The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-13
HIGH BEAR-HoLx BLANKET.
Little Wounds Niece WEEDS the Sioux
Who Saved Her Life.

noon at Buffalo Bills Wild West en-
campment, in South Brooklyn, to Mato-
waungata, or High Bear, with ceremonies
half Indian and half Christian.
Ula Mato, or Rocky Bear, the chief
counselor of the camp, and Maza Balaska,
or Flat iron, were masters of ceremony
for the Indians, while the Rev DIR. John
+. Lloyd, of the Twelfth Street Dutch
Reformed church ofticiated at the Chris
tian services. 1t was a strange blending
of Paganism and oarbarity with civiliza-
ton.
The Indians were busy all the morning
making preparations for the ceremony.
The braves and squaws smeared their
faces with paints OF all colors Even the
children We're painted in colors appro-
pirate to the occasion. Little SEVENTH
looked gay with red and yellow streaks
and yellow suit.
About IL O'Clock Flat Iron, who is the
camp crier, began to chant weird Sioux
refrain, calling the tribe to make ready
for the wedding One by one the bucks
and squaws emerged from their tcpees,
wrapped in great blue flannel blankets,
and took positions in front of their queer
domiciles. They remained silent, reclin-
ing against the tepees. until Flat Iron
had concluded his chant. They then
formed in groups and stood around, APP
parently discussing the matter very
gravely.
Flat Iron face was painted a deep red,
so that he looked at distance like an an
CRY sunset. But it was wreathed in
smiles, as if the part he had to perform
gave him genuine pleasure. He Rugged
himself in a huge blue blanket. At a sig
nal from him the bucks and squaws and
the children marched in solemn process
sion to space in the rear of the uepees.
where they lined up on one side
High Bear then strobe out and took a
position some distance from them. His
face was painted red and yellow He
struck ap attitude, with arms crossed and
waited for his bride.
+ Holy Blanket was led from her tepee
by Rocky Bear, who escorted her to a
group of singers and tom-tom players in
the center of the assembled Indians.
Then, walking between Rocky Bear and
Flat iron, and followed by the tribe, she
advanced toward the bridegroom. At the
same time the singers began a weird
wedding chat and the tom-tom players
beat their tom-toms, When they reached
High Bear they stopped, and Holy Blan-
ket stepped up to him He received her
with apparent Indifference
Holy Blanket presented a strange APP
pearance for bride, Her face was Gov
cred with thick yellow paint, and she
wore bright red dress spotted with
white moons This was partly concealed
under a heavy blue blanket similar to
those about her.
Rocky Bear then advanced and an
nounced through George Shaughran,
that, in accordance with Indian custom
he would give each of the singers 81. He
said that If he was in the west he would
give them horses, but he had none with
him.
While Rocky Bear was speaking, DR.
Lloyd appeared and walked over to the
bridal couple. Col. Cody, who was pres
sent gave the bride away, and DR.. LLOYD
then, with uncovered head, read the
Episcopal marriage service. During the
part of the ceremony the bride stood with
her head bowed, and all the Indians kept
silent. DR.. Lloyd promo dnced the couple
man and wife and closed the service with
a benediction. He then retired.
Rocky Bear then turned to those assem-
bled and made speech.
IF you publish this marriage" he said
lit will show our people in the west that
we are following the example of the
white man, and that we are adopting his
religion. In future we will endeavor to
have all our marriages performed by
Christian ministers. We believe it will
put US high in the estima ton of the great
spirit. We have learned a great deal
since we left our homes in the west. and
we believe that if we follow Christian
customs we viii be able to have good
homes and many ponies"
The Christian ceremony over, the
Indians resumed their native rites. The
tom-tom players and the singers gath
cred in circle and the women sang
Sioux love song, keeping time with their
hands and feet. Then the bucks joined
in, and in moment they were dancing
10 { h1 ar txyuF
in circles, in and out, taking short steps
and hopping on one foot. Then they
would jump up and down and beat the
ground viclously with their heels The
children seemed particularly delighted
with this exercise. Ali the while the
tom-toms kept up their monotonous beat
ing.
The bridal couple did not participate in
this. They had retired to High Bears
tepee.
Suddenly tho dance ceased and the
bucks and squaws separated and disap-
peared within their respective tepees.
Ten minutes later there was nothing in
the camp to indicate that anything un-
usual had transpired.
Nate Salisbury. Col Cody's partner,
says a romantic story is connected with
the marriage of Holy Blanket and High
Bear. Holy Blanket left the Pine Ridge
GSSeENdJlOu WIFI SOlHe OJHeF lnQ1dnS on
May 3. 1t was her first experience with
railroads. At a way station the party
disem barked for dinner Holy Blanket
did not follow her companions. cut re-
NAMED standing on the track directly in
the path of an approaching train. She
would have been killed had not High
Bear sprung to her side and rescued her.
The spark Of love was kindled then and
there in both their bosoms, and when
High Bear popped the question little
more than a week ago Holy Blanket
blushed and answered yes.
They informed Col. Cody of their inten-
tions, and he communicated with the
interior department at Washington.
Indian Commissioner Browning consented
10 the marriage. 1t was then arranged
to have the ceremony performed by DR..
Lloyd. Rocky Bear telegraphed to Holy
Blankets relatives at Pine Ridge agency,
promising to give them twenty ponies il
they would agree to let the marriage be
performed with Christian rites. They
also consented.
Holy Blanket is a widow, about 80
years old. Her husband was killed at
Wounded Knee. High Bear is about 80
years old.