The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-01-05
CBG "gRy''

"cry" had disorganized other nerves
than mine.
Morning came at last, however, and
after the few light tasks Of the day
were ended we started, Dave and I, to
keep our promise to our dusky friend
and attend his "brawther's" 'scry." We
could still hear the mourners' voices
and as we walked down the stream,
following . well-beaten trail, the sound
of the crying grew more distinct and
we could distinguish q sort Of time in
the rising and falling Of the wall.
Words are poor things with which to
describe sound, and this is particu-
larly true when the sound is so COM
Iplicated as that of an Indian "cry."
Ii you have ever heard child cry
aloud and can successfully combine
the cry Of 8 child multiplied several
times with the ki-yi-yip notes of
coyote serenade, and then set the COM
bination to chant music, you may gain
some idea Of what we heard that
morning
We we're met at the edge of the little
clearing by several barking dogs of
small size and inquisitive temper, that
escorted us to the house. Charlie,
our friend of the night before, was
busily engaged in putting the finishing
touches upon neatly built, home
made casket; unpainted, it's true-but
nicely pia9aa ard veil Heed with
white cloth. Several white men were
standing around, but talking, owing to
the noise inside, was very strenuous
undertaking and was not indulged in.
$50 right inside," said Charlie.
f"Big crowd in there" So we went in.
The room, for the house had but one.
was quite large, and was filled with a
mixed crowd of whites and Indians.
AS Charlie said, it WAS "big cry"
The noise was frightfuI-over at the
far end of the room the body of the
dead man lay in state, while clustered
around it was the female Indian popu-
iation of several miles around. In
deed, the "Colorow" Indians WERE
there and all the women headed by
the wife of the departed buck were
crying in unison. The cry would sink
to mere murmur-at times, almost
dying away, and then with shrek
from the widow, ably supported by
her sister mourners, would rise until
the very shingles ratified. A few
moments in the room satisfied both
our curiosity and the requirements of
the occasion and we gladly made our
way to the open air, where we stayed
until the casket had been taken into
the house and everything made ready
for the final journey that we must ali
some day take.
A No hearse was available, so a sorl
of platform with handles had beer
built and the coffin, placed upon this
was carried by eight pallbearers, fre
quently relieved.
| Out through the little clearing, WI
went, the widow and her sympathiz
ing companions still continuing theil
cry. The trail wound over the rec
brown hills, through clusters of low
chaparral and manzanita, past tall
dark forests of pine and open grove
of oak, and our little procession a
it followed it was not unlike pic
ture have seen which represented th'
Pilgrim Fathers going to church
Only I doubt if that band of exile
was headed by such q choir as was ou
gathering. We came upon the grave
, yard suddenly. just a small lot, per
haps 40 K so feet, containing severa
) mounds of earth denoting other @Crys,
and upon one side, q newly duI
, grave. the coffin was placed abesid
> the opening, ready to be lowered to it
last resting place and then there wa
, q pause.
d The Indians looked expectantl
5 from one of their white guests to az
other, who appeared, on their par
! to be seized with sort Of q panit
: | 0yl s-<>.~ -.