The times., 1898-08-08

herrymakines by the Richest Peo-
pie i'm the World


A Guthrie, Oklahoma, letter tor the st
Louis Gle5e-Denocrat. says: .sFor a
week the Pawnee and otoe Indians have
been visiting the Usage tribe on their res
eryation in the northeastern corner ef the
territory. and a grand green-corn dance
and dog feast has been in progress The
great feature of the e=campnent. how
ever. was an old-time Indian wedding.
celebrated according to Usage usages and
customs. probably the most rovsL brill
liant. exciting and enter tanning wedding
ceremonies that 1t has ever been the lot
Of man 10 witness. The contracting par
ties were Paul Red Eagle and Ida Strike
axe, fuil-Elooded members of the Usage
tribe. who are the richest people on the
face of the earth. every member of the
tribe being worth $500 in cash. in ad-
dition TO hundreds of acres OF fine land
and the ceremony represented all the
pOmp, splendor and dignity characteristic
of the tribe.
As Is the custom. a contract was re-
Gently made between the friends and
parents of the bride and the friends and
parents of the groom, calling for SO
many horses for the hand of the bride.
In this case the stipulation called for
reservation. All this occurs without the
knowledge or consent of the two TO be
welded, and not until the wedding day
did the bride know who the groom was
To be, or the groom know what maiden
OF the tribe was to be his bride.
Four O'Clock in the afternoon was the
hour for the ceremony. and at the ap-
pointed time six young men. intimate
friends of the groom. appeared. accom-
panied by as many young and active
squawS, all prepared for a race. The
young men lined up side by side, while
to the front some thirty steps the sqUaws
We're standing in line. AT distance OF
250 yards TO the northeast. and near her
wigwam. the bride appeared on horse
back. handsomely and gorgeously deco
rated with all the hnery and parapher-
MALTA known 10 the red men. and the
horse. the finest to be found in the tribes
herds. was literally covered with gay
trappings. 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
within l50 yards of the waiting line OF
young bucks and squaws they halted. ana
at the report of the rifle of the father Of
the bride they made wild dash for her.
| The FIRST brave 10 reach the bride and
| touch her hand receives the horse she Is
/ seated upon, and Edward Cn0uteau an
educated young Indian. won the race and
/ secured the fine animal upon which she
| rode. Desha White Spear. the first squaw
| to reach the bride, became the owner
| OF the beautiful bridal robe and Will
put it away for her own wedding day
! when it viii again be contested for by
racing maidens. The race over. the great
robes wrapped about the bride were
spread upon the ground and she dis
mounted 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, PROV
ed to be large farmhouse.
The bride was carried into the house and
| seated at Il large table loaded with food.
which in quality would have done credit
TO any wedding feast Of civilizz Ion and
in quantity surpassed the Preparations for
many a great banquet The bride onee
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
precedents. gave him a winning smile and
he kissed her. The bride and groom a-e
out Of one dish and all the relatives.
friends and nelshbors crowded about the
table and ate Of the feast in their usual
manner, while great loads Of good things
10 eat were carried out and distributed TO
the members of the visiting tribes. the
feast lasting until far into thu 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 in
Guided. for the groom TO support In
doing this. however. he relinquishes to
the young couple his home. farm. machin-
cry stock etc. and himself and wife
hereafter live on the bounty Of the young
couple.
This is the first real Usage wedding
that has occurred for several years on the
reservation and in the very near future
such ceremonies will be known only II
| tradition.