The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-05
AN INDIAN WEDDING EVENT.
The Marriage of Miss Mary Rec
Eagle to Tall Elk.

Pawhuska. Okla, July 24.-Two Of
the richest Indians in the world were
married in grand style at Pawhuska, Okla,
Monday. 1t was the society event of the
Indian world. Hundreds of the select were
there. Miss Mary Red Eagle and Tall Elk.
a Government clerk and the heir TO for
tune OF over Sl,00OG00, were married ac-
cording to the old Indian custom Beth
are full hlcoded osages.
The ceremony was unique, as was the
counting. Tai Elk was forced to get
around some pretty hard propositions be-
fore he could make terms with the father
of the girl but he at last succeeded. and
the old man has given his blessing, but he
has not returned the price the young buck
had to pay for his squaw.
Tall Elk is graduate Of an Eastern
college and he only lately came back to
live among his people. When he did he
gave up his college clothes and put on the
regalia Of his people He was the clerk in
the Government office who attends to Ieas-
ing the lands of the tribe and his business
cares were supposed TO be many But he
found time and eyes for the daughter of
the old chief and he made love 70 her in
white man fashion with a fury that had it
become public would have forever dis
graced them both. 1t is the custom among
these Indians that a young couple who love
each other should not be seen together IN
til their engagement was publicly an
nounced. But Tall Elk persuaded the
maiden of bis heart to wander in the
woodland with him alone and there he
was happy. She must have enjoyed it, too.
or else she would not have taken the risk
of baRishment from her fathers tepee il
she should be discovered holding quiet ses-
sons with the sen Of the most hated en-
envy of her father.
This counting was kept up for several
weeks and then the young man found a
way by which he could bring her father
to time. He discovered, 1t is said, hat
Red Eagle had been fixing the laws ID
fit his own case to make money and that
If the sensation was unearthed it would
mean official disgrace. He went TO the
father about it and told him. The old man
gave his consent to the wedding imme-
diately, but insisted that he should be
paid forty-fve ponies for his daughter. \
little thing like the purchase of The girl
did not stand between the young man
and his love, so he paid over the ponies
and went to counting the girl in the pres
ence of the parents which is the right way
for the Osases. They soon tired of this
and Monday the ceremony was performed
with all the p0mp and dignity of . swell
wedding among this tribe. At o'clock
in the morning six bucks appeared at che
Later six squaws came. Then the visitors
came and sat around the outside Of the
square. Just as the sun arose the bride,
clad in dazzling robes of many eolors came
from her tepee on the north side of ths
square. She rode on pony and her mother
followed on foot
They advanced to the centre OF the
square and the pony was turned loose and
the bucks ran for it. Her mother then
commenced to undress the bride, and as
her clothes were flung to the winds the
squaws ran and gathered them up as me-
mentos of the event. Finally the bride
commenced to sing the wedding song OF
the tribe and her lover came from his wig
wan on the south side of the square. and
taking her in his arms. carried her to his
tepee. The visitors clapped their hands
and later the couple ate from the same
plate at the wedding breakfast which con-
sisted Of dog soup and sacred medicine tea.
By these acts they were legally married.
1t is probably the last marriage of the
kind that will ever be celebrated. There
were no presents from any OF the rela-
tives, but then the couple DO not need
them.