West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1891-05-21
sTANLEY's CURIOSITY.
Ills investigation Of q Mu-nnainod
Indian.
An Incident OF tho Great Explorers So
Joarn In tho Sioux Country n Quar-
tor of Century Ago-tluriaI
Customs ofThat Tr.bo.

In recent interview tho incident OF
Henry ny. Stanlcy's part in disrobinQ
the munmifod body Of an Indian maldon
In 1867, whilo with tho Indian Poaco
Commissioners. was given SO briefly and
hurricdly. says writor in tho st. Louis
Post-Dlspatcb. as TO put tho matter, per-
haps. In a advantageous light. Civ
Ing tho facts as thcy occurred, as fully
as memory serves after lapse OF near a
quarter OF n century. will set tho matter
right, besides afford an opportunity OF
relating ono or two other personal incl
dents connected with tho Indian method
of burying their dead. IL Is we'll known
that tho various bands OF tho Sioux tribe
followed the custom OF disposing OF their
dead byplacing them on scaffolds and In
tho branches Of trees, when available, 10
prevent them from boing devourcd by
dogs and tho coyotes or prairie wolves,
tho hyenas CT tho western plains.
Tho first wo saw OF this method of
burial was 1t Fort Laramie, whore I'm
tho soldiers cemetery in tho rear of tho
town and overlooking the barracks, were
three collins, each covered with pail of
bright crimson cloth, elevated on the
top OF four stout cedar posts somo
twelve feet In height.
Ono OF tho collins contained the body
OF pink an Indian woman, well
known for her attachments to the whites.
In another were tho remains of Young
child, the daughter OF an OgallalaL
squaw and wealthy post trader, and
the center one contained the body OF
Mon-f-lta, the daughter OF the
famous chief, Spotted Tail, tho
romantic history of whose life and
death were cloquently described by
tho correspondents. Hor dying wish
was to bo buried among the whites, near
tho fort. In compliance with her re-
quest, her father, with three hundred
warriors, came down In the month OF
February. 1866, after q journey of fifteen
days, and the commanding officer or
dercd that the girl should be buried in
tho soldiers cemetery. Tho scaffold
was erected and tho dead maidon's two
ponies werc slaughtered and nailed TO
the posts, the heads and tails OF which
wcrc still dangling there when we Wis.,
tied tho cemetery.
Near sunset u procession OF throo hun
drcd Indians and all tho officers and
soldiers OF tho post marched with the
solemn music OF tho military band TO the
place OF scpulturc. Tho services were
performed by Rev. a. Wright, Chaplain
OF tho post. Chaplain Wright kindly
Furnished Stanley and tho writer with
comfortable room, and one day no pilotcd
us two or three miles above the fort To
Deer creek, an aiilucnt of the Laramie
river, where, in n largo grove OF cotton
woods, no pointed out some ten o.
twelve skeletons OF Indians, grated. as
1t were, on the trees. Tho bodies were
wrapped in blankets and buffalo robes
and deposited Ia sort OF trough mado
OF poles, tho ends OF which were
fastened to limbs at height OF about
twelve feet from tho ground. Mr.
Wright pointed out the wrappings OF a
chiefs daughter that had boon reposing
for many years undistnrbcd in large
cottonwood tree, and We bogan our
archaeological explorations. Tho Chap
lain returned to the fort after romind-
ing us that our scalps would not be safe
should stray Indian happen along, as
thoy held 1t as the highest dissertation to
disturb thor dead.
The Indian maiden was found wrapped
in bundle OF ceroments composed OF
the skin OF an antelope, a plaid shawl.
several patterns of colored calico prints.
and over ell was bound buffalo robe,
tied with thongs of bulls hide. Tho
face was not unpleasant, though the
skin and flesh was shrunlscn to the bone,
presenting the appearance OF an Egyp-
tian mummy, tho dry climate producing
an embalming effect. Tho wrappings
wero restored to tho condition in which
they were found, and Stanley brought
away ring from ono OF tho toos, and
myself nicely-workcd figure with por-
oupino quilts on the buffalo robe, which
soon after was cast away in disgust. So
that, our curiosity being appeascd, It
lid not amount to case of body-snatch-
iu~