The state herald., 1891-08-07
DEATH OF THE CHIEF.
Strange Proceedings Among tho Idaho
Indians BewallinK Their Leader.

Indians BewallinK Their Leader.
The western Indians have a strange
and peculiar way Of announcing and
bewailing the death OF chief. Years
ago, while was on government duty
among an Indian tribe on the head
waters of the Shoshone River, says a
writer in tho Detroit Free Press, I was
in one of the villages just at the west
ern base OF the Rocky Mountains In
Idaho when the chieftain died. He
was an old man and mis- death was not
an unexpected event Day after day.
for long while the death watchers
had been at his tent as the old warrior
was lingering on the verge OF the spir-
it land.
A deep-chested brave kept vigil just
without the door OF the elk skin wig
wan. He was there awaiting the
signal to announce to the people Of the
tribe the fatal moment when the spir-
it of the father had at last gone across
tho border into the happy hunting
grounds beyond
When the last sigh was over and tho
wan old warrior was In the still cold
peace of death, the signal was given;
aud the brave at once opened his i'm
mense lips and gave loud and long
uttcrance OF lamontation and distress,
such us had mover before heard from
mortal throat-the fearful wall ac-
tuaily making me shuddcr In awe.
The cry was II combination OF wild
and dcmoniac sounds never heard In
civilization. There was a mingling
OF wall and yell and roar such as can
come only from the lungs OF wild atea
savage races II Is impossible u
symbolic the notes In English letters;
their representation In visible char
actcrs would embrace number OF
low and fierce 'hoohs" and .wahsn
and "hahs" "oeghs" and ..heehs. on
n doleful scale-all with deep, agon-
izing cultural that absolutely deies
literal expression or reproduction in
type. II was like tho fierce and
ghoulish laugh of the hycna, combined
with the wild howl of hungry wolves
In the scent Of blood Ga howl that
once heard, In truth. when surrounded
" iholt liliu u o'bIt vi tft
when in II night camp on tho edge OF
a desert IN Eastern Oregon
As soon AS the distrcssful announce
mont had proceeded from the signal
man at the wigwam door. IL was
caught up and repeated by another
Indian who had in the meantime
rushed out from the tent nearest by.
He delivered himself of the same be-
wildering cries Then another, and
anothcr-still beyond-as the savages
emerged from their fonts or arose
languidly from the ground In front
each joining In the dirge of lamenta-
tion. Then others, and others, yet
farther away caught and repeated the
sounds. The wall, borne on the wings
of the air--on, and on,-like the
clarion notes Of the cock going West
wardly announcing the Easter day
brcnk-tho savugos are uttcring In
dolcful discord the same dismal cry
II going Eastward. Westward. North
ward, Southward-until the very last
ear in tho whole reservation had heard
the signal announcing tho end OF tho
fallen father,
For nearly an hour tho fearful moan
and bowailmont thus pierced the
hcavcns-the dolcful dirge coming
from every hill around and across the
broad stretch Of sago plain below.
Then came another strange proceed
Ing. The kindred OF the dead first
began to assemble. The squalid old
squaws with face OF filth and ngony
and dejection-thcsc came in squads
in single tilcs-all on their ponies. and
with their little childrcn-biack.i fierce
unkompt, half In taticrs, tho wrctchcd-
looking brats piled up IN front behind
swinging at the sidcs-as many as six
or eight 10 n single pony. Dragging
behind came the laden tepco poles fas.
tened in front to the straining qundru-
pods, tho shaggy little animals actual
ly seeming TO have iinbibcd the spirit
of sorrow. us thoy trudged. with droop-
Ing head and ear, along through sand
and sage brush--overy step apparently
timed TO tho dismal walls OF the hun
dreds OF throats In the hideous distress
OF tho long and grotesG ,e funeral pro-
cossions-which continued for hours
and hours during the day.