The evening times., 1898-11-05
AN oSAGE WEDDING.
Marriage of Paul Red Eagle and
Ida Strike-Ax.

(FrOm the st. Louis StaF-)
Paul Red Eagle and Ida Strike-Ax, two
popular Usage Indian society young peo-.
pie, were married at PawnusRa, the cap
ital of the Usage nation. with all the dig
nifty, pomp and glory surrounding their
position in the tribe. Both are fuil-blood
Indians. well educa ted, but retrogressive
as are all the Osages who have attended
English schools and are then allowed TO
return 10 their reservation.
Red Eagle for a number of years went
TO school at Gray Horse Indian Mission
while the bride attended the Carlisle
Pa) Indian school. Wnen Red Eagle
graduated he returned to Pawhuska and
settled down. He was offered d place in
the Indian office, which he accepted One
day pretty Ida Strike-Ax, daughter of a
sub-chief, returned from the East all
aglow with red ribbon and up-to-date
ideas in her Indian head. She was the
belle of Pawhuska. the little Indian viii
lage and youths of both rich and poor
fiocked to her feet.
But Red Eagle had set his eagle eye
upon her and he determined TO win Red
Eagle was a Government employe, which
to the Indian signifies superior intelli-
gence, and Indian Government employees
are cZars among the tribal members. Red
Eagle knew this. and he intended using
squaw. 1t had become of late the Gus
tom among the better educated Osages 10
ask the girl for her hand in marriage.
and then arrange for her purchase with
her father. For Usage girls are bought
and sold just like cows and horses This
is custom that prevails in many Indian
tribes. But Red Eagle, as before said,
counted on his superior place to carry
him through with the old man, hence
he did not ask for the consent of the
girl. Meantime she was setting swift
pace among the Indians as to what So
ciety was among the effete Fasteners,
and winning praise and the hearts of
the Usage bucks. Many were there who
gladly became her slaves.
Two months ago Red Eagle decided
that the time had come. He went TO
Chief Strike-Ax and offered him twenty
ponies for his daughter The old Indian
knew a good thing when he saw it and
refused Red Eagle offered thirty, and
was still refused. After much dickering
forty ponies were given for the Usage
squaw of fascinating appearance. The
deal was made and the girl was to belong
to the Indian government employe as
soon as he raised the forty ponies. This
he did last week, and the day of the we'd
ding was set 1t was to be celebrated in
dians of the country surrounding must be
present.
Six young men appeared at 1 o'clock,
disrobed, and ready TO race for the brides
pony. while six squaws, scantily clad,
appeared and were to race for the brides S
robe which she was to discard after the
marriage They all lined up 250 yards
from the Strike-Ax wigwam, where dwelt
the bride-to-be. a short distance away
was temporarily erected a wigwam for
the groom.
Shortly after Miss Strike-Ax, clad in
dazzling robes of red and blue, appeared
from the folds of her fathers wigwam
mounted on little pony. Behind her
came her mother on foot. When they
had advanced within $50 yards of the run
ners the two women halted. The pony
was turned loose and the six bucks start
ed after it. Ed. Chouteau, who can trace
his lineage to the St. Louis Chouteaus,
it is said. won the pony. The bride, in
the meantime, was being hastily undress-
ed by her mother. The gay robes and
dainty lingerie were thrown to the winds,
and very soon the bride stood there cloth
ed in smile and a nightrobe. Paul Red
Eagle blushing, happy and robust. threw
his blanket around the unclad bride, and
carried her away to his wigwam.
The 800 Usage braves and squaws who
had witnessed the ceremony from their
tepee clapped their hands in delight. while
the six squaws who were to run for
the brides robes came running after
them. The wedding feast was then
spread, and the menu consisted princi-