Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-17
INDIAN METHODS OF SIGNALING
Clarence E. Edwards Tells About 1t In
Philadelphia Times.

Smoke signaling is common with all
tribes of Indians. and IN every tribe
with Which | am acquainted there
are several men who have received
their names from their experiences in
the manipulation of the intangible sub
stance. Such names as Liktle Smoke
BAD smoke, Smoke-maker and Smoker
are common in all tribes, and in one
instance | knew of a Ute who was
called Great Smoke-maker. His fame
eXtended beyond his own tribe, which
is something rare for an Indian.
As rule, the mountain tribes arc
tile Irost sl>illfuI in the manipulation
Of their smoke signals but some of
the plains Indians have become ex-
ceeulng;. expert, this being especially
so with the COrGanches Among the
Sioux and CheyenneS smoke signaling
has reached a high degree of accuracy,
ana it has been found that there IS
never a movement of either the police
or the soldiers in that country that
is not transmitted All over the reserva-
ton unless the movement is made
with the greatest secrecy and at night.
Among the Crows and Arickarees the
use OF signals is nos so common, but
they have their regular signal msn,
who transmit messages and orders,
from the chiefs to subOrVffnates.
WhileSmolSe signals are in most gen.
eral use they are not the only means:
Of communication known to the In,
dams. Fire; OF course, is the only in,
strumens that can be used by night,
but the Indian uses dust, water, trees,
his own members and bis clothing, as.
well as his, horse. and himself, to let
his friends know those things that
are essential to their welfare. fire
signals are only used in times of war
or upon the return of a party that has
long been absent. In addition to
torches, Waich are swung about much
after the manner of the signaling done
in civilized armies, the Indians make
use of fire arrows, which are made by
fastening pitch. or some other inflam-
Unable substance to the arroW-heads.
The ordinary aTrow signals are to
warn the tribe of the approach of an
enemy or to announce that an attack
is to- be made. One arrow means that
an enemy is, near; a second arrow
denotes danger; the third that the
danger is great Should two be sent
up at once it, tells that an attack-is
to be made. If three go together, the
attack will be made soon, and when
four are Sh0 at once it is the signal
hat the attack will be made at once.
These arrows are always sent in the
direction in which the attack is to be
made.
What might be termed a twin
brother to a, fire signal is the use Of
mirrors. While the army of the border
has made much Use Of Telegraph sig
mails, the Indians have established a
code with flashes of light from a small
mirror held in the hand that is simply
marvellous in. it's completeness and
simplicity L saw a drill of more than
hundred mounted Comanches once
that would. have put to shame the
brilliant work Of a crack corps, and
every command was given by a chief
who stood fully quarter of a mile
from the warriors
BY simple. movement of the hand
and arm the Indians wheeled and di-
yided, going through evolution after
evolution in, a manner that was al
most incredible, and in a manner that
was most puzzling to me until I dis
covered that the chief was directing
each movement by flash from d lit
tie mirror that he held in the palm
of his hand | had seen the mirror
used before, but never with such &C
curacy as at this time. The use of
flashes of light from mirrors is of re-
cent establishment among the In
dams, and it is by no means universal
The Comanches and Cheyennes ap-.
parently are better versed in it's use.
than other tribes, while some bands
have never even seen such signals.