Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-08-27
INDIANS sun DANCE.
Prof. Mooney Explains the Charges
Made Against Him.
ORDER ABOUT UNTOUCHED PAPERS.
rhe Postmaster General Authorizes BAG
Rasemasters TO Deliver Newsdeaiers
Packages ut Pisces shown In the Adj
dress-Rules to BE Observed.

NAVe@ @S~~~- =
Washington, Aug. 26.-Prof. Moo
pey, of the bureau Of ethnology, mas
made q statement to Prof. Langley,
secretary of the Smithsonian institu-
ton. in reference to the Cheyenne
sun dance, which he is said to have
encouraged. He denies that the dance
was paid for by him In whole or in
mart. but says that 1t was the regular
tribal ceremony enacted by numerous
tribes on various western reserva-
lions every year. Within the past ten
years. Mr.. Mooney says, he has wit
messed four Of these dances, which
were held with the full knowledge and
sanction of the agent. He denies thar
any dancer was strung up with cores.
and that of the 80 Indians who par
ticipated In the dance recently ,neid
one was anxious to undergo the pecu-
liar form of torture in accordance
with a VOW Of sacrifice. Prof. Mooney
saws that a public council Of chiefs
was held and he advised against any
thing in the nature Of torture, al
though he learned afterward that on
the last night Of the dance the man
referred to had two Sits made IN his
breast with a knife, each cut being
about half an inch in length. He de-
clares that he was not present ana
did not know of the occurrence untlt
the next day. He refutes the charge
that he hired or instigated an Indian
10 drag a buffalo skull by. means OF
cords passed over skewers liked IN
the mans shoulders. He says he was
not present when the man started
hut that later Mr.. Seger, the superin-
tendent, who, 1t is said, made tne
charges. against him, witnessed tne
act and attempted no interference
uupouched Newspaper Mail.
washington, Aug. 26.-The postmas-
for general issued formal order yes
terday authorizing the delivery OF un-
nouched newspaper mail by baggage
masters The regulation Is made by
amending paragraph 5, section 1900
og the postal laws and regulations, SO
as to make 1t read:
whenever delivery OF outside news
dealers packages cannot be mace Dy
the regular railway postal clerks, De-
cause Of there being no postal clerk on
the train used for the transportation
If such packages, the baggageman Oh
the train will deliver the newsdealers
packages outside Of the mall SACK ano
while in his custody they shall be con-
sidered as mail matter. Baggagemen
shall deliver such packages az tne
place shown in the address. y
"Baggagemen are not permitted Z
roceive .second-class mail directly IRON
the publisher on postmasters' certin'
Gates. unless specially authorized W
the department through the aivisiol
superintendent to do So
packages for delivery OUTSIDE Oh 'n'
mail when handled and delivered o.
railroad baggagemen will be dul,
weighed and credited to the railroad
company carrying them, the same a.
other mail. a.
"In order to distinguish packages ~
outside delivery sent by mail IRON
those sent by express companies o
NV railroad service 1t ia required Una
nuhlishers shall have printed In Doll
tvna ON wrapper Of mail packages 10
outside delivery the words; uni'e'
states Mail for Outside Delivery ,
Publishers Risk"