Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-01-22

y Il - u k-AAz a.--@ hkAAH AAAAA /
on both its top and sides. 1t requires
a daring effort to leap on to its top
from the main wall and back again;
and many an Indian brave has sighed
for the honor of performing this dar-
ing feat, but lacked the courage to
make the attempt. Some few have
tried 1t witch success and i, had left
their arrows standing in a crevice in
its surface several of which co ii 1 be /
seen by us but 1ti.l1ls3ef II it little
mounds stood around its base, and
contained the remains of the unto tun-
ate victims who failed, and forcibly
suggested the danger of the hazardous
undertaking. Here, according to the
traditions of the Indians. the great
spirit at an ancient period called the
Indian nations together, and, standing
on the top Of this precipice, broke
from its wall a piece of red stone and
formed The great calumet, or
pipe of peace. Then turning to- the
north, the south, the east and the.
west, told them that the red pipe
stone was formed from the blood Of
the Indians and must be used by them
as a pipe of peace; that it belonged to:
all, and the war club and scalping
knife must not be raised against each
other while there And as a token,
two great ovens were opened beneath
the huge boulders and two women
the guardian spirits of the place en-
tered them in a blaze of fire, and can
be heard answering to the invoeations
fof the medicine men of the tribes,
who consult them when they are visi-
tors to the sacred place. No war can
he carried on by eontending forces
there. All who meet on that sacred
spot shall meet and part as friends 2
Here was land where untold bands
of red men made long and weary pill.
grimages; led by plumed chiefs and
warriors, vino moved in silent contem,
Iplation amid the sacred precincts Oh
their neutral grounds, where they dug
from the earth the material of their
great calumet pipes Of peace; and ii
the silence of the evening they sent
up fumes of smoke and pledges OF
faith to the Great Wakonda On the
smooth, wind swept stony terrace, and
along the wall near those five huge
Ierratic stones, were many sculptured
lhieroglyph representing numerous
and interesting subjects. s s..
Picture writing is the red MANS
mode of expressing thoughts, and not
ing facts and events by marks which
represent the portrayal Of natural and
imaginary objects. These Photographs
are their dumb histories, representing
their Wakons, Totems, Medicines and
the occurrence of important events to
in'diV iduals, bands and tribes. Those
who can interpret these picture writ
ings termed by the Indians winter
counts must first understand the
marked characters of known signifi-
canoe among the North American In:
dams, and their meaning. 4
First. The congerie Of circles,
marks and dots, representing time.
Y "a ! r.. fls.f =
/ Second. The pictorial designations
of the Totemss representing the names
|cf noted chiefs. bands an tribes.
Third. Supernatural syn,au,;s, r,.s,-5
Presenting myths, relig1 Hss ceremonies
and mystic rites. j FRI SIS u:
This, with known characte
distinctive weapoTts, eus.oJns, ore $
and ornaments of noted warriors and
chief viii enable almost any intelli-
gent person to interpret these en-
blematic signs OF distinction @
Many legends and traditional tales
have been told by the Indians regard
ing the origin OF the far-famed red
Ipipestone quarry. The following, as
told by an old Yanlston Sioux chief is
I the most interesting one:
Exhibiting d large decorated pipe,
ne said u friends. this pipe is the
Great Calumet Of peace. and we use 55it
al al our treated with the whise men.
/ was dug near & high hill toward the
rising sun and represents the blood Of
our orefathers. Many ages ago the
waters covered The earta and destroy
led the people on it. A great many
bands Of Red Men from the northern
tribes gathered together and tried TO
save thense lyes by climbing to the top
lot that high hill But the rushing wa
tiers continued to rise and they were
IAN drowned I'M d mass all rave one
and their flesh and blood was convert
Iea into the red pinestone that lis
bnssea there. EIere the old chief
ipallsesl a moment to enable him To I'LL