The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1901-11-12
SOME SAVAGE PASTIMES
SCENES AT A SERIES OF FeSTlV-
TIES OF THE SIOUX.

TO Il greater or less extent In all hui
man beings, has not neglected "thc
noble red man. As rule he Is pic
turcd rs morose and sUllcn. breeding
eternaliy over the wrongs his race
has suffered ut the hands of the white
man. writes 4 correspondent of the
Chicago Chronicle. from Sioux Falls.
5. ID. In reality he finds as keen an
enjoyment in the pastimes that de-
light the Caucasian as does any other
mortal The fact is the Indian is
social and sociablc being, and at times
is decidedly sportive in his inclina-
tions and habits. To this those who
have visited them on their reserva-
lions can attest. for on occasions they
display 4 relish for athletic and other
amusements in strange contrast with
their usual slOthfuness. At times
the stolid and dignlfied Indian seen
ut the agencies by the casual visitor
throws aside his natural reserve as
easily as he would toss aside a blan-
ket and with the greatest zest en-
tiers into the sports peculiar to the
Indians. The last one OF these gath
bud reservation. called by them the
season Of sports. was notable for
number Of interesting features.
The season Of sports lasted three
days. The morning of the first day
opened In the usual way by Il grand
charge OF Sioux ut daybreak. This
was participated in by about 300
Sioux warriors. All were on horse
back and dressed strictly in war cos
tune. consisting Of n brcech- clout. the
usual bonnet made of eagle features,
with double row of feathers ex-
tending down the back to below the
waist. while the horses had feathers
in their tails and foretops and were
painted in different colors. The war
riors were also painted in all the col
ors OF the rainbow.
The Indians who participated in the
charge congregated about half mile
from camp in the deep ravine through
which flows Ponca Creek. and were
concealed from the view OF the war
rlors left in camp. The latter were
supposed TO represent PaWnee In
dianS-the oldtime enemies OF the
Sioux. The camp consisted OF 163
lodges, which were built in a ring
shape, so as 30 encircle about 800 acres
of ground on the big plateau. In the
centre OF the circle OF tepees was a
lodge known In Indian as Tip Jykihe.
This was supplied with food by all
the women in the camp and any one
who felt so disposed could eat at any
time he wished. Nearly all the old
warriors. those too feeble to partIci-
pate actively in the sports. spent most
OF their time at the refreshment lodge.
eating and relating experiences Of the
past, when they We're on the warpath
against the whites or other Indian
tribes. Just as the DAY dawned on
the eastern horizon the 200 warriors
with blood-curdling warwhoops and
horses at full speed. rode into camp
and for fifteen minutes made pande-
monium. The firing Of guns and the
constant war cry Of the excited war
riors mingling with the wailinC Of the
women was sufficient to chill the blood
or any one not accustomed to such
scenes. After about fifteen minutes
OF fierce mock fighting in which five
OF the Pawnees were supposed to be
killed. the Sioux retired, driving he.
fore them about one hundred ponies
belonging to the Pawnees.
The Sioux lost only one man killed
They left him on the field, ana while
fetreating a Pawnee brave. with all
the barbarity which was characters
tie OF that tribe in the old times. pro-
ceeded TO scalp the victim. This was
done by passing "a sharp knife around
the top Of the victims head. This
was represented to show that. ol-
though at this time the Sioux were
victorious. there was one Sioux scalp
Iett in the possession Of a Pawuee
brave. who would at some future
time avengc the death Of his brother
This spectacle gave true representa-
ton Of how the Indians made war I'm
years gone by. The dead Pawnees
Were buried with suitable ceremonies
in which the loud wailing OF the
squaws bore no small part
Breakfast came next ON Tho Dro
gramme. After breakfast. which con
sisted chiefly of bread and strong cot.
fee, Circle Foot, known throughout
the Sioux nation as one of the brayest
or old-time warriors. gave an cybib,-
ton OF how he went on horso.steaI
ing expedition against the Omaha IL.
d.anS early In the Cos st this time
tine Sioux were cncamped near old
Fort Laramie and the Omahas uca-
their present reservation on the Mis-
souri, River. q short distance north OF
thc city OF Omaha.
Circle Foot 40 tia Time was ou,,e
% young man and. wishing TO- mako 81
namc for himself by doing s1no b-av.
deed concluded That Doc would go ON
FOOT and alone TO che land of rho
pmlhas and steal some OF t1o.~
bonies. After spending tDo or tb~ec
days ia communion with tbc Groot
spirit during which Um, hr rcfraiDad
.'om eating. drinking or .locpine-
was The custom OF The Slou. before
'a6ing p long journey -hr started rar.
BY one morning u tha -1r.ue ON bf.
lonely and portions journey of several
hundred miles across the plains to
the land of tine Omah,e.
hn laos with Dim nothing brt if.
bow and arrows aul "a ltur dr.rl
buffalo meIt. which ha PACKED ON bi.
nac" f'f De depended mos.v for ti.
IDDN upon what glnp Io p.,.rI ,..