Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-24
Usage INDIAN WEDDING.
Nuptfals of Paul Red Eagle and Id,,
strike-ANe

From the st. Louis Glcbc-Doraoc-n.
For a week the Pawnee and Otoe Indians
nave been visiting the Usage tribe on tn, r
reservation in the northeastern ,,,r,..r -
the territory. and a grand green corn dance
! and dog feast has Deen in proeress Tho
great feature of the eucampnent. however
was an old-timc Indian wedd,ng. ,cl,.l,,-,t.s
according 10 Usage usages and customs.
probably the most novel. brilliant. exciting
and entertaining wedding ceremonies that
1t has ever been the lot OF man to witness.
The contracting parties were Paul Rcd
Eagle and Ida Strke-ANe. faU-l,lno,led
members OF the Usage tribe who are thu
richest people on the face Of the earth
every member Of the tribe being worth
$3.50 in cash. in addition to hundreds ~
| acres Of fine land. and the ceremony re,,,a-
scented al the pomp. splendor and dignity
characteristic af the trll,,
AS Is the custom. contract was recently
made between the friends ana parents of
the bride and the friends and parents 81
the groom, calling for 50 many horses for
the hand of the bride In this case thu
stipulation called for forty OF the finest
ponies in the tribal reservation. All this
| occurs without the knowledge or consent OF
the two to be welded and not until tho
wedding day did the bride know whom the
groom was 10 be, or the groom know what
maiden OF the tribe was 10 be his bride
T'uI +" tiotk IN the afternoon was the
hour for the ceremony. and at the appoint
ed time six young men. intimate friends of
the groom, appeared. accompanied bv as
many young and active squaws. all pre-
pared for race. The young men lined ND
side by side, while to the front some thirty
steps the squaws were standing in line At
distance Sf 30 yards To the northeast
and near her wlgwatm. the bride appeared
on horseback. handsomely and gorgeously
decorated with all the nnery and parapher-
MALTA known TO the red men, and the horse,
the finest to be found in the tribes herds
WAS literally covered with gay trainings
making an imposing spectacle. In the rear
OF the bride appeared her mother also
mounted, and logged out second only to the
bride
When the mother and daughter got with
in 100 yards OF the waiting line Of young
DUCKS and SquaWs they halted. and at the
report of the rifle OF the father Of the bride
they made wild dash for her The first
brave to reach the bride and touch her
hand receives the horse she Is seated upnn
ana Edward Chouteau, an educated Young
Indian. won the race and secured the ana
animal upon which she rode. Desha White
Spear, the first squaw to reach the bride
became the owner OF the beautiful bridal
robe and VIII put IL away for her own
wedding day. when IT Will again be con-
tested for by racing maidens The race
over, the great robes wrapped about the
bride were spread upon the ground and she
dlSmounted upon the center of them and
was Immediately seized by a score of
squaws and carried TO the wigwam Of the
groom which. in this instance. proved to
be a large farm house.
The bride was carried into the house and
seated at a large table loaded with food
which in quality would have done credit to
any wedding feast of civilization. and in
quantity surpassed the preparations for
many great banquet The bride once
seated and surrounded by her maids the
groom appeared and seated himself by her
side. and when young Red Eagle appeared
on this occasion the bride. contrary to all
presidents, gave him a winning smile and
he kissed her The bride and groom ate
out Of one dish. and all the relatives,
friends and neighbors crowded about the
table and ate of the feast In their usual
manner, while great loads Of good things
to eat We're carried out and distributed TO
the members of the visiting tribes. the
feast lasting until far into the night
In accordance with the custom Of the
tribe. the young groom now becomes head
Of the house for the entire family of the
bride. The father In return for the gifts
Of horses. &c. that have been made. throws
in his entire family. himself included. Tor
the groom to support In doing this how
ever, he relinquishes to the young cuuple
his home, farm. machinery. stock. &c and
himself and wife thereafter live on the
bounty of the young couple
This is the first real Usage wedding that
has occurred for several years on tue res
ervaton. and in the very near future such
ceremonies will be known only in tradition.