The times., 1897-05-23
A SAVAGE CAMP MEETING.
Indians of Oklahoma Who Have TX.
changed Hatchets for Hymn Books.

lhuians OF okiahoina who Have Ex-
changed Hatchets for Hymn Books.
Christian camp meeting among savage
Indians is novelty to most people, but
that is what is about TO take place In the
western part OF Oklahoma. Through the
the work of missionaries some Of the Kiowas
have accepted the Christian religion, a nd
are about to hold meeting of their Tribe
to proniulgate the new doctrine among
their friends.
The coming camp meeting will be held
In Saddle Mountain, where many OF the
hlowas are now living. and other mem
bcrs OF the tribe are gathering by scores
from every direction To attend the stra,ge
services A great aTbOr is being buiIt of
branches from the trees and Of red. white
and blue bunting, and viii be profusely deco
rated with American flags When the time
Tor the meetings has arIived the s.ru,.ying
committee" VIII go about the prairie Iing-
ing dinner bells to call the Kiowas from
their tepees 10 the meeting place.
The only missionary at Saddle Mountain
is Miss Isabelle Crawford, daughter of
Prof, Crawford, who was fourteen years a
lecturer on theology in McMaster's Hall.
Toronto This brave young woman has de-
voted her life to work among the savage
Indians She lives alone with them, ths
only white person on the mountain, and in
seventy-seven miles from railroad and
fifty-seven from postoffice. When
travelling among the camps, she shares tue
tHpees Of the Indian women, and when at
the mission headquarters has only a cor
ner in a tiny cabin which she can call her
own.
The cabin serves as schOolroorn. chanel.
kitchen and sitting-roOm, and has to be-
shared with an Indian family, and who
ever OF the dUsky tribe may chance To
claim their hospitality Her scanty food
must be shared with those who coma
many miles to hear her teachings, and
with her neighbOrs, when the tribes IA
tioDs are exhausted Since the Indian
brave has never learned the ethics of
chivalry, and since no servant is provided
for this lonely missionary, she must do
all the menial work OF her station with
her own bands, even 10 the chHppinp of
her own firewoOd. From ten to thirty
come daily TO tine cabin to be taught. and
her services as friend, nurse counsellor and
teacher are required in the camps for
miles around.
1t is STE who has taught the Indians
OF Saddle Mountain to plOw and plant
and harvest. and has encouraged and slim
uiated them TO something approaching in
dustry. The women are also learning to
use stoves and cook properly, and to care
for their children somewhat after civil
lied customs.
Perhaps the saddest task which falls
to the lot OF this young missionary Is
the burial OF the dead. Before her ad-
vent into the camp, the Indian burial
customs prevailed Upon a death in the
camp the men and women cut off their
hair and fingers, and gaShed their bod
les and limbs frightfuHy. Everything be-
longing to the departed msn was buried
in his grave, and his horses and stock were
driven TO the grave and shot there Often
the bodies were scarcely covered with
earth, and became food for rowing wolves
But now among the Christian Indians all
is changed Miss Crawford herself makes
coffins FROM wooden boxes, covering them
with white cloth, and also helps TO dig
the graves
In recent letter Miss Crawford writes:
The only way / can live here is to live
light among and ike the Indians. and con-
sequentIy l have to eat what they eat
could never afford to feedaIl these crowds
anything but the cheapest pork, beans. ap-
pie sauce and syrup, and couldn't be
mean enough TO eat anything better my
self Yesterday some one killed beef,
and l wish you could Rave seen me eat.
Today am feeling so much stronger. for
had been living on bread and syruD for
over week. Two weeks ago we ran out
IF food, and had TO 90 twenty-five miles
IN a ''pTairie schooner to Fort Sill for
supplies ! camped with the Indians and
shared tepee with four men, three women
and three children AsI was Cnly oneI
offered TO sleep in a kind of corner andIet
he others who had children and husbands
sleep in the beds-Indian beds Conse-
Iuently, I spread my bedding on the ground
md crawled in III few minutes one dog
anne and crowded on the quilts then an
other and another, till was surrounded by
en-, all wanting conner. / had 10 keep
showing them eff all night