The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-07-27
NO MORE GHOST DANCES.
kiown and Comanche Indians of Ok.
lahoma Must Relinquish
Reservation.


Reservation.
The Kiowa and Comanche Indians
lately held their annual ghost dance
on their reservation in Oklahoma. This
dance is notabl from the fact that the
Kiowa and Comanche reservation has
just been purchased by the United
States, and will soon be thrown open
to white settlement. Over 10 900 farms
Of 160 acres each will be given to
homestead men, who are required to
pay only $3.50 an acre within five years.
The race for the new homes will take
place within the next few months. The
kioWas and Comanches, who have &C.
cupied this reservation for the last
quarter-century, have not advanced in
the ways of civilization in the least.
If anything, Agent Patrick says, they
have refrigerated.
The Kiowas and Comanches are two
of the few tribes who yet indulge in
the ghost dance, for they have never for
a moment given up the religion taught
by the prophet of the Piutes. This
prophet, whose name was Wovoka, ten
years ago created much excitement
among the Indians by saying that he
had died and gone up to Heaven, where
ne was allowed to talk with God. He
said that God had told him to tell the
Indians that He was soon coming among
them, and would destroy all the whites
and resurrect the dead Indians and all
the game. The Indians sent delegates
to visit Wovoka, or the Messiah, as
they called him. He told them long
stories of his visit, and they were su-
perstitious enough to believe every
word. These delegates returned to
their people and exaggerated the i'm
portance of the Messiah. They said he
was just like the white mans Jesus, and
told how he had shown them the scars
on his feet and hands.
Wovoka also taught them the ghost
dance. This dance was to last six days
and nights. The dance was to be
joined in by all the Indians Of the red
race, and after awhile the Messiah
would call on God to keep His word.
The Indians all obeyed, and the dance
was kept up for nearly a year in all
the tribes of the north and west, but
the end of the world did not come. Then
some of the more educated Indians de-
nounced Wovoka as a false prophet
and quit the dance, but the Kiowas.
Comanches, Arapahoes and southern
Sioux did not give up the dance, and
every June they hold big ghost dances
on their reservations in Oklahoma. As
these dances are carried on peaceful
the Indian agents do not object.
However, since the Kiowa and Co.
manches have been ordered by the in
terror department to settle on allot-
ments, word has come that this shall
be the last ghost dance these Indians
shall hold, unless they go to some of
the other tribes reservat tons. The
dance is being held on the banks Of
stream near Darlington. About 500
Indians gathered there on Monday.
June II, and the dance was started on
Monday afternoon. A great many white
people were there to witness the dance.
One of the features of the dance was
the erection of fagpole in the center
Of the dancing circle, upon which were
hoisted two large American flags.
Wa-pa-nah, the Kiowa prophet, is d.
recting the dance. While they do not
expect the Great Spirit to deliver them
from the evils of the white man for sew
eral years, the medicine men and
prophets are telling the Indians assem-
bled at this dance that the end of this
world is bound to come at no late date.
They are advising the tribes to leave
the United States and go to Mexico.