Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-11
LIFE WIZ THE INDIANS.
Captain Cussons Tells Of Ills Experience
in tho Ked.Nien's Camp.

The lecture-room of the Grace-Strcct
PRESBYTERIAN church was filled last night
10 its utmost capacity 10y m audience
composed of Young and cd to hear, what
CAPTAIN Cus-Ons had to say upon NV
Lite Among the Indians and Tor an hour
and q half no word that fell from the lee
turcr's lips seemed 20 he uuappreciated.
The discourse was "a happy admlNture
Of thrilling adventure. of histCr cal
narrative, and OF an explanation
Of Indian nature. Captain Cus-ons began
his remarks by giving q general idea OF the
red man IN his state Of nature. desiring
nothing so much as simply to be let alone.
he next told hls hearers how II had nap
pencd that be became acquainted with
The Indians. and that IN the year lsj5 he
had voluntarily gone into q tribe ~ The
Takotlhs TO live and spent four years
with them, greatly enjoying the free lie
with them on the plains and being always
treated with the greatest kindness.
NIGHT ~ An INDIAN CAIT.
The speaker then went on 10 say that he
was ON across the Great Desert. As II
was truthfullv called. with a Captain Daw-
son and q w%agon-train along the great
Overland route 70 California. that he was
hunting buffalo at some distance from his
companions and suddenly saw close al
hand d group of Indian tents he was
a4OIlt ana no. a illllt pei lltAfu At bb Z
alton, fearing to retreat or to advance,
but finally determined on the latter course
and rode boldly into the camp,
dismouuted, turned his horse loose,
and walked into the best tent he
saw and sat on the ground. 40
hostility was then prevailing between the
| whites and Indians. but the intruder Was
very uncertain that his reception would
be bospitsblc. Sitting within this tent
was an Indian youth who was one day 70
become known the world over "a Sitting
Bull. The other occupants were a young
man. who afterwards became Il warm
friend of the adventurous Nlrglnlan, a IT.
tie Girl who ran and hid under the buffalo
blankets" and an old woman who gave
INN a chunk of dried meat to eat. Not
without many %misgivings a. 70 his safety
did the young stranger fall 10 sleep that
night in the Indian tent TO awake the next
morning much refreshed.
The speaker continued by telling his
hearers that the next morning he declined
to ride back to Captain Dawson, having
fully made up his mind 10 spend some
while with his new acqualntances, who'
while not OVerburdensOme with Their hos
pitalitv. were yet kind. and remained 20
during his entire STAY with them.
coURTsHIP AND MARRIAGE.
CAPTAIN CussOns went on to give some
account Of the Indian language. which It
took him abou, five months t. acquire. and
which was Of great service to him, espe-
! clallv since the Indians began after that
TO treat MIN more cordially. The Captain
described IN eloquent words the simple
romance of an Indian courtship and mar
riace. the VOWS of which were faithfully
kept till death. To many persons
doubtless that part of the lecture
was most entertaining, which yindicated
the Indians from the aspersions heaped
upon them. aud the simple virtues Of a
| decaying race were windy painted. In
speaking OF "treachery the lecturer
gave a graphic account OF the battle IA
which General Custer lost his life. The
lecture was closed by an euloSium of SIT,
ting Bull. the valiant leader and skilIul
tacticlan. who at last fell by the treachcry
of the whites. 1t is seldom that so pleas
| ing and instructive a lecture Is heard.