The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07
OGGLALLGRS ON TIE BOWERY
LONDON THEATER SIOUX TAKE
IN TIE SIGHTS.

ouhmNEp 1NHNuNN WIN NuuueFuNohb
scared Indian Catches Up In Time.
Switch Tail, an ogalallah Sioux, feet
inches tall and kind as a house cat, get
bored yesterday afternoon, sitting In the
dark, narrow dressing room underneath
the London Theater In the Bowery. With
seven Of his people from. the Pine Ridge
Agency. South DakCtI, Switch. Tail has
been doing ferocious war dances and
soalping yellow haired white mhidens
on the stage every day and every night
for a week. He had attended strictly 20
business and did not venture on explora-
tons among tho paleflces.
But yesterday was the last day Of Switch
Tails New York engagement. Tomorrow
meant the prairies Of New Jersey. 1t would
be humilIating 10 be unable TO relate strange
tales OF the great city. when he sat around
the brush fire and passed the long pipe.
Switch Tail observed that the civilized
Indian In stih hat and pants" who was
looking after the bunch was not around,
90 he slipped out and got a very satisfying
drink Of red liquor across the street. The
sudden appearance Of the tall Sioux drapod
h his red blanket and his face striped with
crimson and ochre created such a oommo-
encouraged. Two or three nervous pam
handlers dropped their booze and left
hurriedly by the back door and Switch
Tail grinned a large aboriginal grin.
When he got back 10 the theater he coun-
ssled with Little Soldier, Red Shirt, Iron
Grow, Shout and Blue Eagle, the braves
Of the band The squRws, Eagle Woman
and Little Sister OF the Roses were not
a L.. .t-LN -
out Of the theater quietly and started down
the Bowery Switch Tail stalked In front
and the squat squaws waddled along in
the rear. There was only the ordinary
Saturday afternoon crowd about when
they started; just thirty seconds later a
robust goat would have had a tough time
butting his way through the jam Of rubber
necks.
These things happened during the police
para de, and cops along the Bowery were
few and far between. Only one was in
lgnl, and he got quite agtated when he
saw the p ress Of people and the eight solemn
Sioux, He decided that the Indians had a
right TO walk the streets peaceably and
that ais business lay with the crowd. He
did the best he could to keep the sidewalks
clear and give the trucks a chance in the
roadway. The Indians enjoyed his 40
tivity.
The first stop Of the personally conducted
South Dakotans was made at a grimy hole
~ the wall where horrible wax things are
ahown. Switch Tail was attracted by a
wax group, showing George Haas leader
Of boy thugs and sixteen-year-old murderer,
about to be hanged The Sioux filed in,
laid down 10 cents apiece and took in the
show while the crowd outside amused
themselves guying the manager Of the
place, who objected TO his doorway being
blocked. The show was pleasant for the
simple children Of nature. There was
variety OF illustrated assass nations, hang
ings, stabbings and garrotings, many Of
the devices being quite unknown to Switch
Tail and his folk. but they grunted appre-
oiatively, as people do who discover new
and useful tricks.
At a corner saloon, a block or two below,
the whole bunch was invited In to have
q drink by q booty old seaman who had
just got paid on. He insisted on shaking
hands with every member Of the band
and he bowed TO the squaws with wide
sweep Of his battered felt hat. Switch
Tail thanked the mariner in the only English
words he knew: How. Go to hell" Red
Shirt and Little Soldier wanted liquid re-
freshmen ts, but Switch Tail was out for
sight seeing only and sternly gruDted disap-
Eagle Woman and Little Sister Of the
Roses tailed behind the procession, gazing
womanlike into the windows Of Bowery
stores whore highly oolored women's FIX.
grunted ecstatically, plucklng at each
others blankets and no doubt wishing
that their lords would offef TO buy. But
there wasPothtng doing 10 that line. Switch
Tail thought the limit OF his duty had been
reached in permitting the women to follow
the procession. By that time the police,
by standard arguments, had persuaded
the crowd TO disintegrate and quit sho wing
but no amount Of cops could have stopped
the rubbertng and the ohoioe Bowery com
ments.
Hi, Chimmy, pipe de Flatron in de pink
Bhimmy.' yelled an excited little newsboy
g bis gang Amt day guy a ringer for de
Red scalper Of de Bad lands
'Youse wants TO fight shy Of dat rcd
devil yelled another youngster. 'Ispotted
q real tommyhawk under his blanket.
Them's trecberous felleu. They git you
when youse amt looldn fer IT,
Switch Tail and Red Shirt didn't under
stand the remarns, but they got the idea
ell right and scowled ferociously. Then
there was general scattering Of small boys |
who crossed the danger line.
At DoyeB street the big Indian turned |
into Chinatown, Red Shirt and Shout sniff
ing and snufing at the strange smells Of |
the quarter. Half a dozen Cinnamon loaf- !
ing IN front Of chop suey houses ducked in |
side. In Pen and Mott streets the Chinese |
sports and loafers who are always to be |
tOuuQ lohunk ana CnhANlnk ana staring AT !
white women, faded away also. More than |
one made the quick movement with right |
hand 10 blouse front that usually signifies |
the handy gun. This was very enjoyable |
20 Switch Tail and the Others but they made |
no sign saw cultural chuckles.
InMOtt street Switch Tail led the bunch into |
o chop suey perlor. The six bucks sat down |
comfortably, but the squaws had TO take |
theirs standing. Steaming dishes Of chop |
suey were served by impassive coolies. |
The Sioux gobbled up the food, but they |
didn't seem 20 care much for Il. Switch |
Tails How. Go to He'll was expressive |
Of deep disgust rather than pleasure.
While they were eating, the civilized In |
dian In the stiff bat and pants came on the |
run, very much alarmed. He explained |
that while Switch Tail and all the rest were
mild and amiable, quite city broke, yet |
one never knew what an Indian might take
Il into his head 70 do. He led the band out Of
Chinatown, UP Mott street and over into the
plaza at Mulberry Bend. then 10 the Bowery
where the eight Wild Sioux and the tame one
boarded Third avenue cars and went north
TO a lodging house bet tween Twsnty-third
and Twenty-fouIth streets. where they are
encamped.