Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-11-25
the WEIRD FIRE DANCE.

| Liz uiOet tuIi'lihk Ceiouhouy Ouo'
has come down from prehistoric times
among American Indians is the fire
dance of three tribes of Indians in the
lonely mountains of CALIFORNIA; mad,
frantic, crazy outbreak Of crude super
sti. ion IN the nineteenth century, aud
in it's most enlightened country.
The fire dance did not take place in
1906. This year it was held at the
height of the harvest season among the
Pachango, Temecula and Saboba tribes
of Southern California.
1t is not likely to be given again for
few years. or until another fiesta sea-
son is held by the tribes. Hundreds
of white people went from remote
towns purposely to witness this thrill
ing scene.
The recent fiesta continued for six
days and nights. There were horse
races every morning, tribal dances
among bucks and rquaws in the after.
noon, while gambling continued at all
hours, day and night.
The fiesta eliminated in the fire.
dance, and all the ceremonies OF the
week led ny to that al the climax OF
savage zeal and pitty. The Pachangos,
Sabobas and TemecuIas have a tribal
tradition that once the Great Spirit
came to their ancestors hundreds Of
years ago and told them that strong
Indian who could endure much with.
out a murmur was his ideal good In
dian. So the fire dance originated to
prove the proves aud endurance Of
the red man, to earn smiles from the
Great Spirit in this life and in the last
happy hunting ground away beyond
the mountains.
The fire. dance was prepared BY seven
OF the oldest men in the three tribes
that participated. Branches and
trunks of dried eucalyptus and pepper
trees were brought down from the Can
yon, aud a pile was made some seven
feet high in the center of the oval in.
closure about which the Indians were
encamping.
The logs were about four feet long,
and varied in diameter from two to six
inches. A few were eight inches
through. Baskets of dry leaves were
brought and were placed beneath the
dry timber. Quantities Of brea, y spe.
cies of crude petroleum known by the
Indians, was poured over the pile.
Then the old priest, Orazzo, ap'
preached the timber with reverent bow
ed head and apparent deep emotion
When he reached the pile he raised his
head and hands and uttered waIinl
invocation to the Great Spirit to draw
near and see how his children were
about to do his sacred bidding.
All the n.looking savages, squaws,
children and babies sank on their knees
while old Orazzo Continued lis wailinge
repeating the same idea over and oyer
Then he lose, and with extreme cere
mony plunged brand of fire many
times into the leaves at the bottom o!
the pile. The fire was started and the
flames leaped up
At Orazzo's whoop the red curtain
in front Of the wicAiup was drawn and
fifty. tour Indians marched out IN dou'
ble file. Their legs were painted solid
blue, their chests and lacks were hori
zontalv striped with red and!'yellow
and their heads were CHASTITY white
while their ears were blue and their
arms solid red. A more hiIeous group
Of human beings it would be hard to
find.
Then, at a signal from the priest, the
nearly naked Indians began Series Of
rapid whlrlings and wild gyration'
while the Indian spectators. especially
the squaws. started weird cultural
chant in their native tongue.
Suddenly the Priest Orazzo raised a
wand Of eagle feathers above his head
Instantly every fire dancer who had
his eyes upon the priest gave mania
cal vel. that startled every one present
In a twinkling. before anyone could
realize it, the red men threw themselves
forward into the FIRE.
The pile of burning wood was torn
asunder IN a fash and the logs were
hurled apart as if thunderbolt had
decended. Smoke arose, and myriad
Of cinders and sparks went flying about
the circular enclosure.
And now the fire dancers We're strug
Cling among the burning wood and by
Herculan strength were beating the
flames with bare hands.
Then they were out of the fiery mass