New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01

TORTCRES INFLICTED ON HELPLESS
VICTIMS
VICTIMS.

Washington correspondence of The 81. Louis
Globe-Democrat
Captain Charles f. Nordstrom. of the 10Th
United States Cavalry, acting Indian agent at
the Pueblo and JcarilIa Agency, in NewM xco
has written an interesting letter to the Com
missioner Of Indian Affairs with regard to the
Indian dances. The letter treats of ,he subject
IN manner novel in official communications,
and throws new light on matter that has long
given great concern to everybody interested IN
the Indian question The letter is dated June
% Captain Nordstrom says:
During my recent inspection of the day
schools attached to and lying south of this
agency many of the teachers complained THAI
on the occasion of a dance in the Pueblo they
were either locked In their rooms and compelled
to remain there until the festivities were over
or were driven out of the village entirely, and
ordered not to come back under given time
the teacher at San Felipe being elected and
driven across the Rio Grande.
The Indians pretend that it would be sacri-
lege to admit an outsider to a participation
in them. or even to be present as a spectator.
but this Is only a pretext. excuse to allow
them to assert their preroGative, the traders at
Jemez and Zun informing me that neither of
them is molested when the dances going on.
and that they have both been invited to and
have witnessed even the most secret Of them.
II these dances. like the camp-mceting revivals
of the Southern negro. resulted only in a harm
less enthusiasm in religious fervor no exception
could be taken to them, but they are often the
origin Of great outrages. The trader of Zuni
related the circumstances OF one case which took
place in that village not long ago. which does
not speak very well for the advancement Of
those engaged In 1t
"a young man, just from Carlisle, was ordered
to dance, and declined, representing that he had
graduated at school, had learned a trade, and
was now American, and Americans did not
dance that way. Thereupon the governor
rested him, tied him up to a tree and ordered
him beaten, and beaten he was-neary to death.
He danced after that.
''Zuni. it will be recalled. the of the
While was there Miss Dissette. the estimable
principal Of the school, sent for the victim OF
this revival of the days when our New Engand
forefathers piously devoted their neighbors to
the stake, and barred her poor old arms to my in
specton. There difficulty in discern
ing the scars made by the cruel cords, which
had cut the flesh through to the bone This
poor old woman is at least seventy -ive or
eighty years old. At the imminent risk Of her
life and the forfeiture OF her popularity with
the medicine men Miss Dissette went to the old
womans house. and. by nursing her night and
day, revived the Pickering flame of life which
had so nearly been extinguished. As this
woman. her voice trembling with indignant emo
ton. described the circumstances of this n
speakable horror, my own cheek blushed that
thirtysix years Of my life had been spent in
the service of government under which such
things could he done.
The traders cook an Indian youth about
twenty. unfortunately mourning the dsp.eas-
ure of the medicine rten. was arrested as
witch. and. but for the irmness of his
ployer. would have been pat t. death, and even
now he dareS not venture outside the premises
after dark for fear of being kidnapped by the
emissaries Of these ficnds in human shape. who
will never rest satisfied until he is inundated
upon the altar Of their hcastly superstition.
1T may be asked. What has all this got to
do with dances?' Every thing. because all the
outrages committed originate in a dance. Is
rain wanted? They dance Is there a flood?
They dance. Should the doctors have made a
mistake in their estimate of the amount Of hui
midity the clouds contain and precipitation fail
to ensuc. or if the rain continues. and the floods
fail to subside, they Immediately east about
them for scapegoat who is arrested and
treated / witch. for making medicine against
their medicine and they invariably hit upon
some poor old woman who has neither money
nor friends. other poor devil mo profanity
intended) without connections or influence,
whom they devote to torture often death. and
thus save their regulations as auSurs and sooth-
savers.
This whole question in all its damnable
ramiications will. of necessity have to be set
60 appropriating millions year after year
plague spots exist and thrive on its bounty.
But this letter is principally concerned for the
protection Of the teachers. What shall | do to
secure them from insult in the future? | re-
spectfully ask for instructions. 1t is to
turn the matter TO the Territorial authOri-
ties. That has been tried and failed. The gem
eral Government has got to take hold OF II,
through the strong of its arbitrary powers
Force by which these people govern them
selves is the only argument which appeals to
their obedience and the state of things | have
described will continue to go on until. by a
show OF force they become convinced the Gov