The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-25

had arrived several days before the
cate set and were enjoying season Of
feasting. Upon the morning of the
wedding day all the Indians attired
themselves in their gaudiest blankets,
put on their best paint and brightest
feathers. The bride was taken from
her home to the tent of a neighbor,
and there the squaws proceeded to
dress her in the wedding finery. This
was all done according to the custom of
ages, and it required about three hours
TO complete her toilet. Then the pro-
cession started for the home of the
groom o-be, a short distance away
During this time the man in the case
had not been seen. He was in his
tepee, awaiting the appearance of the
bride.
In buggy drawn by two Indian po-
MES that were led by couple of the
male relatives of the bride she rode
and with her rode the maid of honor
The bridesmaids, four III number, rode
on horses. two upon each side of the
buggy Without delay the procession
proceeded to the front of the tepee oc-
cup1ed by Bonniecastle. There the
bride left the buggy and the four
bridesmaids placed her on a blanket,
which was wrapped around her, and
then four SquawS seized the blanket
and took it inside, where the young
man awaited. Now, for the first time
the bride saw her future husband. In
Few moments the two appeared be
fore the tent, surrounded by the maid
OF honor and the bridesmaids
AT this point the wedding came near
being declared off, because the groom,
Instead Of wearing blanket, war bon
net and paint, as the Indians all ex-
pected and as custom demanded, step
ped forth from the tepee in a neat
fitting suit of broadcloth, white shirt,
standing collar, tie, patent leather
shoes and derby hat A loud objec-
ton was made to this by the fullbioods,
VINO thought he should have observed
all the customs. A committee of the
head men of the tribe went to him and
urged him to don the blanket and
feathers. He fatty refused. They in
sisted, and he finally told them plainly
that he was there to be married, and he
was going to wear the clothing of the
white man. He also added that if they
did not like his plan they could go to a
place hotter than the Usage reserva-
ton. A council of the committee was
held and, after heated argument,
Bonnlecastle won his point, and the
ceremony proceeded. Here the groom
introduced another feature not on the
programme, and not in accordance with
the traditional customs, but no ob1ec-
lions were made to it by the Indians.
AFTER the argument about the groom's
dress was settled, priest stepped out
Of the crowd of white people and per-
formed the wedding ceremony accord
ing to the rites Of the Catholic church
Inc indian ceremony was then resumed
ana the races were called.
Sassy Calf, mounted upon a fine
horse belonging to the groom, rode
about 200 yards from the crowd and,
fired gun. This was the signal for
the start Of the race for the groom's
horse, saddle and gun, and the contest
ants in this race can only be the male
relatives of the groom. AS Bonniecas-
tie has only one male relative, his
Drotnef, the race was easily won by
him. Then the buggy in which the
bride had been taken to the tepee of
her lord, was drawn out about 200
yards from the crowd and another gun
was fired. Nearly every squaw pres
ent was in this race, as it was a sort of
free-for-all, and any of the women
are at liberty to run if they desire
The first one to the buggy won it.
other races were pulled off and the
fifteen ponies given by the groom for
the bride We're given away, some to the
relatives of the bride and some TO the
white people in attendance The best
was yet to come. The feast had been
prepared during the other part of the
ceremony, and all sat down tc eat,
picnic fashion. The bride and groom
sat at the head of the table, on the
ground. surrounded by their relatives
and those who had taken part in the
marriage, while all of the other Indians
sat around and stuffed themselves with
the eatableS provided with the $500 put
UP by the groom.
According to custom, when two
young people go through this ceremony
and then eat together at the feast it
signifies the end of the wedding and
they are considered welded. The
groom, having had all of the say in the
matter, is usually ready and willing to
eat, but the bride, having had nothing
to do with it. sometimes refuses, which
signifies she is unwilling to we'd Her
refusal makes little difference, ordi-
narlly. because she must eat some time
and she is simply starved into will
ingness to accept her husband
Bonn1ecaStle will build a home for
his wife at Pawhuska. and they will
live among the whites at the agency.
A little later they expect to take an
extended wedding trip through the
East
The Usage Indians are the richest
tribe or nation of people in the world,
and this woman is probably the richest
female on the reservation. She has
about $4,000 worth of property, be-
sides her share in the tribes general
money and her annuity from the gov
eminent. Bonniecastle is worth about
$4,000 in his own name, having inher-