The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-23
HORRIBLE EXHIBITION.
The sun Dance of the Quaekahl In
dams at the Worlds Fair.
From the New York Herald


Chicago, H., Aug. 1S.-The Quacl5ahl
Indians in the Cavern of the Cliff Dwellers
had sun dance last night with all the
Accomplishments Of self-torture. About
once month, when the moon is in the
right sign, the tendency toward canni-
balism-once actively cultivated among
the Quackahl ln6ians-begins to mani
fest itself So last night, when the bare
arm of Interpreter George Hunt presented
itself conveniently, Two Bites, the chief,
sank his teeth therein and chewed with
all the avidity of a hungry man devour-
ing a piece of steak. Ten thousand
worlds fair visitors watched with fasci-
mated gaze the display of cannibalism
from the shore of South pond,
There were other strange and even more
barbarous sights seen on the big float,
which was anchored near the east shore
of the pond. Before Chief Two Bites got
his piece of human flesh hehad danced all
over the platform with a rope passed
through the flesh of his naked back.
George Hunt held the other end of the
rope. Joe Strong Back was similarly har-
messed and driven. The two Indians gave
a very good imitation Of a couple of boys
playing horse
IT WAS A SUN DANCE.
But the Quackahls were not "playing
horse" They were performing the sun
dance, a religious rite which is rarely
witnessed in the civilized world and
which certainly has never been given be-
fore such an audience as that which saw
it last night. The Quackahls did not get
half chance at the international ball in
Midway Plaisance Wednesday, but they
achieved lasting fame last night.
After going through their usual warm
ing up exercises Chief Two Bites and Joe
Strong Back retired TO one corner of the
platform and pulled off their shirts. Half
dozen of the tribe crowded around them,
while the others chanted monotonous
strain to the duh music ola drum. George
Hunt produced keen knife and two
pieces of rope. He cut four deep gashes
in the back of each Indian between the
shoulder blades Then raising the flesh
he passed the ends of the rope beneath
the skin and tied them.
Two Bites and Strongback stood like
statues while they were undergoing the
ordeal. The songs suddenly changed to a
wild and vehement cry, and the two
Indians plunged forward to the center Of
the platform Juggling with. all their
strength on the ropes. With shrill cries
and grotesque gestures they dashed back
! and forth the red blood trickling down
| their backs and glisteuing in the glare of
| the lights which blazed over the scene.
| Inc crowd was silent, with an aStOnlSh-
ment bordering on horror, as the specta-
tors began to realize what they were wit
Messing Few knew that the sun dance
was being performed for them. They on
! ly lzaew that they had never seen the like
before. A pause came in the dance and
then a tableau was given, in which Two
Bites and Strongback threw all their
weight on the ropes and tore them out of
their fieshy fastenings
TORE OUT A PIECE OF HUNTS ARM.
Then Two Bites face took on a new ex-
preston. His eyes snapped and glittered
like wild animals, and, crouching in
| the center of the platform, he uttered
! hoarse, inarticulate cries. Two Indians
sprang upon him and seized him by the
| shoulders. He snapped and snarled at
them like mad dog until George Hunt,
the interpreter, walked out and extended
| his bare arm. With a howl Two Bites
| seized the arm with his teeth, sinking
them deep into the flesh. Thus he was
led across the platform until he relin
| pushed his hold and squatted upon the
! boards. He had chewed piece as big as
a ffty-cent piece out of George Hunts
arm, but the nervy Interpreter only
smiled as he looked at the marks of Two