The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-09-07
THE INDIANS OF THE WEST.

When we look at the quiet humdrum
existance which drags itself out in the
suiaIl towns of Louisiana, and on the
plantations, it is hard to realize that
in adjoining territory there is fiercely
throbbing a life as wild, vivid and
picturesque as that of any band of
Italian handful or piunderingN Mare
pirates. Last week we met II man
that had lived in the Indian Territory,
aud this is what he told us:
The prairies out west are covered
with grass SO high that often it reaches
the head of a man on horseback. In
the spring time after the rains have
fallen and the skies are clear and blue,
the plains look like an emerald sea.
boundlcss and deep. When the slight
est wind breathes over the long grass,
it waves in great pillows that break
only on the shores of the horizon.
Here in this lonely region the Indians
sometime pitch their wigwams. They
build them by driving four sticks in
the ground, making them form square
and then covering them with the hides
OF buffalo. deer and wolves. In the
center of the roof they leave an open
ing, through which passes the smoke
from the camp fire. In this manner
an whole tribe will stay on a certain
plain for several weeks. while their
scoutes are discovering facts about the
nearest settlement; how rich it is, how
well guarded and ETC. After the
scoutes return aud give the needed in
formation, .'they fold their tents like
the Arabs and as silently steal away"
to some valley between two high hills.
Here they prepare for war. At night
when the smoke and flames of their
camp fires are streaming like ragged
crimson banners in the breeze, they
hold council of war. Each Indian
paints his face takes his stone tomabawk
from the ground, where it has long
been buried, and with shrek, enters
the assembly. Here all join hands and
dance in wild phrensy around the
flames. cursing the pale faced man.
showing the scalps they have taken
and murmuring charms and incanta-
tions. They carry on their warefare
in the night. At about one O'Clock.
when the adjoining settlement is quiet
in sleep, they start on the war path,
each man carrying q torch and Shrek
ing like fiend. On reaching the set
tiement they scalp the guards, kill the
women and children aud set fire to the
tents.
Ere yet. the gray morning has
dawncd they reach the wigwams. bring
ing with then. the cap;ives. These, the,
treat most cruelty. As soon as they
enter the wigwam they place guards
at the door. i,en begin the persecution
of the victim. Ending his hands above
him they make him run the gauntlet.
On either side of the room, is Il row
of sqnaws. each having Il knife aud a
tomahawk. Tie Iddians force the
whise man to run in front of them. and
at each step, he is struck by both
rows. Gashed. bleeding and exhaust
ed he IS then taken to the valley aud
laid in the form of a cross, on the
ground. Ills arms are oatstr clsed
and each hand is bound by thics cords
to stake. his feet are also bound. |
Around him is brush wood. Tie In
dams ,auat him by saying: You will
ne, 81 see the sun again." and thea il
the darkest hours they light the twigs,
and hacn their victim TO death.
In the morning the tents are moved.
The Indians have not been influenced