The times., 1901-06-17
LAST BEEF ISSUE TO INDIANS.
Red Men XIII and Eat n whole Herd
OF wild Cattle.

WICHITA, Kan, June 16.-The beef is
sue to the Kiowa and Comanche Indians
at Anadarko, lately, was the last beef
issue they will be allowed to have as
wards of the United States. With the
opening of their reservation to white set
tlement in August, they become voters
and citizens of the United States, having
to look after their own affairs and earn
their meat
Hundreds of Indians danced and made
merry for days around the place where
the issue was to occur. The medicine
men held sessions behind closed doors
and the squaws raced with each other
All was gay in the camp of these red
skins, for the bucks would soon be turn
ed loose upon the fine fat herd of cattle
purchased by Major Randlett.
For the last year the Indian agent had
discouraged and refused to allow an is
sue of beef to the Indians in the old man
ner The authorities at Washington dis
courage the killing of cattle and eating
it on the plains. 1t does not uphft the
savage in the least. White men call the
beef issue savage fete-something IKE
the Mexican bull ight-except that tie
Indian eats his prey. The beast has no
chance whatever.
to the camp where a thousand expectant
Indians were encamped. He told them
they could chase the herds as soon as the
young men were ready. Then a wild, weird
chanting rang through the camp. Sudden
| Iy from the lodges burst forth the young
men. They were clad in gay trapplhSs
and their faces were painted gcrSeousIy
| Each carried a long shining Aeld gun 10
! the stranger this aggre cation would nave
| looked like a regiment of saVages gong
| into battle. Toward the herd they dash
/ ed Soon the crack of the gun, the snort
| ing ana believing of the wild cattle, and
| fierce shouting of the warriors told that
| the chase was on. 1t sounded like a pat
! tie in progress.
! For half an hour the chase was kept
| up. and the widest excitement prevailed
| in the camp The squaws were sharpen
| ing their knives and rolling up thelr
| sleeves The medicine men We're chahl-
| ing for the success of the young bucks.
After every one of the herd had been
! laid low upon the grassy plains OF the
| reservation, the young men came rlolns
| back long columns abreast. After the
! squaws had skinned and dressed the
| beef the medicine men went forth ana
/ invoked the Great Spirit After this was
done, the Indians, large and small rushed
| to the carcasses and ate their fill
| Some devoured the meat raw, while
| others took time and pains to roast IL
| over small fire built on the open pralrle
! What was left of the 100 steers the SquaWs
| the dances began. For hours they danced
| and prayed and tainted away, duflhe
| which time they went to see their deai
| friends" Then the remainder of th'
meat was brought forth and placed an :
| huge kettle. They danced around as i
boiled.
! Now followed a second feast 1t wa:
| nearly daybreak when the warriors SAM
into a sleep, having eaten POUNDS an'
pounds of meat that day II was TN
greatest of beef issues ever held on IN,
| reservation, and a few white people, Wh'
| were the guests OF the agent saw 10
the last time picturesque funcJioi
! which was to the Indians the most en-
joyable picnic of their lives.
| Besides paying the Indians large SUM
| of money every year The Government
feeds them. 1t is a small army OF re-
men who draw rations from the Unlte'
States, live in idleness, and curse thel
| benefactors. ~ 81,
Indians OF this number 45,250 draw
| rations regularly. while 12,690 more ar
| provided at various times when they ar
| Unable to work or do not feel ike II
! In the latter class are included most o
| the Indians who have grown OLD ana ar
| deserted by their young relatives
! The total cost of purchasing ana dlS
: trfbuting rations to the Indians last yea
| reached the sum of 81. 81 900 1t VIII D
even more in 1871. OF the $3.50 Indian
| who draw rations daily 1856 are OF IN
| Sioux nation There are 3.z95 dependeti
Indians of the Kiowa, Comanche, Apache
and Wichita Indians in Oklahoma, an
.gG6 of the ADaches in Arizona. Othe
| tribes who live from the ration systeI
live in Colorado. Wyoming, and Ne'
| Mexico. .
g, The ration system is gradually bein
! done away with. as it keeps the req me
from working for a livelihood. In nv
wears there VIII be no Indian rations