The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-11-30
SOME SAVAGE PASTIMES
SCENES AT A SERIES OF FESTIVE.
TIES OF THE SIOUX.

49, NJ tFII IiOONs
How the Indians Amuse Themselves
10 Fond Of Sports and Mimic Warfar
With Traditional Foils-A Brave; Acct
De dentally Killed in the Fray, is Scalped
Is The sporting instinct, which exists
L to a greater or less extent in all hui
ID man beings. has not neglected ''the
noble red man." AS a rule he is pic
l tured as morose and sullen, broodine
u eternally over the wrongs his race
5 has suffered at the hands of the white
u man, writes a correspondent of the
J. Chicago Chronicle, from Sioux Falls,
). u. 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 q
= social and sociable being, and at times
is decidedly sportive in his inclina-
tons and habits. To this those who
I nave visited them on their reserva-
tions can attest, for on occasions they
; display relish for athletic and other
amusements in strange contrast with
their usual slothfulness. At times
the stolid and dignified Indian seen
at the agencies by the casual visitor
throws aside his natural reserve as
easily as he would toss aside n bIan-
ket, and with the greatest zest en-
tiers into the sports peculiar to the
Indians. The last one Of these gath
erlnSs among the Sioux on the Rose
Dud 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 a grand |
charge of Sioux at daybreak. This |
was participated in by about 200 |
Sioux warriors. All We're on horse
back and dressed strictly in war cos
tune, consisting Of q breech-clout, the
usual bonnet made Of eagle features,
with a 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 a mile
from camp in the deep ravine through
Whicn hoWs Ponca Greek, and were
concealed from the view of the war.
rlors left in camp. The latter were
supposed TO represent Pawnee In
dlans-the oldtime enemies of the
sioux. The camp consisted of 163
lodges, which were built In q ring
shape, so as to encircle about 500 acres
'l ground ON the big plateau In the
centre OF the circle Of tepees was a 7
odge known in Indian as Tip Jykihe. {
inns was supplied with food by su L
ne women in the camp and any one u
VINO 1elt SO disposed could eat at any o
line he wished. Nearly all the old o
warriors, those too feeble to bartlett II
'ate actively in the sports. spent most 81
Il their time at the refreshment lodge, IL
ating and relating experiences of the II
ast' when they We're on the warmth 81
salnst the whites or other Indian
rlpes. just as the day dawned on es
ne eastern horizon the 200 warriors CT
nth blood-curdling warwhoops and L
orses at full speed, rode into camp Ia
ud Tor fifteen minutes made pande- az
iohluln. The firing of guns and the IL
'nstant war cry Of the excited war pa
ors mlngllng with the wailing of the ca
omen was sufficient to chill the blood 10
any one not accustomed to such s1t
a
hefce mock fighting, in which five co
the faWnees were supposed to be sp
iied, the Sioux retired, driving be- TO
re them about one hundred Donies rol
longing to the Pawnees. sp'
Ihe Sioux lost only one man killed It's
icy iert him on the field, and while eAl
treating a Pawnee brave, with all OF
Darbarity. which was chara cteris. the
Oh thar tribe in the old times, pro- Ter
eded to scalp the victim. This was Gu
he by passing sharp knife around flin
top OF the victims head. This pre-
Is represented to show that al. {
ough at this time the Sioux were era
'torlous, there was one Sioux scalp ma
I III the possession Of a Pawnea Ih'
iVe' VINO would at some fut1ra ma
ne avenge the death of his brother est
is spectacle gave true representa- put
OF how the Indians made war in ly
rs gone by. The dead Pawnees per
re buried with suitable ceremonies 1t
winch the loud wailing of the spe'
laws bore no small mart the
breakfast came next ON tho mr., ing
mlne. After breakfast, which con- wal
ed chiefly of bread and strong cof- Par
Clrcle Foot. known throughout OF t
Sioux nation as one of the bravest dfu
oid-tme warriors, gave an exhibit. ousi
OF now he went on a horse-steal- crat
expedition against the Omaha Tn. ton
IS early In the '60s. At this time tinel
Sioux Were encamped near ola grou
t Laramie and the Omabas No. ly a
present reservation on the Mis-. On
Il river, short distance north of 70 Il
city of Omaha. in c
rcie root at that time was mita yout
'uhg man and, wishing to mako o duty
e FOR himself by doing soma braro vide
|, concluded that he would ton
and alone to the Lard 20 educ
mas and steal some of tba,r mono
es. After spending +1,o 80 embe
in communion with tbo 60. With
It. during which time he RETAINED VIII
eating, drinking or sleeping-as syste
the custom of the Sioux before pose
lg a long iournev-ba stor+oa large
ne morning in the spring on his cneal
Y and periIous iournev oe rn pie.
red miles across +ho 49, to tn,
and of the Omabas ~ - real
took with him nothing but his no"
ana arrows and a little dried =
70 meat, which he packed on his One