The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-07-23
GIVE WAR DANCE
AT THE SALT PALACE

Two parades We're given by the In
o1ans during the day, one at noon and
the other IN the evening just before the
war dance began. Arrayed i'm all the
finery and accompanied by the Fort
Han school brass band, the Indians par
AIDED from the salt Palace through the
business district and back, attracting
much attention.
The war dance in the evening was an
unusual and interesting spectacle, es-
pecially to those who had not witnessed
Indian dances before. The saucer track
arena was an ideal place for the affair,
which drew "A big crowd.
The first number on the programme
was the entry of the band, followed by
almost all the Indian men and children.
on foot. They proceeded to the band
platform in the middle of the arena.
where they seriously waited for a few
minutes Presently a loud jingling of
sleigh bells and other bells announced
the approaching advent of something
IN great state, six braves appeared,
mounted on their war ponies and re-
splendent in their trappings of gaily-
colored cloth, tin SpangleS and feather
head dresses They lined UP in platoon
'front.' and solemnly paraded about the
arena. to the accompaniment of chants
and music by the tom-toms on the
platform. Then the mounted warriors
burst into song, winning great ap-
plause. Gradually they increased the
speed of their ponies and at length gall
loped madly around, uttering war
whoops, while the braves on the plat
form went through the monotonous ey-
buttons of the war dance
Big braves and little braves took part
IN the dancing and when they rested
the Indian band played selections.
Band Is Remarkable.
It would be idle to claim that the In
dian band surpasses the aggregation
collected by the late Patrick Gilmore.
Nor would II be just to John Philip
Sousa to state that his band has been
tied by the organization which calls
Fort Hall its home. The Marine band
need not give UP in disgust. and If is
entirely safe to say the IaureIs of our
Mr.. John Held are safe for the time.
Still, when one takes into considera-
don the natural musical taIent-or.
rather. lack of musical talent-that
characterizeS the American Indian il
must be conceded that the Fort Hall
brass band is a really remarkable or
ganlzatiOn- The comparison was there
last night-the crude tom-ton. with its
eccentric. unrhythmic beat, and the more
ambitious harmonic attempts of the
brass band. The band is something
more than beginning-it is a distinct
advance.
The Indian ladies-true to the fra
olt1ons OF their sex-arrived late and
some of them were still smoothing
their hair as they walked to the plat
form. After a decent interval thew
Joined the dance which then as
sumed the from of modified
Omaha dance" A few of. the star
men dancers occupied the platform,
while the others, with the women
massed at one end, proceeded to move
solemnly with sidewise steps in a circle
around the platform. Zest was added
TO this feature by the apparent Difficult
ty one of the ladies had with her
hon
she was compelled to drop out of line
10 readjuSt her recalcitrant stocking
A pause. which was improved by vari-
Gus dancers to search I'm the grass for
acornments lost in the dance, was fol-
lowed by the grand finale wild horse
back racing on the ground and equally
Wild dancing on the platform.
me entertainment was pronounced a
fuu quarters worth by those who saw
II.
Early this morning the Indian camp
VIII be moved to the south end of Lib
erty park. where 1t viii remain all day
today and tomorrow. There will be a
concert by Held's band during the aft
ernoon and this evening the Indian
band viii give a sacred concert, begin
ming about o'clock.
Programme For Pioneer Day.
The programme for tomorrow fore
noon calls for the grand parade, begin
ming at 10 o'clock, an exhibition drill by
troops from Fort Douglas and speeches.
At , O'clock a war dance by the Indians
to last one hour viii begin. y baseball
game VIII begin at 4 o'clock, and at ,
O'Clock a relay race of 1,500 yards will
Begin. The evenings programme calls
for a concert by the Fort Douglas band
from $50 to S o'clock. and a moving
picture exhibition to begin at $50.
Postmaster A l. Thomas announces
the following hours for the Saft Lake
postOfiice tomorrow: Money order win