The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-07
Bureau Of Ethnology May Mete
Out Punishment to Men Who
Incited "Sun Dance"
BARBARous RITES DESCRIBED.
Young Indian Leaped Around Cir
Gle Dragging Steers Head At
tached to Strips of Skin
From His Own Back.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington, Aug. e.-afethods OF melting
ont punishment to the scientists who are
CHARGED with responsibility for the recent
exhibition Of the be.barous sun dance IN the
Kiews Reservation in Indian Territory are
under consideration at the Bureau OF Eth
nology In this city.
Professor William Holmes. chief OF the
bureau, to-day requested James Mooney,
epecial ethncicgist. to write report OF
HE investigations and researches during
the sun dance. especially bearing upon the
point OF his alleged Indictment Of the In
dams to perform certain borharous rites n
connection with this dance. This report IS
expected also TO cover the part played in
the sun dance by Professor Dorsey of the
Field Columbian Museum.
Acting Indian Commissioner Tonner an
nounced to-day that, in view OF the wide
! publicity given tho name OF Mr.. Mooney
In connection with the dance. and the fact
that he is az ernploye Of the Bureau o; Eth
nology, that bureau viii assume charge CT
ice.
Great indignation is expressed by the oh
Gals OF the Indian Once over the details Of
the sun dance as practiced by The Indians
Of the Cheyenne-Arapehoe agency for the
alleged benefit Of the two scientists
TIE weil-known tendency OF even the most
highly educated Indians to revert to a semi
osYbar3c state always causes uneas;ness
among the heads OF the indian Once when
Nkeiy to excite the red men. The officials
here fear that great deal q restiveness
and meaaness win result among the
enthusiAsm Of the TWO scientists.
Byron E. White. superintendent Of the
Canfnnent Indian School Of Indian Terri
tory, who arrived in Washington yesterday.
confirms the stories Published Of how In
dams were paid 70 torture themselves, The
Fan ofsicsS q he saresu Of ESSnolosy and
Q member OF the FiAld Museum OF Chicago.
who personally conducted the sun dance"
ostensfbly given for the lariat to which
vas tied the bulls head which one Indian
dragged behind him. attached TO strips OF
makes the statement that. after the dance,
the two scientists paid the tortured savage
money for the skin torn from his body.
BAEBAROCS DANCE DESCRIBED.
Mr.. White said:
The camp of the Indians was arranged
IN .he shape OF . horseshoe. The Indian
selected Tor the torture barred his back
and two parallel Sits were made Just back
of and below each shoulder blade These
were each about three inches long. A knife
blade was then thrust into the hack from
Alt to slit and through the hole thns mads
stick was thrust. Ihe lariat led out from
the back for . e. feet and then the ends
.'.At the. knot. one end Of . single strand OF
Il freshly siaaehts s beef vas sssscSed.
In the published reports which have seen
Of the incident, refermcs b made to . buf-s
soushvest prpculsfie for thu. or any other
psnpcee- The Indian. with the dangling head
csasSine behind him: sta r from IN 'front.'
arc Of <he horseshoe.
's,perfntendent segef. VINO had spent the
he Indian M se< ~, .tsrfsd 4, er,.aT5t IA