Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-07-15
THE CATHOLIC INDIANS
SCENES ANb INCIDENTS AT.
THE BIG MEETING.
some Of the Scenes OF the Bsg Catholic
Indian iow-wow mt Cheyenne Agency
We're Very Impress We Bishop Marty
Might Well BE Proud of His Work.
Zig Meeting at cheyenne Agency.

=
VERY impressive were many OF the
scenes Of the big Catholic Indian pow
WOW just closed at Cheyenne Agency.
The high mass service was 4 sight
never to be forgotten. a thousand
men and a thousand women, arrayed in
their most beautiful regalia the men
with long scarlet cockades in their
som breros, waving with the precision
of soldiers in march and countermarch,
the solemn chant Of the priests and the
attendance of SEQ candidates for con-
firmation, was gorgeously impressive.
Then an interesting sight was 1t
when over 2 900 warriors, who but
eighteen months ago were covered with
war paint and thirsting for blood, sat
around the big wigwam and listened to
talks by their head men abont tho BEN
etits of religion. Battle-scarred chiefs
who had fought against the whites on
many field. and some of whom
counted their scalps almost by The
dozen. arose to testify to the peace and
comfort to be found in leading Chris
tian lives. Well might Bishop Marty
count his iife's work worthy of com
mendation when he can see here 5000
converts who have been added To his
years among them.
In the cele alton proper Chief
Charger was President of the day, and
presided with dignity. Rev. Mr.. Ash
ley Interpreted for the whites, several
hundred of whom were present. .!oen
Grass was chief orator, and he delivered
an excellent Grafton. lie was followed
by Swift Bird, the Sioux humorist, and
-Four Bear. Zach talked of the bene-
fits of religion and civilization. Charger
then called for Special Agent Thorn y
son, who respondei in a rather tedious
speech, ut the conclusion OF which he
referred to the high death rate among
the Sioux and attributed 1t to the prac-
tice of eating the fifth quarter, the en-
trails of the beeves
Old Charger replied with spirit and
denied that this was the cause, but
| asserted that those who died were stu
dents of the government schools. In
dians were a good deal dspleascd at the
special agents speech. but Little No
Heart set things right by making an
appeal for religion and education.
At both camps there was q continue
ton of cheap big talk" which was only
Interrupted from sunrise until nearly
midnight by the necessity for feasting.
It was grand commingling of religious
and patriotic sentiments; all the head
men and young men of education Wed
with each other in profession Of rcver-
ence to the Great Father above and
honor and obedience To the great father
at Washington. Bishop Marty dis
| creetly arranged early mass. and the
| incident devotions so as to prevent the
scalp dance and all day At both camps
| just when the young bucks were pre-
| pairing for some boisterons sport, the
head men came forward with new
scheme for talk, which defeated the
| fun.
The Catholic Educational Conference
| was addressed by Judge Swan and d
| large number of educated young mef
| and warriors, who testified to the eiti
| cheney and Importance OF the school!
and urged all to attend. This resulted
! in hundreds of applications being made
| to Superintendent Mccormick for ad
| mission to the government school.
A feature of the celebration was ;
number of patriotic songs in English b!
| the Indian school girls.
The time had now come for the shan
| battle in war paint and blankets, bu'
the young warriors we're compelled t.
content themselves with pony races
| Several hundred ponies entered and th'
| fun was furious.