The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-04
AN Usage INDIAN WEDDING.
Ceremonies and Aiorrymakings by The
Richest People in lhe Would

GUTHRIE. OKLAHOMA July 2l-
For q week the paWuCe and Otoe Indians
have been visiting The Usage tribe on
their reservation Zoo The northeastern
corner of the territory. and grand
greeu-corn dance and dog feast has been
iu progress. The great feature 0f tne
cncampment. however W1s am o'd-tima
Indian wedding. celebrated according I'D
Usage uses and customs. probably taf
most novel. brilliant exciting AMI enier-
tanning wedding ceremony shat it BIAS
ever been the Dot of man to Wiu.
The contracting parties Wege Paul HDd
Eagle and Ida strkcaXe. lulI-DI0od meme
beers of the Usage tribe. who are the
richest people on the face OF thc earth.
every member of the tribe being worth
$4,000 in cash. in addition to hundreds
OF acres OF fine land and the ceremony
represented an the p0mp. spiendor ana
dignity characteristic of the tribe
As IS the custom. contract was r.
Gently made between the friends and
parents OF the bride and the friends and
parents Of the groom, calling Tor $50 many
horses for tho hand of the bride IT'D thii
case the stipulation called for forty ot
the finest ponies lu the tribal reserVa-
tl0n. All this occurs without the kno"i-
edge or consent of the two l1 h- W-aa. ID,
and not until the wedding lay dld the
bride know who the groom was FOB be-,
or the groom know what maiden ~ the
tribe was to Doe his bride.
Four o'clock In Che afternoon was me
hour for the ceremony and at Che ape
pointed time six young men. Intimate
friends Of the groom, appeared. aec9m-
panied by as many young and active
squaws al prepared for o. race. Ire
young men lined mp side 5y s.le while
20 the front some thirty steps tne s1u1Ws
were standing in line AT distance of
go yards to the northeast md near her
wigwam, the bride appeared on horse
back. handsomely and g0rgcously deco
rated with all the hnery aud par1p1 flna-
Tia known 10 the red men, and 90
horse. the finest 90 Doe found in che
tribes herds. was literally covered with
gay trappings. mahlns an Imposing spec
tacle. In the rear o. the bride appeared
her mother. aleo mounted. and togg d
out second only 20 the bride.
When the mother and daughter got
within $50 yards OK the waiting line OF
young bucks ana squaws they llitad,
and a the report OF the rifle of the Ca
Their OF the bride they made a wild dash
for her. The first brave 20 reach the
bride and touch her hand receives the
horse she IL seated upon, ana Edward
ChOuteau. an educated young Indian,
won the race and secured the fine animal
upon which she rode. Dcsha White
Spear. the first squaw TO reach the bride
became The owner Of the beautiful BRIDAL
robe and win put II away for her own
wedding day. when It viii again Doe con-
tested for by racing maidens. The race
over. the great robes wrapped about the
bride were spread upon the ground and
she dismounted upon the centre OF them
and was Immediately seized By score
of squaws and carried 20 the wigwanr
Of the groom. which, I'm this Instance
proved toA be a large farmhouse. Inc
bride was carried into The house ana
seated at a large table loaded Win tood.
which in oualitv would have done credit
to any wedding feast of civilization, and
in quantity surpassed the preparations
for many a great banquet Ihe brloe
once seated and surrounded by hes
maids. the groom appeared and seated