Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-07-14
AMONG THE RED MEN.
BRULE WARRIORS CELEBRATE THE
FOURTH LIKE WHITE MEN.

They March and Sing and Enjoy n Feast,
Then Wind Up with n sham Battle
and Dance-"America" in the Sioux
Tongue-weird Sights on the Plains.
For weeks the Indians had been prepar-
ing, not so much from any spirit of patriot
ism, but rather from n desire to again
demonstrate their power of mimicry, which
is always present in the Sioux. The great
day came with a clear sky and a warm
wind, which was just strong enough to
bend the red willows along the creeks.
Every Indian on the Lower Brulc reserva-
ton was at the agency and all were in the
best of spirits. The first event of the cole
bration was parade by all the Sioux.
The ponies were all sleek and fat from
their summers grazing and most of them
were declSed with eagle plumes and bright
ribbons. The Indians themselves were in
gay attire. The chiefs were arrayed in
their war bonnets and bone necklaces, and
the braves who followed them were
streakcd and daubed in the Sioux visiting
colors of red and yellow.
As the great body of horsemcn drew up
in line for their march past Agent Sisson
the spectacle recalled a war party about to
set out on campaign. There was the
tinkling of bells, the glitter of polished
metal, and the flashing of color in the line
was bewildcring. The squaws, robed in
Navajo blankets and skirts of yellow,
green and red calico, sat astridc their po-
nies behind the braves. There was a ira
vols or two in line, and scampering on all
sides of the grimy tepccs were hundreds Of
dogs, yeping and whining as Indian dogs
always do The column was one mile in
length
Z - l. -
uers, bawing from the tops OF knobs, an
nounccd that the time had come for the
line to move. Then, with a solemn mien
which was ludicrous to the whites who
were assembled at the agency, the chiefs
kicked their ponies below the saddle
blankets and began passing in review
The youngsters were more boistcrous,
singing as they came, and now and then
sending forth the peculiar cries of the
tribe. When the procession reached the
fiat near the agency the whole outfit be-
gan to sing America" in the Sioux
tongue.
There was not much melody in the rem
dition of the song, but the graduates of
| Hampton and Carlisle helped to carry the
air when the old bucks got to wandering
away to the shrill tribal chants. The
grand old anthem has been sung in many
] pIdttS anu UHG'F al SOTIS Oh CONDITION
but it is doubtful if it ever poured from
the lips Of American Indians before The
| squaws sang with the chiefs, the young
| men and the coffee coolers, and so irresist-
| ible was the enthusiasm that even Agent
| Sisson and the agency employees flung
their white bats into the air and began to
sing too.
The Indians sat down to a feast Of beet
| and bacon and crackers, which Agent Sis
son was good enough to issue. 1t took a
| long time for the hungry people to appeaSe
their appetites, but late in the afternoon
they arose and began making preparations
| to participate in the last event of the cee
bration. This was sham battle on the
plain before the agency, which proved tc
be a grand spectacle. Filled with good
things and n desire to close the day with a
roar and a bang, the Brules went into the
| battle with Il wild CaGcrncss. All the wal
paraphernalia of the band was taken from
the tcpces to give the spectacle realism
never seen outside campaign.
The warriors daubcd themselves with
mineral paint of their own mixture, strip
! ped themselves to the waist and, witt
hawk and eagle headdresscs tied to thci1
scalp locks, lcaped upon their ponies anc
started for the battle ground One body
of warriors was stationed in the center O
the fiat, The attacking force came fortl
singing and chanting their war and dcatl
songs. OF Il sudden they made dasl
upon the force which was to act on tn,
offensive and began circling about it a.
Indians always do in battle. The eNhibi
ton of horsemauship displayed by tn,
Brules was wonderful. Riding at break
neck speed they fought desperately witt
but one leg flung over the saddle blanke
and the rest of the body of the warro
hanging over the side OF his pony for pro
lection.
Many of them We're armed with maya
zine rifles filled with blank cartridges, anC
with these weapons and the battle cries o
the tribe the two forces made a deatenin!
din. Now and then "A Brule would fal
out of his saddle as if shot, and when tn
sport was over the grass was covered will
feathered warriors Stimulating death. l
was almost dark when the celebration
came to an end. At night the squaws ha,
dance around a bass drum which wa
sunk in the ground, and which was pound
ed by score of old, bareheaded hays
Agent Sisson says that there may be an
other celebration one year hence.-Chicag
Herald.