The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-06
STANLEY's CURIOSITY.
lHis investigation OF q Mummined
Indian.
Ian Incident Of the Great Explorers So.
journ In tho Sioux County q Quar-
So, ter OF "a Contury AGo-Burial
~ Customs OF 1nns Tribe.

YIN
~ In o recent interview the incident Of
Henry M. Stanley's part in disrobing
the mummifled body of an Indian maiden
in 1867, while with the Indian Peace
Commissioners, was given so briefly and
hurriedly, says writer in the ST. Louis
iPost-Dispatch. as to put the matter, per-
haps. in Instantaneous light. Civ
ing tho facts as they occurred, as fully
as memory serves after lapse Of near u
quarter of century, will set the matter
right, besides afford an opportunity Of
relating one or two other personal Incl
dents connected with tho Indian method
OF burying their dead. 1t is well known
that the various bands OF tho Sioux tribe
followed The custom of disposing of tia cir
dead by placing them on scaifolds and i'll
tho branches OF trees, when available, to
prevent them from boing dcvourcd by
dogs and tho coyotes or prairie wolves,
tho hycnas CT the western plains.
Tho first VIC saw OF this method of
burial was at Fort Laramie, whore in
tho soldiers cemetery in tho rear Of tho
town and overlooking the barracks, woro
three collins, each covered with pail of
bright crimson cloth, elevated on tho
top OF four stout cedar posts some
twelve fcct in height.
Ono of tho collins contained tho body
OF "Pink," an Indian woman, well
known fer her attachment to tho whites.
! In another were the remains Of young
child, tho daughter OF an Ogallalah
,squaw and wealthy post trader, and
the center ono contained the body of
Mon-i-ka, tho daughter of tho
famous chief, Spotted Tail, tho
romantic history of whose lifo and
death were cloquently described by
the correspondents. Ter dying wish
was to be buried among tho whites, near
the fort. In compliance with her re-
quest, hor father, with three hundred
warriors, ca,no down in tho month OF
February. 1906, after journey Of fifteen
! days, and the commanding officer or
tdcrcd that the girl should DO buried in
aho soldiers cemetery. Tho scairoId
was erected and the dead nlaidon's two
ponies wore slaughtered and nailed to
tho posts. the heads and tails of which
were still dangling there when VIC Wis
lied tho cemetery.
Near sunset = procession OF thrco hum
1rcd Indians and all the officers and
soldiers OF tho post marched with tho
solemn music OF tho military band to tho
place Of scpulturc. Tho services were
performed 10y Ecv. 4. Wright, Chaplain
OF tho post. Chaplain Wright kindly
furnished Stanley and the wrter with !.
comfortable room, and ono day ho pilotcd
us two or three miles above tho fort To
Deer creek. an afIlucnt Of tho Laramie
river. whcro, in "a large grove of cotton
woods lie pointed out some ten or
twelve skeletons OF Ind ians, grated, as
1T were, on the trees. Tho bodies wcro
wrapped iii blankets and buffalo robes
Snd deposited in y sort of trough mado
of poles, the ends of which wcro
fastened to limbs at n height OF about
twelve foct from tho ground Mr..
Wright pointed out tho wrappings OF
chiefs daughter that had been roposinc
Tor many years undisLurbcd in largo
cottonwood troe, and we began our
archaeological explorations. Tho Chap
lain returned to tho fort after rorlind-
ing us that our scalps would not be safe
should stray Indian happen along, az
they held .tas tho highest dissertation to
disturb thoir dead.
Tho Indian maiden was found wrapped
in bundle OF ccromcnts composed of
tho skin of an antelope. plaid shawl,
several patterns of colorcd calico prints,
and over all was bound n buffalo robe,
tied with thongs OF bulls hide. Tho
face was not unpleasant, though tho
skin and flesh was shrunl1cn to tho bono,
|EprcscntiEg the appearance OF all Egyp-
tian mummy, tho dry climate producing
an cmbalming effect. The wrappings
! were restored TO the condition in which
they wcro found, and Stanley brought
away & ring from orc Of tho toos, and
myself nicelyworlsed figure with por-
cupino quilts on tho buffalo robo, which
soon after was cast sway in disgust So
that. our curiosity being appeascd, it
did not amount to ~ case Of body-snatch-
ing.