Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-10
AN Usage INDIAN WEDDING.
Ceremonies and Merrymaking by the Riches
People in The World.

For Il week the Pawnee and Otoe In
dianS have been visiting the Usage tribe
on their Indian Territory reservation in
the northeastern corner of the territory.
and grand grecn-corn dance and dog
feast has been III progress. The great
feature OF the encampment. however,
was an old-time Indian wedding, cele-
brated according TO Usage uses aad Gus
toms. probably the most novel, brilliant
exciting and entertaining wedding cere-
mony that it mas ever been the lot of
man to witness, The contracting partits
Were Paul Red Eagle and Ida StrikeaXe
full blood members of the Usage tribe
who are the richest people on the face
Of the 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 All the pomp, SPLEEN
dor and dignity characteristic OF the
tribe.
As is the custom. contract was re-
Gently made between the friends and par
ents 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
forty of the finest ponies in the tribal res
ervation. AL this occurs without the
knowledge Or consent of the TWO 10 be
welded. and not until the wedding day
did the bride know who the groom was To
he or The groom know what maiden OF
the tribe was to he his bride.
Four O'Clock in the afternoon was the
hour for the ceremony. and at the APP
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
80 yards to the northeast. and near her
wigwam, the bride appeared on horse
back. handsomely and gorgeouSly decor
ated with all the tinery and parapherna-
liza known to the red men. and the horse
l.. ~
herds. was literally covered with gay
trappngs. 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 80 yards of the waiting line of
young bucks and squaws they halted
and AT the report of the rifle Of the
father OF the bride they made a wild dash
for her. The first brave to reach the
bride and touch her hand receives the
horse she Is seated upon. and Edward
Ehoutcau an educated young Indian. won
the race and secured the fine animal up
on which she rode. Desha White Spear
the first squaW TO reach the bride. be-
came the owner of the beautiful bridal
robe. and Will put it 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 We're spread upon the ground and
she dismounted upon the centre 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 farmhouse. 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
weuding 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
no side and hon Red Eagle n