The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-02
sun DANCE MAKES TROUBLE.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL
BE ASKED no EXPLAIN.

1t 10 Alleged That Prof. james Mooney
and Prof. G. 4. Dorsey We're Present
and Saw Indian Mutilate Them
selves for Money--snapshots Taken.
WASHINGTON. Aug "A serious contro-
versy, which will probably result in rigid
investigation. hes arisen between the
officials Of the Bureau OF Indian Affairs
and the Bureau Of Ethnology. over the
recent revival of the sun dance by the
Cheyenne and Arapahos Indians in Okla
homa.
As is well-known, the Government,
through the Indian Service, hes been en-
deavoring for years to induce its Indian
wards to sbandon their savage customs,
among them the barbarous ghost" and
"sun" dances, with their accompanying
features of madness, mutilation, physical
ruin and death.
has been no regular sun dance, this rite
having been succeeded by the less objec-
tionable "corn feast" and peace" dances.
An official report received to-day by Com
missioner Of Indian Affairs Jones from
Supt. Seger, Of the Seger Colony Indian
Training School Of Oklahoma, says, how
ever. that the work Of years has been undone
and sun dance under the direct auspices
Of Government officials held.
The men named by Supt. Seger are Prof.
James Mooney, assistant chief Of the Bureau
Of Ethnology and Prof. George A. Dorsey.
curator Of a1thropology Of the Field Column
bian Museum Of Chicago.
Supt. Seger was present during portion
of the personally conducted sun" dance,
held for purposes Of observation" He
was at the Indian school when he was in
formed that q sun" dance was being held
q POINT In the Territory about fifty
miles south.
Although he did not believe the rumor
the barbarous rite not having been held in
that vicinity for fifteen years, he made
hurried trip and found that the report was
true. Although he arrived rather late, he
found the dance still in progress.
In his letter to Commissioner Jones,
In which no gives vivid account OF the
ceremony, he says he saw Indians under
going torture, and speaks OF one in par
ticular who, although almost at the limit
Of physical endurance, was dancing slowly
around the central pole, his body cut and
slashed and the skin Of his back cut into
strips, under which were inserted wooden
pegs.
To these pegs a rope was attached and
at the end Of the rope was tied the dried
head Of buffalo. Az the Indian pranced
around the wide circle, the buffalo head
dragged and bumped along the uneven
ground, while the pulling and straining
OF the wooden pegs in their flesh sockets
drew blood from the Indian at every step.
Mr.. Seger says that a few feet away
Prof. Mooney and Prof. Dorsey stood taking
notes, while photographer with the party
took snapshot photographs Of the mutilated
Indian at every new contortion. brief
investigation by Supt. Seger disclosed
the fact that the mutilated Indian had got
si5 to torture himself and to perform the
dance. Others had been paid In like
proportion.
Supt Seger does not say that Prof.
Mooney or Prof. Dorsey paid this money,
but merely that "the money was paid.
He does say. however, that the dance was
organized by an Indian who. for thirteen
years, was a student at the Carlisle Indian
School. and who, since his graduation, has
been In the employ Of the Government.
Mr.. Seger adds the information that there
was no desire among the Indians for this
dance, and that outside OF the participants,
who had worked themselves up to a pitch Of
fanatical frenzy, there seemed to be little
interest in the affair.
As the desire for sun" dance did not
originate with the Indians on this occasion,
and as the whole affair was little like the
original sun dances of years ago, when
whole tribes participated in the ceremonies.
Mr.. SeGer says that such dance does not
constitute history" and amounts to little
more than an expensive "pastime.'
Officials of the Indian Bureau are not as
conservative az Supt. Seger. They char
acterizs the idea of the sun" dance under
Government supervision as an expensive
fake, exclusive Of the humanitarian aspect
and say that if Prof. Mooney is allowed to
print his observations OF the torture rite
within the covers OF a Government publ
cation there will be all kinds Of trouble.
Commissioner Jones. to say the least, is
considerably disturbed over the matter,
and he will bring the report Of Supt. Seger
to the attention of the Secretary of the In
terror. with the request that the proper
action be taken.
Prof. Mooney, when seen this afternoon.
admitted that he had been present at the
sun" dance complained Of by supt. Seger.
but denied that he had given Indians money
to torture and mntilate tbemselyes Prof
Mooney would not 60 into details regarding
the purposes the personally conducted"
sun" dance was expected to serve, but
will undoubtedly be called upon for an ex-
PLANTATION within a few days.