The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-21
VICIOUS INDIAN DANCES.
Orgies the occasion for fortunes In
fiicted on Helpless Victims.
Washington Special to ST. Louis Globe

Oh ACAPACSS NACtAmSs
Washington Special to ST. Louis Globe
Democrat
Capt. Charles E. Nordstrom of the Tenth
United States Cavalry, acting Indian agent
|. at the Pueblo and Jicarilla agency, in New
Mexico, has written an interesting letter to
the commissioner of Indian affairs with re-
gard to the Indian dances. The letter
treats of the subject in a manner novel in
official communications, and throws new
light on a matter that has long given great
concern to everybody interested in the In
dian 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
that 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 We're 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 1t would be
sacrilege to admit an outsider to particle
patton in them or even to be present as
spectator, but this is only preteXt, an ex-
cuse to allow them to assert their preroga-
tive the traders a Jemez and Zuni inform
ing me that neither Of them is moested
when the dances are going on, and that
they have both been. invited to and have
witnessed even the most secret of them IL
these dances, like the camp meeting revi-
walls of the Southern negro, resulted only in
a harmless enthusiasm in religious fervor,
no exception could be taken to them, but
they often the origin of great outrages.
The trader of Zuni related the crcum-
stances 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 or
dered to dance, and declined, representing
that he had graduated at school, had learn
ed a trade and was now an American, and
Americans did not dance that way. There
upon the governor arrested him, tied him
up to tree. and ordered him beaten, and
beaten he was-nearly to death. He danced
after that.
''Zuni, it will be recalled was the scene
of the recent hanging of a poor old crea-
Dissette the estimable principle of the
school. sent for the victim of this revival
of the days when our New England fore
fathers piously devoted their neighbors to
the stake and barred her poor, old arms
to my inspection. There was 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 seventy-five or eighty years old. At
fixture of her popularity with the medicine
men, Miss Dissette went to the old wom-
ans house, and by nursing her night ana
which had nearly been extinguished. AS
this lady, her voice trembling with indig-
nant emotion, described the circumstances
of this unspeakable horror, my own cheek
blushed that thirty-six years of my life
had been spent in the service of govern
ment under which such things could be
done.
"'The traders cook, an Indian youth about
pleasure of the medicine men, was arrested
as a WITCH and, but for the firmness OF
his employer, would have been put to
death, and even now he dareS not ven
ture outside the premises after dark for
fear of being kidnapped by the missarieg
of these fiends in human shape, who WIZ
never rest satisfied until he is inundated
upon the altar of their beastly sup9rsti-
ton.
to do with dances?' Everything, because
all the outrages committed originate in a
dance. Is rain wanted? They dance is
there a flood? They dance. Should the doc-
tors have made a mistake in their estimate
of the amount of humidity the CLOUDS con-
tain, and precipitation fail to ensue: or X
the rain continues, ana the MOODS IAN 10
subside they Immediately cast about them
for a scaDegoat who is arrested and treat
ed as a witch, for making medicine against
their medicine; and they invariably MT up
on some poor old woman VINO has neither
money nor friends. other poor devil mo
Drofanity intended) without connections or
influence whom they devote Ia torture,
often death and thus save their reputa-
tfons as augurs and soothsayerS.
This whole quest ton in all its damnable
ramifcations will, of necessity, have to be
settled sooner or later The government cam
not go on appropriating millions year after
wear for the civilization OF the Indian while
these plague spots exist, and thrive on its
bounty But this letter is principally con-
cerned for the protection of the teachers.
What shall do 70 secure them from Insult
in the future? l respectfully ask for in
structions 1t is no use TO turn the matter
over to the territorial authorities. That has
been tried and failed The general gov
the strong arm 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 UNI
til by a show of force, they become con-
WINGED the government Is in earnest.