Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-09
INDIANS IN SECRET ORDERS.
Government Agents Probe Into IL
Mysteries of Bloody mutations.

Government Agents Probe Into the
Mysteries of Bloody limitations
The recent report that the killing of T..
r. Madden, a prominent merchant Of Bragg,
Indian Territory, was instigated by the Ke-
too-wah, a Cherokee secret society, has led
to an investigation of the secret tribunals,
with interesting results, writes a CORE
s%pondent of the Chicago Record. 1t has
been aScertained that In every large tribe
In the United States there are secret organi-
cations, varying in name, but similar in
purpose. The members are bound by the
most solemn oaths not to reveal the secrets
Of the society, and in addition each is
strongly obligated to carry out the wishes of
the majority, even to the extent of commit
ting murder. The government agents and
the troops stationed among the Indians find
these dog soldiers" as they are called, eX-
ceedlngly, troublesome, and every possible
effort Is being made to suppress them; still
the secret lodges of the dog soldiers"
flourish and continue to receive accessions
from the ranks of the young braves. No
sooner does a young brave attain the age of
IS than he is straightway initiated with the
most solemn and bloody rights into the hid
den mysteries of the Ke-teo-wah or other
secret order. One of the rites practiced on
these occasions requires great courage on
the part of the candidate, for while all the
oaths are taken on bloody knives, this SUI
preme test OF heroian, according to the In
dian standard, requires that the knife upon
which the oath is taken be crlmsoned with
his own blood, from a self-inficted wound.
The n~oyitiate stands In the center of a
group of six, who hold six bloody knives
crossed above his head. The candidate is
given o. new knife that must be innocent of
human blood, and while the weird chant is
sung he cuts a long cash In his breast or
more than one If he aspires to special dis
tinction and allows the warm blood to gush
over 1t. He then takes the oath and is
formally accepted into the brotherhood. The
purpose of these societies is similar to that
of the Highbinders or the Mafa-to avenge
the real or fancied wrongs of the members
and to otherwise further the interests and
execute the will OF tiSe majority. Among
the crimes attributed to the dog soldiers are
murders, stealing of squaws and other pos
sessions, the manning OF stock and the ad-
ministering OF harmful pottons. The Indian
Is never at a loss to devise means of re-
yenge upon those against whom he has a
grudge.
In the olden times these societies carried
on their work without fear Of governmental
necessary for them TO exercise the utmost
caution, for the Indian agents are ever on
the alert. The penalty for participation in
secret meetings of this character is very
severe, but the dog soldiers VIII get together
and plan and plot, despite the close our
yeillance OF the agents and the Indian police.
II not infrequeDtly happens that a dance or
feast, held apparently for innocent amuse-
ment, is only a blind to avert suspicion,
the real purpose being to get the dog soldiers
together in secret conclave.
The existence of a lodge of dog soldiero
is made known to the initiated by means OF
signals displayed from the top Of a fagpole,
the color of the flag indicating the night on
which the meeting Is TO be held.