Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-04-22
THE SIOUX SUN-DANcE.
One or tho Most Curious Customs OF q
Warlike Indian Tribe.

Lieutenant Schwatka contributes to
the Century curious custom of the
Sioux. From this article we quote the
following: "When all had assembled
and the medicine-men had set tho date
for the beginning of the great dance
dedicated to the sun, the 'sun-pole' was
selected. A handsome young pine or fir,
forty or fifty feet high, with the straight
est and most uniformly tapering trunk
that could be found within reasonable
distance, was chosen. The selection is
always made by some old woman, gen.
orally the oldest ono in the camp. if
there is any way Of determining, who
leads a number of maidens gayly
dressed in the beautiful beaded buck
skin gowns they wear on state occa-
siops; the part of tho maidens is to strip
the tree of it's limbs as high as possible
without telling it. Woe to the girl who
claims to be maiden and joins the pro-
cessIon the old squaw forms, against
squaw may publicly proclaim. Her pun
ishment is swift and sure, and her deg
radiation more cruel than interesting.
Tho selection of the tree is the only
special feature of the first days celebra-
ton. After it has been stripped of it's
branches nearly to the top, the brush
wood and trees for considerable dis
lance about it are removed, and it is
loft standing for tho ceremony of the
second day.
Long before sunrise the eager par
Elephants in the next great step wero
preparing themselves for tho ordeal;
and quarter of an hour before the sun
rose above the broken hills of white
clay long line of naked young warri-
ors, in gorgeous war-palnt and feathers,
with rifles, bows and arrows, and war
lances in hand, faced the east and
the sun-pole, which was from five to
six hundred yards away. Ordinarily
this group of warriors numbers from
fifty to possibly two hundred men. An
interpreter near me estimated tho line 1
beheld as from a thousand to twelve
hundred strong. Not far away, on a
high hill overlooking tho barbaric
scene, was an old warrior, medicine
man of the tribe, L think, whose solemn
duty it was to announce by shout that
could be heard by every one Of the ex-
poctanG throng the exact moment when
the tip of the morning sun appeared
above the eastern hills. Perfect quiet
rested upon tho line of young warriors
and upon the great throng of savage
spectators that BACKED the green hills
overlooking the arena. Suddenly the
old warrior, who had been knceling on
one knee, with his extended palm shad-
ing his scraggy eyebrows, arose TO his
full height, and in slow, dignified
manner waved his blanketed arm above
his head. Tho few warriors who wero
still unmounted now jumped hurriedly
upon their ponies; the broken, wavering
line rapidly took on more regular ap-
pearancc; and then tho old man, who
had gathered himself for the great eff
fort, hurled forth yell that could be
heard to the uttermost limits Of tho
great throng. Tho morning sun had
sent it's commands to it's warriors on
earth TO charge.
1.-The shout from the hill was re-
echoed by the thousand men in the val
ley; it was caught up by the spectators
on the hills rs the long line of warriors
hurled themselves forward towards the
sun-polc, the objective point of every
armed and naked savage in the yelling
line. AS they converged towards it the
slower ponies dropped out and the
weaker ones were crushed to the rear.
Nearer and nearer they came, the long
line becoming massed until it was but q
surging crowd Of plunging horses and
yelling, gcsticulating riders. When tho
leading warriors had reached n point
within hundred yards Of the sun-pole
sharp report of rifles sounded along
tho limo, and moment later the rush
ing mass was a shoot of flame, and the
rattlo-shots was like tho rapid beat of a
drum resembling among the hills.
Every shot, every arrow and every lance
was directed at tho pole, and bark and
chips were flying from it's sidos like
shavings from the rotary bit Of plancr.
When every bullet had been DISCHARGED
and every arrow and lance had been
hurled tho riders crowded around the
pole md shouted as only excited savages
con shout.
That such vast, tumultuous throng