The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-04-07
A PICTURESQUE SIGHT.
HORSE CHIEF SUPREME

On Sunday afternoon May 8, the
prairie on lOi ranch. near Bliss. viii
present a most pic ur>aaue sight, the
occasion being the formal Inaugural
ton Of Horse Chief, who was chosen
at the sun dance Of the Poncas last
June 10 succeed White Eagle. his
gather. as chief of the tribe While
all ceremonies of the Poncas are most
interesting ana impressive. this will
be most elaborate spectacle. in
which the entire tribe. painted, feaih-
cred and bedecked IN their gorgeous
blankets, will participate and will
have as their guests representatives
from nearly all the tribes In the ter
rltory, making a total of nearly 5000
Indians. wto viii be encamped in the
neighborhood several days before aud
after the celebration.
While an ordinary gathering of In.
dams is of great interest to the aver
age American, the scene on this oc.
casion viii be extraordinarily inter.
esting because of the elaborate cos
tunes The Indians will wear on ac-
ccunt Of the important ceremony
which win take place and the know
Iedge amongst the Indians that this
will probably be the last occasion of
this kind in which .hey will have the
opportunity to participate, due to the
faci that nearly all of the tribes have
been greatly reduced In numbers
within the past generation. while each
succeeding year finds the tribe edu-
Gated to state Of entire civilization
through the influence of education at
some OF the many Indian schools
which nearly all of the younger gener'
ations are attending. While the Pom
cas- have made themselves famous by
maintaining absolutely unbroken
peace with the whites for nearly a
century. they stiil maintain their
primitive manners and customs 10 a
greater degree than anysof the otner
reservation Indians; in fact. they are
one of the few tribes Of so-called
blanket Indians now remaining on the
reservations.
The ouSalo Is veRy much inter
woven with the traditions Of the Pom
cas-, a buffalo skull being placed al
the foot of their alter during the san
dance. while it has been the custom
FOR centuries past for a new chief tc
select his council from the warriors
most successful in the buffalo hum
the retiring chief. White Eagle. hay
ing chosen his council by such means
In order that the new chief may
select his council in like manner the
Poncas have prevailed upon Mr. j. g
Miller, president OF the 101 live stocl
company to secure for them a bunalc
70 be used for buffalo chase on thi:
occasion, so that Horse Chief may
select his advisers in accordance with
an ancient custom of the tribe. While
they viii not hunt the buffalo as die
their forefathers, a sixty acre field
has been arranged, to be inclosed with
cattle proof woven wire fence six feet
In height. within which the chase vii
be held lns cad of shooting the buf
faio, the Indians will be divided into
bands. each having its own goa
through which the bdffalo is to be
driven and from the band successful
in driving the h;,tfalo through rs
goal the new chief win select his ad
visors. arrangements having been
made 10 pro ect the Indians against
serious injury by the buffalo. After
the buffalo chase the chief will Sc
Iect his council Of ten and the inaugu
ration viii then take place, following
which the visiting Indians will extend
sher congratulations to the rulers o.
lfhe Ponca tribe.