The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-27
WHITE EAGLE HAS
 ENEMY'S SCALP Was Captured in Battle With
 Sioux Indians NO MONEY GAN BUY IT Stories of the Ponea Indians, Some of Whom Are Now at the State Fair-Formerly a Power
 ful Tribe.
 
NO MONEY GAN BUY IT

Back of the Ponca Indians and their chief. White Eagle. lies story which adds additional interest to those who have seen them at the state fair. It Is tale of trouble and fighting of bravery on the field of battle and final victory. The chief Is the proud possessor of a scalp which he would today fight to preserve and which. as he says, there is not money enough in the country to buy. It was taken from the head of the big chief of the Sioux Indians in a battle fought fifty-two years ago. when he was only 20 years old, and at the time he made his reputation which today gives him the place of honor and command in the reminent of the once great tribe.
 As the story runs the Sioux Indians sold their land to the United States and at the same time disposed of portion of that claimed by the Poncas. The lat ter raised an objection and fight re- suited in which the Poncas were worsted by the Sioux. The latter effected the victory by coming on the Poncas while asleep in their tepees, surprising them and staying many before they could get their hands on weapons with which to defend themselves.
 A Return Raid.
 The Poncas at once collected all their warriors and planned return raid on the Sioux. who were in turn surprised. In the battle 1500 Indians were killed. This loss told sadly on the Ponca tribe. which previous to it had numbered 5000, but now has dwindled to about 6s0 people.
 Following close on this fight, or in 1872, the Poncas were moved from Da- kota. their previous home, to the ter ritory, where they have been ever since. gradually growing smaller and smaller in numbers. It is estimated that about 1900 Poncas made the trip to the territory, but they had not been there long when half of them returned to their northern home under the command of Standing Bear. The northern section of the tribe still lives in the Black Hills of Dakota, while the southern portion is in the terri tories and a small number of these are visitors at the state fair.
 The section of Indians which remained in the south was divided in two factions. one of them being under command of
 
 White Eagle. About a year ago Standing Buffalo died, and on his death bed re- quested that his faction go to the other chief and obey him in the future. This was done, and now the southern portion of the tribe is united.
 White Mans Tombstone.
 Standing Buffalo is the only Indian who .k-fr 1,fes grave. It is a marble buffalo of full size standing on it's hind legs, representing the name the Indian chief carried for nearly three quarters of a century.
 White Eagle is now chief of all and he is fast getting too old to be active. He is 72 years of age, but Is still straight as an arrow. The chief now carries a spear, the tip of which is stained red for several inches. emblematic of the blood of the chief of the Sioux Indians, whom he killed many years ago. Hung to this spear Is the scalp he took rom the chier. all showing his one great deed which won for him the supreme honors of his tribe.
 In talking of the Indians and their history yesterday afternoon, Zack Miller, foreman of the 101 ranch, said that many of the tales told of the Indans are un- true and have no foundation, having been the production of the fertile brains of novel writers. As an instance he says the Indians are afraid of an un- broken horse and will not keep one of them if possible to swap 1t off. They commence training a horse when 1t is a colt. but if it gets to be three years old hafora if is hrolen fhev will give if away for practically nothing. being afraid to break it.
 As to their feats of horsemanship, he says they can ride, shoot and do other feats equal to the best but they will not ride a strange horse. or one that is unbroken.