The evening times., 1896-08-11
Sioux Squaw Confined in ST.
Elizabeth's Asylum.
MOURNED FOR HER LOVER
"BobtaiI Bear" Lost Her Reason when
"BIg Mountain Fell Under the
Aven9ing Bulietsof the whites-she
Is Quiet, Patient. and Causes Her
Keepers No Trouble.

Ahu"n squdW ana the only 1emdie OF ner
tribe confined In an Insane asylum.
Last week she was brought East from
the Sioux reservation in the Dakctas, and
on Thursday committed TO ST. Elizabeth.
1t was her first journey, and In her de-
mented condition her actions were more Pc
culiar than those OF the ordinary Indian
who comes to see the Great Father
Throughout the entire trip. though the
heat was oppressive. ..Bobtail,' elung as
tenaciously to her government blanket as
II it had been the coolest day In midwinter
Her companion was an agent who has been
connected with the tribe for number VI
years, and, according to his statements,
her case Is an interesting one.
PERFECT TYPE OF INDIAN.
1 onadagawah is about thirty years old
and perfect type of the Indian woman.
She islarge and apparently healthy looking,
dresses in gown Of government calico
and her figure is uneIn belIished with any
arifices. Her skin is thick and OF clear
dark brown, and two braids OF straight.
jet black hair hang down her back The
only outward indication of insanity is in
the expression OF her big, black eyes
"Bobtair' understands little English an d
to make use OF.
According to the story related by the
Indian agent, .Bobtal,'' come six or eight
years ago, was the belle Of a little hud-
die of wigwams in a Sioux settlement On
reservation in South Dakota. Considering
the inferior station which the Indian wo-
man occupies, .'Bobtail's'' position was an
enyiablc one and thread Of roInance runs
through her career
She had an Indian lover. big. swarthy
brave. who was one ofthe leading conncilmen
of ms tribe. He was fearless warrior, and
had many bloody skirmish with the white
Hen. Big Mountain was his name. and
when the dusky redskin scafEe home with
the dripping scs,lps OF the pale face dangling
at his belt, then "Bobtair" was happy.
She always led in the burnt dog sacri-
fices where squaws are allowed TO par-
ticipate il the pa gan ceremonies.
COULD DRINK FIREwATER.
In The historic ghost dnnce, which took
place before the bloody massacre OF Wound
ed Knee. onadagawah headed the pro-
cession. 1t was noisy and riotous affair.
and at the gathering about the sacred
fire, around which the ghosts danced.
|
"BobtaiI," strange TO say. could encom-
pass as much cheap firewater as any
brave. and sue became very hilarious.
raising a war whoop aud shouting in
chorus with the male reds kins. Big
Mountain encouraged her in her debauch.
from the effects of which she has never
recovered
Next night came the awful massacre,
and closely following this Gen Miles over
took the psSse. OF warriors. and, turning
Uncle Sans big Calling guns on the
/ reCiskins. slew them ALL Scarcely au In
dian of the whole clan escaped Death.
Among those killed was ''Dobtairs"
sweetheart, Big Mountain
This she learned just as she was recov-
ering from her ghost dance spree and
the shock which the news produced ups.u
her turned her mind She became dei:-
rious with grief aud sought her lover upon
the field OF battle.
SORROW TURNED HER MIND.
.'Bobtaii-s' sorrow was great and pitisui
to behold. At first 1t was thought that
time would heal her wounded heart. but
her brain had become deranged and she
never recovered. After while her ravins
years she has teen quiet md inoffeiisive,
but as her mind has ever since been far
from right and as the members of her i'm
mediate family have died. it was thought
best to have her cared for at the government
institution for the insane Accordingly
permission wassecured and she was brought
here last week
"Robtair' gives her keepers not the least
yrtt tss,r
She is industrious and brought with her
bead work and basket splsnts with which
she employs her time, beginning, as II she
were compelled to, as soon as assigned to
her ROOM. Most of her work is attractive
| in design and nicely executed.
Onadagawah is the fifth Indian confined
at ST. Elizabeth. Three of these are males
Two of them, however. are but halfbreets
| By the asylum's attendants she has been
christined '.Ougilla.'' after the subdiy.s-
| ion of the tribe OF Sioux to which she be-
Ionged. the name of Onadaeawah being too
| long and that of .Bobtail''t too uncnuth and
rough sounding
HER FEMALE COMPANION.
OugiIla's only female associate or hef
| race in the institution Is q squaw called
Pawnee.
Pawnee has been an inmate OF st. Eliza
beth for about seven years. She came from
Indian Territory, and her history Is shroud-
| ed in mystery. No one knows who she is
| or how she became insane. When she first
cams to the asylum Pawnee was rather
vicious and inclined to be unmanageabie.
but kindly treatment and proper methods
have subdued her, until now she is one Of
| the uiost-orderly of all the ,demented. Her
hobby is to think that she is a warrior.
| and that some day she will be released 10
| join her sinsmen in the happy hunting
| grounds
| She believes she Is now teing held back
by the evil spirit, and that her people
are looking for her coming She walks
about the grounds, generally under guard
of an attendant, and ofttimes gabcies in
the Indian tongue ,and goes through strange
/ motions, as il in the worship OF pagan
i gods.
TALKING NOT THEIR FORTE
"Bobtail'' and Pawnee do not speak the
same language and are consequently unable
to communicate with each other During
her long confinement tthe asylum Pawnee
has rarely converscd with anyone. By
signs and motions, generally, she makes
! known her wants to the keepers, but either
does not understand or knowing Is nos IN
clined to speak English. Her mutternss
lin Indian are all the sounds she makes. apii
she sits for hours in a dreamy, dazed Com
dition.
There is no probability Of either of these
Indian women ever recovering their rca-
son. The remain for the most part unmov
able and suIlcn. They have NO character