The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18

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WASHINGTON, July 17.-Capt. Charles Z. Nord.
strom Of the Tenth United States Cavalry, act
ing Indian ngent at the Pueblo and Jicarilla
agency In New Mexico. has written an interest
ing letter TO tho Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
with regard to the Indian dances. The letter
treats of tho subject in a manner novel In official
communication and throws new light on a mat
ter that has long given great concern to every
body interested in the Indian question. The let
ter Ia dated juno IS. Capt. Nordstrom says:
During my recent inspection OF the day
schools attached to and lying south Of this
agency many of the teachers complained that
on the occasion OF q dance in the pueblo they
were either locked in their rooms and compelled
to remain there until tho festivities we're over
or driven out Of the village entirely and ordered
not to come back under a given time-the
teacher at San Felipe being elected and driven
across the Rio Grande.
1.-THE Indians pretend that 1t would DO sncri-
lege to admit an outsider to u participation in
them, or even to be present as a spectator. but
this Is only a ~pretoxt. an excuse to allow them
to assert their prcrogative, the traders at Jemez
and Zuni informing me that neither OF the IN Is
molestcd when the dances are going on, and
that they have both been Invited to and have
witnessed even the most secret OF them.
III these dances, like the camp meeting re-
ylvais OF the southern negro, resulted only IN a
harmless enthusiasm in religious fervor, no
exception could be taken to them, but they are
often the origin OF great outragcs.
THE trader at Zuni related the circumstances
OF one case which TOOK place in that village not
long ago which does not speak very well for tho
mana nnxa9 iust from H' G tnqif HnS @ss or ra re-; to &c y d%nes
and declined, representing that he, had grad
now an American. and Americans didn't dance
that way. Thcreupon the Governor arrested
him. tied him up to a tree, and ordered him
danced after that.
"Zuni. it will be recalled. was the scene of the
While l was there. Miss Disscttc. the estimable
principal of the school. sent TOR the decrcpit
Englsnd forefathcrs piously devote their
neighbors to tho stake and barred her poor. old
arms, to my inspection. which had no difficulty
in discerning the scars made by the cruel cords.
which had cut the flesh through to the bone.
This poor old woman is at least 20 or so years
forfeiture o.. her popularity with the medicine
men, Miss Dissette went to the old woman's
the iiickering flame of lie which had SO nearly
been eNtinsuished. As this lady. her voice
trembling with indignant emotion, described the
circumstance of this nnspeakable horror. my
own cheek FLUSHED that thirt! six years of my
life had tcen spent in, the service OF a Govern
ment under which such things could be done.
The traders cook. an Indian. youth about
twenty, unfortunately mourning the displeasure
OF the medicine men. was arrested as a witch,
and. but for the irmness Of his employer. would
have been put to death, and even now he dares
not venture outside the premises after dark for
fear of being kidnapped BY the emissaries of
these iends in human shape. who will never
rest satisfied until he is inundated upon the al,
ia" TT IT m bhStf be ee askcd. s9a&Rsbhs at hSs all this got to do
with dancesf Everything, because all the out.
RACES committed originate in a dance. Is rain
wantedl they dance. Is there u toodi they
dance; and should the doctors have made a mis-.
take in their estimate OF the amount OF humid
iy the clouds contain. and precipitation fail 10
ensue; or. IL the ruin continues, and the floods
fail to subside. they Immediately east about them
for a scapeguat, who is arrested and treated as
a witch, for making medicine against their
medicine; and they invariably hit upon some
poor old woman who has neither money nor
friends. or other poor devil mo profanity intend
edl. without connections or influence, whom
they devote to torture, often death, and thus save
their regulations as augurs and suothsayers.
This hole question. in all its dumnable ram.
iications. will. OF necessity. have TO be settled
sooner or later; the Government cannot so or
appropriating millions year after year for the
civilization OF the Indian while these plague
spots exist and thrive on its bounty. But thi:
letter is princi Dally concerned Tor the protection
OF the teachers. What shall | do to secur,
them from insult in the futurel l respectfully
ask for instructions. Ii is no use to turn Tho
matter over 10 the Territorial authorities. Thai
has been tried and failed. The general Govern
ment has got to take hold o: 1t. through III,
strong arm OF its arbitrary power. Force, y!
which these people govern themselves. is thu
only argument which appeals 10 their obedience
and the state OF things | have described will
continue to go on until. by n show Of force. they
become convinced the Government Is in earnest