The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-11
BET ALL THEY HAVE.
krce Indian Tribes Playing
aSing-Gamble."
ssLp AND WEIRD CEREMONIES.


h&EtVB-A AoDk 91m4s
Tor the rast week over 800 Indians Of
- Black river, Cedar river and Pay.
ellup tribes have been holding an inn
L -erse .sing-gamble near Reufon.
& - first event of it, kind in this
3 eeunfy for thirty years or more. In eariy
& fsys, before the advent Of the paieface
rodifed the savage traits Of the dusky
waves. ''sing-gambie" was an snnuas
y eprursence. and was always the most inn
xogtsnf ~ well as the most exciting event
suone the Indians Of Puget sound. The
& sssivsi Of the ancient cuDom at Renton
wosed . bowling success. literally ass
/ selI - hgurativeiy, and the somber tone
z the tom-tom AMI blood-curdling chant
z the painted. feather-bedecked bucks
asde night hideous for . radius Of two
n1es.
The Black and Cedar river tribes, always
juveterate gamblers, were combined, and
fkey tried their fortunes against the Puy-
DIGS, but a. 9 O'Clock last evening. after
10 hours Of unccasing buiiabaioo and
/ york. the gamblers. suffering from sore
syss. weary from loss Of sleep and weak
from fasting, called the game draw and
broke camp. The stakes played for an
siuded forty horses. wagons, bugR1es. sad
11es, blankets, jexeiry. rifles, bed quits,
sbswis. clothing and $50 in cash, the
shole representing total OF $500 worth
dpropcrty. The Cedar and Black river
Isdisns co5id Ill afford 10 lose, for
Wuy.hing they possessed. including the
Winters food and the clothes they wore,
I'D been put up. and in case Il happened
sbst their god of fortune deserted them
ihsy would have been Obliged to appeal to
ne white residents of BENTON for the
pscessaries of life. The Puyallups ere a
nore numerous and u wealthier tribe, and
tsys THE additional distinction Of resi-
ipnce on reservation, but Notwithstanding
6ese advantages they did not propose 10
tarow the game In favor OF their poorer,
ips not less plucky brethren. The game
Us for blood. and no ''sing-Ramble" OF
! ~ old day was ever more stubbornly con-
nslsd.
The present generation OF braves. though
hniiiar with games played by cards intro
laced by the mercennry white man, were as
iporant Of the mysterious principles of
! As ''sing-gamble" of their ancestors a.
ihe animated paleface. They stood
round in open-eyed wonderment, not less
snszsd than the Gillette fastener who
boxed and listened while the cold chills
shassd each other up and down his spine.
zone but the oldest Indians took part In
Ne game, for only the patriarchs of the
tribes knew anything about IL, but the
Guaws and young bucks were permitted to
snist In the preparations. and, when the
pme commenced. joined the choir and aid
! Il in the music" Music 10 not the word,
bot the English language does not provide
~ expression suitable TO the occasion. 1t
vas not dscord by any means. and 1t Was
omeihing more than weird. II was .
! shyshmic noise that only q savage can in
rent and articulate-a noise that fills one
With fear and awe. steals away ones
Z mnses and causes visions Of carnage and
nsers Of blood. secthing with floating
sealps, 10 arise and find shape in the lazy
smoke drifting hithcr and thither In the
Nagnant air Of the immense tepee.
The "sing-gamble." ~ played Is far
back as 1000 years, perhaps. Is unique as
veil ~ ingenious. First great preparations
/ ere made, as at the game at Renton. For
several weeks the squaws go about tho
country stripping the bark Oft dead cedar
trees. while the old braves likewise 20
seont hunting for cedar sapiings with
numerous knots. The squaws carry the
bark INTO camp and strip off tho brown.
ssringy substance covering the inside.
When half ton or so is stripped oil 1t is
then pulled and rubbed between the hands
Until II Is softer and finer than excelsior.
In the meantime the bucks are not idle.
Alter q collection of knots has been made
HEY are sawed off in bits about one-six-
tsenih OF an inch thick and about twice as
large es silver dollar, nicely rounded
md then highly polished by being rubbed
sgsinst the rough surface of an Unframed
deeskin. When 100 or 500 chips are made
attention Is turued to making the eoun-
|. srs. or sticks, with which TO register the
score. These are also of cedar about four
iaehes long, half an inch wide and half
roanded. so that placed IN n row they
lpos like n section of a wash board.
asiy-sIx sticks are made, that
Nlng the number of points the
Winning tribe will have to score before
ssietory can be declared. The last but
ass least to be provided 10 an Indian
neyen grass mat FIVE feet wide by ten feet
hns. These preparations made and TOM
bns ready. sll the horses. rides. money.
se. belonging 10 the individual members
eiihe tribe are pooled and placed at the
asposai of the chief, or ifthere is no chief,
hs toe case with the Black River In
e'ans. then Ia the hands of the principal
have.
Fully month ago the Black river and
Naaf river tribes began making prepars-
eons 10 revive the ancient 'sing-gambte"
wa view 10 playing some tribe which
seasd accept their challenge. On sun
say, January -. the chief of the Cedar
a'ss tribe, who has an unpronouneosble
hslan name, but IS known 10 the whites
ts'lei William, called on Frank ].
assan, agent for the Columbia & Puget
Naad railroad at Renton, and COM
Asa'eated his tribes wishes. Mr..
hasan. acting under instructions OF the
~ chef, wrote a letter TO Seatcum, the
aaess man of the Puyallups. challenging
sfn 10 gamble for money. marbles or
Nax' Agent Eells. of the Puyallup reser-
A@a, received the letter and made
's0sa iis contents TO the old Indian. In
days couriers arrived at Rentoo from
Saiup announcing that the challenge
been accepted aud the spirit of old
ts revived. Two hundred puyallups.
aa'ng women and children. gathered
ssaet all their goods and arrived