The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-08
Ohiciated at an Indian wedding
Among PenObscOt Braves.

OIDTOWN, Me-. Jan. THE Four Hun
bred of Indian island reveled at the Wsu-
ding of John T. Rance and Josephine
Newell. 1t was exclusive in the highest de-
gree Sockaexis was the groomsman' MISS
Fly Rod the bridesmaid, and only the Dig
chiefs and hunters and guides of real re-
nown received invitations. 1t was only fit-
ting that this should be so, for both bride
and groom are of proud lineage in the
Penobscot tribe. She is the niece of Joe
Francis than whom there is no more IL
lustrious woodsman and moose hunter in
all Maine Rance is a young brave who
has already won distinction as guide, and
is esteemed one of the most promising MEM
bers of the tribe But although the bride
was the handsomest maiden on the island,
and the groom a redskin Phoebus Apollo,
the gaunt Sockalexis and his white part
ner attracted the lions share of attention
from the assembled braves and woodsmen.
The distinguished right fielder was recog-
nized as son of the tribe who had sailed
forth among the paefaces and caused the
name of Penobscot to be respected on all
the bleacheries in the continent. AS for Cor
nelia r. Crosby-Miss Fly Rod-there was
not a red man there who did not delight TO
honor her.
The marriage was solemnized in ST Jo-
seph's Catholic Church. Oldtown. by Rev.
Father Cleary, whose priestly vestments
added another note to the incongruity be-
tween the picturesque forest garb of the
bridal pair and the irreprOachably urban
garb of Sockalexis--a flowing frock coat
and accessories which looked as II they
might have been made by a Fifth-avenue
tailor. The guests hidden to the ceremony
and the feast were garbed in the habha-
ment of the hunt, with gay feathers stuck
here and there TO denote the jOyance of
the event. Joe Francis cOmported himself
with a dignity that befitted a moose hunter
of iS and neFfOrmad the delicate
task of giving the bride away. And when
the twain were made one and the company !
ception the sinewy old man, his red hsrte
stuck full of eagles feathers placed him
self at the head of the procession and led
Away from the restraint of the church,
the individual characteristics of the revel-
ers became more sharply defined. and the
rank and file yielded unreservedly to the
curiosity and enthusiasm awakened in them
by the leading figures at the celebration
Many were the questions with which Sock
alexis, the real hero of the occasion, was
pressed, and his old comrades refused TO
be satisfied with narratives of his triumphs
on the baseball field and his adventures III
far cities. In the dancing, that was one or
the best features of the reception, the
I tawny right fielder and Miss Fly Rod were
frequent partners. and more graceful
couple never fitted over a waxed floor than
the man of savage blood with a civilized ex-
terror and education, and the daughter or
civilization who elects to spend her lays In
the woods with rife and rod
Cornelia 7. Crosby must be remembered
well by New Workers. for she attracted a
great deal of attention during the Sports
mans Exposition, at Madison-sqdare Gar
den last spring. She had charge of the
Maine camp. Her costume al the wedding
was an importation from Paris, consisting
of a hunters suit of soft waterproof leath-
er. jauntily made, with rather short
skirt and trim waterproof boots and leg
gings The jacket was adorned with big
pearl buttons and the picturesque Alpine
hat with which her brown head was sur
mounted was made coquettish with few
uuills Her face is white. but her heart
is the heart of a brave" said Sockalexis,
when some one asked him what he thought
of MISS Fly Rod"