Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-05-28
INDIAN SIGNALS.

Previous TO the advent OF ClVlI!LluS
influences the Indian had an elaborate
system of signals, some Of friendly
character, but the majority having
reference to war, says Portland Ore
gonian. AS time passed many Of the
signs and signals have become lost and
the present generation, with few ex-
ceptions, have little or no knowledge
of them as they were pfacticed from
the middle of the nineteenth century.
The smoke" signals were probably
the most universal and best known.
Many Of the early settlers, who locat-
ed far from the confines of civilization,
were fully competent to read and IN
terpret the most Of them. Fire sig-
nails" were also quite commonly en-
ployed, especially by tribes inhsbit-
ing mountainous country. Signals
by means Of the branche. of trees, ar
rows, stones and sticks were less fre-
quently used, though they were by no
means rare. Their Interpretation va
ried considerably, so much so that few
whites ever thoroughly understood
them. Many were in reality purely
local and pertained particularly to
the tribe using them. This was not
true Of the "smoke" and fire" signals.
These, with possibly few others,
were understood generally by all
tribes of Indians.
Smoke" signals were made by
means of small fire, built OF some
material that would cause a quantity
of smoke, with very little active COM
bust.on. The highest accessible butte
or mountain was selected from which
to send either these or FIRE = signals.
The commonly accepted statement
that rings of smoke were caused to as
ceud is wrong. Properly speaking,
they were not rings, but rather pufs
or balls Of smoke. Occasionally, on
still days, a column of smoke was al
lowed to ascend Primarily it was
not signal, but used principally to
attract attention.
The ball of smoke was produced by
covering, momentarily, small fire,
using buffalo, elk or deer hide, or in
later days a blanket, removing the
covering, permitting puff of smoke
to escape and Immediately recovering
the FIRE. In this manner quite a va
rety Of signals could be produced.
One puff Of smoke at comparatively
long intervals meant IAN enemy Is
near" Two pufs indicated "a camp
here" Three pufs quite near tOgeth-
er, with a longer interval between
each set of three, denoting great dan
ger, or attacked by enemy" Four
pufs, in pairs, with an appreciable in
terval between the two pairs, signifed
Large band of enemy, help wanted. .
Some tribes varied this method Of
signaling by building the number OF
separate smokes, as they were called,
required to express their meaning, as
one, two or three. Such signal. could
be readily distinguished at from 10 to
80 miles, and they were seldom con-
founded with camp fires. The look
out, or scout, that was a necessary ad-
junct of every war party, especially
when in a hostile neighborhood, rare
" failed to see and report all signals
occurring within the limit of his Wis
ion.
Fire" signals wer. used for the
same purpose at night, and with from
one to four bright fires in line the
came meanings were expressed as with
the "smoke" signals during daylight.
In the vicinity Of the section Of the
country claimed as home, or where
the larger number spent the winter
months, there was usually some high
butte or mountain called signal bill, "
or in at least one Indian, "We-was-
tos-po. From this eminence fire sig
nails were always made, and any event
Of importance was quickly communi-
Gated to the people. Signals from
thla hi! were almost lnTarlaoIy made
By order of the chief, and their prin-
ciple use was in calling the people to-
gsrher for council meeting, dance
or a feast. The Indian from whom
this information was obtained stated
that many of the more experienced
among the old people could readily
distinguish if it was to be war, scalp
or gun dance.
The same system Of signaling was
used at night by means OF "fre ar
rows" though they could not be seen
at so great distance as the smoke or
fire signals. yet clever operator could