The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-30
SIOUX INDIAN FUN.
Rough Pastimes Break the MOnotO-
NY of Their Existence.

Rough Pastimes Break the MonotO-
ny of Their Existence.
Sioux Falls correspondence of the New
York Evening Post
Anyone who labors under the mistaken
notion that the Sioux Indians pass their
leisure time in smoking and dejectedly
musing on the past greatness of their ma
ton, and that they do not have any
pleasures to vary the monotony of life on
their reservations, would be greatly sur
prised could ne be present during one of
the social gatherings held quite frequently
at various points on their reservation. At
such time the stolid and dignified Indian
seen at the agencies by the casual visi-
tor throws aside his natural reserve as
easily as he would toss aside a blanket,
and with the greatest zest enters into
the sports unique to the Indians. The last
one of these gatherings among the Sioux
on the Rosebud Reservation, called by
them the season of sports, was notable
for a 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 two hundred Sioux warriors
All were on horseback and dressed strict
ly m war costume, consisting of a breech-
clout, the usual bonnet made of eagle
feathers, with double row of feathers
extending down the back to below the
waist, while the horses had feathers in
their tails and foretops, and were paint
ed in different colors.
Fierce sham Battle
The warriors were also painted in ali
the colors OF the rainbow. The Indians
who participated in the charge congre-
gated about half a mile from camp, in
the deep ravine through which flows
Ponca creek, and were concealed from
the view of the warriors left in camp.
The latter were supposed to represent
Pawnee Indians-the old-time enemies of
the Sioux. The camp consisted of -63
lodges, which were built in a ring shape
70 as to encircle about 800 acres of ground
or the big plauteau. In the center OF the
circle of tepees was q lodge known in
Indian as Tipi Jyol1ihe
Thds was supplied with food by all the
women IN the camp, and any one who felt
20 disposed could eat at any time he
wished Nearly all the older warriors,
those 300 feeble to participate actively in
the sports. spent most of their time at
experiences OF the past. when they were
on the warpath against the whites or
other Indian tribes.
Just as the day dawned on the eastern
horizon the 200 warriors with bloodhound
ling warwhoops and horses at fun speed,
rode into camp. and for fifteen minutes
made pandemonium. The firing OF guns
and the constant war cry OF the excited
warriors. minglinS with the waiiing OF
the women. were sufficient 20 chill the
blood Of any one not accustomed 20 such
scenes. After about fifteen minutes OF
nerce mock fighting. In which ave Of the
Pawnees we're supposed 10 be killed, the
Sioux retired. arriving before them about
100 ponies belonging 10 the Pawnees.
Buried the victim.
The Sioux had only one man killed They
left him on the field. and while retreatinR
. PawDse brave. with all the barbanty
which Wss Characteristic 81 that tribe IN
olaen times. proceeded 20 scalp the VIC
tim This WAS done by passing a Ehs rs
kpife around the top of the victims head
ltaa was represented 10 show that 81.
though az this time the sioux wsre vie.
tpfi9af thsfs was one siouR scalp left
~ he POSSESSION ~ . PaNnos brave who
reao A sumo future fifns ayenSs ths
e~@tA " his brother. 1his sDaetaels gave
I'VE fsp4ssentntiD1 a boz ne indianf
..aef "a Ia years Eons ~ The dss1
vines Hefs buried Nith Fuitabis o~rs.