
nothing to say, or rather he was allowed
to say nothing, being laid on q square
heap of stones, and the life stabbed out
OF him, much after the fashion of the
Mexicans when CorteZ invaded that
country. The freeman who doomed
himself to death was. as a rule. either
too old or too crippled or sickly for use
futpess. and therefore weary of the
4fs might retract his resolution
ut the last, although it Is suspected that
the attendant spectators might be deaf
to the plea of change of mind. While
these cruel customs have been abolished,
as nearly as possible among
tribes within the range OF Ameri-
can control, there Is no doubt
whatever that they may survive among
tina natives at distance from, and be-
yond the dictation of the colonists.
Hence, in one part OF the world at least,
the celebration of Christmas has been
attended by barbarous human sacrifices,
and that owing TO the hasty zeal OF a SOL
der, who chose to combine missionary
with military functions.
Coming farther down, to the Indians
on the reservation, We find Christmas
celebrated by an extra allowance of ra-
tons. religious services, aud such Indian
amusements rs are compatible with the
associations of the day. There is,
however, one Indian who does not cele-
brate Christmas, and be has a consid-
cradle number of followers. That man
is Sitting Bull. The great chief OF the
Sioux, although virtually captive, ad-
here's TO the belief and custom of his an
cestors. He VIII have nothing of the
white mans ways or the white man g
religion. On Christina. Day he sits
gloomily in his tent, mediteting appar-
emily on the ds@eneracy OF his race, md
the periidy of his foes. Christmas Day,
1866, is memorable in Sitting Bull 8 his
tory. It was the day that he attacked and
nearly captured Fort Berthold on the
Missouri river. then only u trading post
and not occupied by troops. II 10 not
customary for Indians TO campaign in
winter, but Fort Bsrthold was full of
trading goods. and Sitting Bull, then q
young Sioux brave, but already at the
head OF 6 numerous following, shook OFF
the lethargy Of winter quarters, aud by
q quick march and sudden assault, at
tempted to surprise the fort. He drove
in the Rees and Mandaus, VINO were
camped near, and destroyed their lodges,
and then he inyeS,si tha stOnka de The
struggle lasted three days. The hardy
frontiersmen in the fort knew that the
fight was for life, and never relaxed their
vigilance, keeping up q fire on the enemy
from the wooden block houses. one at the
northwest, the other the southeast cor
ner OF the stockade. One Indian, holder
than the rest. yentured under the wall
of q block house, bearing firsbrand
TO fire the fort. he was shot, and one
of the half-bresds of the garrison passed
q moose down over his neck, drew the
body up and scalped the Indian in the
presence Of his fellows, who SGT
up fearful yell at the spects-
Gle. This WAS on Christmas day,
and that evening the ba:lled foe re-
tired. Such was a Christmas on the
frontier within twenty-five years, and
VINO knows what scenes this Christmas
may witness among the settlers and the
Indians of the Northwest, Sitting Bull