The evening times., 1896-12-25
WHITE Ga6sT WILL DINE
Instead of Throwing the Snow
Snake He Eats Turkey.
CHIEF OF THE CROW CREEKS
He spends His First Christmas in
the Home Of the Great Father.
How the Braves VIII Celebrate
the Day-SOmething About the
Delegation of Indians Here.

1
| somewhat different from the holiday sea
son among the Indians out upon the broad
and snow overed plains of South Dakota"
| said DR.. Fred Treon, OF Crow Greek, wEo
| will eat his Christmas turky at tile Ebbitt
| House this afternoon.
| DR., Treon is the agent for the Crow
| Creek Indians, who iphabit something like
, $50 900 acres of the most fertile land or
the state OF South Dakota. Accompany
|, ing him on his Eastern trip to see the
Great Father are three>swarthy redskins,
| whose purpose is to carry back with them
| to their people the snug little sum of
| S1ss, 900 with interest, which will amount
in all to nearly 100000 OF Uncle Sans
greenbacss and gold. This they claim as
| an indemnity, which, by the treaty OF
1883, the United States government agreed
| to pay them for the lands which We're
transferred to white settlers and for which
they have never been paid.
| A Party OF Indians.
Tie party which DIR. Treon is chaperon-
ing and who have full authority to repre-
sent the Crow Creeks, consists of White
Ghost, the head chef of the clan, Chef
| VIII, the next highest man in the council
| and Mark Wells, the interpreter. White
| Ghost beiies his name, If any man ever did
| Despite his advanced agc-for he must be
| somewhat over siXty-hc is still as straight
| as one of the arrows with which he formerly
| slew the buffalo. His complexion is dusky
| and brown, but clear, and his hair straight
| and jet black. He is big and muscular. and
would he less dangerous IT lie We're a
| real white ghost If he should become sud
| denly angry.
But White Ghost does not thirst for
blood. IL is gold he is after now. and his
department clearly dispruvcs the old adage
that the only good Indian is the dead In
dian. White Ghost has always been friend
to the palcface. though he speaks less Eng
lsh than the average Chinainan. II is his
own kind TO whon lie has been terror.
The march ofifcfviliZation, though. las
long since ovcrtaken the big chieftain and
his people and he fias abandoned the war
path for the more peaceful pursuits OF life,
and has amassed a considerable fortune.
Forty years ago when the Sioux, like the
rest of the Western indians, were more war
like than they are now, a tribe known as
the Rhees inhabited the lands adjoining
the Yanktonians. or Crow Creeks. and be
tween the two tribes there was almost in
cessant warfare. which continued for years,
until the Rhees We're practically eNter-
minated.
How He Got His Name.
One night after a desperate encounter,
in which the Rhees were repulsed with
heavy losses, a ghost dance was being held
about a huge bonfire. Suddenly their chief
appeared in the midst OF the warriors en-
veloped in big white blanket, and dangling
about his belt were the scalps of a dozen
foes he had that day slain in hattie. From
that time he was known AS White Ghost.
He and VIII are fond of relating their
experiences and telling of the days when
they chased the wild buffalo over the
plains. Buffalo hunting was the favorite
sport of White Ghost and VIII in their
youth. For $50 miles along the route
after they left Crow Creek. they pointed
out while on their journey here, points where
they had either fought battles or killed
the buffalo. Only by the rivers and streams
which had not changed could they locate
the spots, and with sadness i'll their
hearts they recalled the past
Mark Wells is one of the best Interpreters
of the Sioux tribe. When the delegation
left the Crow Creek reservation two feet
OF snow covered the ground, and just a
few days prior to their departure DR..
Treon drove twent y-fiye miles on the
Missouri River, which is frozen over. the
ice being from eighteen inches to two
feet thick. Dr. Treon has been with the
tribe for ten years.
Christ mas Among Them.
Christmas will he observed among them
TODAY. Their celebrations generally consist
Of big feaSts, for they are fond of gastron-
ornic d.licacies. For outdoor enjoyment
the Indian has peculiar sport with what's
known as a snow snake. A smooth track
is made in the snow for n long distance,
sometimes for miles. usually with wide
sleigh runner. Then water is poured in
and allowed to freeze, so that the track
is very slippery. The snow snake consists
Of hickory stick about five or six feet
long and about an inch wide, polished and
made smooth as glass Upon the head OF
this stick is mounted "A heavy piece of lead,
and turned slightly upward. A young
brave will poise this in his hand, run with
it for several yards, and then throw it in
the tracks. Sometimes they are thus
thrown so that the snakes will glide
along for miles before they stop The
velocity attained is faster than a loco
motive, and often reaches five or six miles
a minute. and if the grade inclines some
what the lead will often pierce a thick
board at Il distance of several miles from
the starting point, Contests at snow snake
throwing make alnovel Christmas sport,
and a snake on the river, if the ice is
clear, will run for twelve or fifteen miles.
The greatest celebration day among the
Sioux, however, lis. on the 4th of July,
when the Indiangexhibits often a greater
patriotism than many Americans. Sham
battles, contests IN horseback, and feasts |
are enjoyed for whole week. Every man |
carries banner of some sort, and is
stripped to the waist and decorated with |
paint, even the horses being adorned with |
every known hue.
The Yanktonians are very frugal and |
owning large farms, raising |
immense quantities of grain and iroves |
of cattle, which bring them good incomes |
in addition to their annuities from the |
government and the rations provided them |
every two weeks. Many of them have |
become quite wealthy.
The great desire of White Ghost and |
VIII while in Washington is to see the |
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing, where |
money is made, and the United State |
Treasury, where the currency Is stored, |
and their wish will be gratified. They will |
spend Christmas viewing the sights and eat |
their turky at Beveridge's.
MANY NEGROES KILLED.
Two Hundred We're Shot I'm an Ar.