New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-05
sun DANCE OF THE UTES.
GREAT SOCIAL Event ON THE REsERVA
TION IN UTAH
,nopArroN OF THE IMAGE OF THE BUFFALO
AMID BEATING or TOM-ToMs AND WAVING
OF sr'PPTIANT ROUGHs BY souAWs

AMID BEATING or ToM-ToMs AND WAVING
OF srPpLrANr RorcHs BY souAws
Sal. Lake Correspondence OF The Omaha Bee
The "soclal event" Of Ute society took place !ast
u,aeE IN thn reservation at Fort Duchesnc II ~
known ~ the sun Dance. and Is undouo'euly o'!c
OF the most interesting OF the American i"u'"'S
pcculiar vcicOrmances. . 49,, 49,
This T., re nrs time for years that they haze have
nrohif'ited on account of the tendency toward IN
humanity and seif-orture on he Papt o. r'e ar"
NJ o,d vas the test or graduating exercise" OF
h n nnp hicks 10 show their courage and en-
dIrance II they wihstoOd the ordeal they coud
,b top he warriors band: II not. they were
n,m }on Nth fh saaws and compelled to perform
HE most mental labor which fell 10 their lot
Howeyer he sun Dance isn Gears OF AGO ,D''Ay quite
II the agen: refuses to permit them 10 hold the
eo,oe o,,tlof thcway place in the mountains and
hold H. Consequently he concluded IL better 10 IeI
hen, hold II where it could be watched. and. II
They c9nstructed sort OF framework for large
tent or pagoda about hundred feet across
With the exception OF large entry-way the SIDES
were covered with bushes. the top being open, oo
hall The nclosnre part OF the balance OF the space
being occupied by the "orchestr1 o..,ro, T.,
gee-string their bodies painted In varied colors.
some copper color, others yellow ana others nearly
ings Of face md body in other bright shades Their
hair neatly combed and as usual. 9arteh III, IN
the middle and braided In two long strands wnc h
we're adorned with feathers OF varied coors Each
wore "a small or some Drlllldnt color, Wotheu
with beads in odd designs. also adorned with
feathers. Each had an oddly constructed whistle
with a tuft of feathers attached ~
The orchestra mot exactly a Theodore Thomas
organization. but one which seemed 10 please those
most ronccrned) consisted OF big tom-tom, upon
which seven or eight strong bucks delivered n de-
termined assault with clubs accompanied by the
dulcet voices OF several squaws. VINO at the same
time might he imagined as Keeping time ny WaV-
ING branches The celebrated Midway Plalsance
orchcstra was not TO be compared with this
The music starts up and each performer takes his
whistle I'm his mouth. and during the performance
with cach breath adds To the discord With
feathers I'm each hand he starts from his place. and
by short siln jumps. with feet together. goes
,11ward the centre pole. upon which Is hung ban
nor with a crude picture or "A buffalo AT which he
mailing When the centre H. reached the return IL
made Nv the same kangaroo-like jumps backward.
'rhis Is kept up fifteen or twenty minutes, and II
some should not go forward or backward each time
thew never cease jumping up ana down ana swing
ing their heads while remaining In one place.
Whcn the music or. more properly speaking. the
outlandish argon OF sounds, ceases. each per-
former usually drops down and makes the best OF
the short rest. FOR II t. only Few moments before
they must begin again and keep II up day and
rIsht without other than those short rests, and
without food or drink during the whole tlme-three
DAYS and three nights.
With performers or orchestra and the hundreds
NJ Indians OF all ages and modes OF attire present
a truly novel and interesting spectacle Is presented.
especially at night. when the campfire adds much to
tho weird picture and leaves but little for tho
Imagination to cause one TO feel that ne Is part
OF the scenes so wildly pictured In the yellow
covered tcn-cent novel OF years ago.
" is Impossible to get an Intelligent explanation
az the full meaning Of the peculiar performance.
OF objects are in view. The buffalo banner and
their actions toward It show that they are appeal
Ing 10 the monarch OF the plains TO return.
The one who can withstand the ordeal and be ct