Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
CLING TO OLD RITES.
Pagan Indians In Wisconsin Have
Queer Burial Custom.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
But few of the church people In Wiscon-
sin realize that while they are support
ing foreign missions, yet living in their
own state, within a stones throw Of white
neighbors and within 10 miles OF rail-
road, Is a tribe of pagan Indians who
neither believe in the Christian religion
nor in the science of medicine. While they
have learned to till the soil like the white
men, and the squaws run sewing machines
and other modern conyeniences, they new
ertheless retain their primitive custom of
having medicine men look after sickness
and conduct the medicine dances.
A person passing along the Wolf river,
where 1t runs through the Menomonee
reservation, will notice white flag high
up on the bluff II one follows q winding
trail for 100 yards from the road he will
see the flag. which Is a faded American
one, floating at haH-staff in q pagan GEM
etery.
The burial place is far different from
that of the whites. There are 80 graves.
each one covered with a wooden roof,
which is supported by sidings Of two logs.
In the rear Of each Of these is shelf.
upon which water and food are placed.
and hole cut so that the spirit may
come out and eat and drink. There is also
faded American flag at the end of each
grave.
A short distance from the graves is a
about II feet high in the center. Six
months after each burial this is covered
with blankets and skins, and the medicine
dance is held for the departed spirit. AT
these there is much dancing, feaSting and
drinking, for it appears to be no trouble
for the Indians there to obtain liquor.
During the interval between the death and
the dance the place Of the deceased is set
at the ia ble for each meal during the six
months and the amount of food which he
would have had If alive is placed there.
II a visitor happens in at meal time he
is given the food, which is considered a
high honor. If no one appears it is eaten
by the family.
If one of the tribe is taken sick dance
Is held at hts place. where the Indians
all gather for an all-day dance, and even
more feasting and drinking than at the
cemetery. Up to few years ago there
was no drinking at these festivals, but
those living In that neighborhood report
that the Indian no longer considers the
affair success unless all get drunk. AS
the dance progresses the sick person sits
at one end of the wigwam, and the medi-
cine men, with their faces painted and
carrying their medicine, which was man.
ufactured from herbs. in small snake skins
or the hide of a small animal dance in a
circle. AS they PASS the victim they
throw some of the medicine on the one
to be treated and push him over. 1t Is
told that at one of these dances sauaw
whose husband had died was obliged to
appear on a cold winter day in light
dress, with face painted and otherwise
gotten up for the occasion, and compelled
to run through the snow in the woods for
half mile in zigzag course, so as to
lose the spirit.
One of the most interesting characters
on the reservation is Frank Corn. the old
est medicine man of the lot. Corn Is the
only living Indian in Wisconsin who par
ticipated In the Black Hawk war and
while he does not know his age he points
to his height and motions to show that
he fought with bow and arrow, being
too small for firearms He is now fast
failing.
A short time ago the bone in his right
leg panied him. and to treat 1t he cut the
flesh until the bone was exposed. and
placed some of his own medicine on the
diseased part. Now when he is approached
by white man he is willing to ask for
advice In his case; for he will state to all
visitors. bad leg. Meat good, bone sick,
What helps?" One person informed him
that white man would cut 1t Off il it
was his, and since that time the old In
dian is not so anxious for the white man $
aid.