Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-08-25
Bargaining With
a Navajo

Major Chauncey r Barker, who was
the transport quartermaster who con
Quoted the recent cruise Of the Sum
ner to Cuban ports with the Santiago
battlefields commission, has spent
much time among the western Indians
and has a fine collection Of blankets,
which have attracted much attention
since he has been stationed at Wash
insmpn. Many Of the blankets were
secnsd from Indians whose names
have a place in the history OF the
army
"One of the finest saddle blankets
in my collection, said Major Baker
to New York Tribune reporter the
other day, lis saddle blanket which
once adorned the war pony Of Black
Horse a Navajo chief who never be
came very friendly with the whites.
was out in Arizona holding powwow
with a bunch OF drifters whom the
government wanted corraled on a res
eryation when met Black Horse. lie
would not come within the circle or
smoke the pipe Of peace, but hung
around on the outside. sullen, ultra
dignifed and unapproachable,
One afternoon | saw his saddle
{blanket-one of the most beautiful
had ever se6n-and great desire TO
possess 1t overcame me. Through our
Interpreter / sent him an offer of SEA,
to which he would not even reply. /
raised the offer to $50, but the answer
was only a grunt. Finally be informed
! the Interpreter that the white captain
did not have enough money to buy his
blanket
KNOWING something of the Indian
character thought out way Of get
Ting the blanket and at the same time
thinning the friendship of the chief,
(which was important in the official
matter we had on hand. | sent word
to Black Horse that the white captain
ct last realized his great worth and
Importance; felt that he. was the
eatest of all great Indians, and that
was more than worthy of being my
hest at a feast which ! wished te
Fepare for him / told him that he
light bring friend if he knew one
tho was worthy enough, or that he
Gould come alone if it suited his dig
hity better ! asked him when he
would accept such an invitation.
The vanity CT the old chief was
ktickled. He said he would come the
next night, which would give him time
4 to work up an appetite that would do
justice to the white captains dinner.
q prepared feast which ] knew
he would like. There was stew Of
potatoes and beans and onions and
meat. All Indians like a stew better
than anything else, and they detesl
individual dishes. j found in TIE
stores several cans of apples and had
them opened up Then ] brewed 3
punch, davoring It with the apple
n Juice. This was poured out IN great
tin cups holding fully a pint. Before
\ we began intimsted to Black Horse
that at the white captains table he
should sip the punch mo faster than
did the white captain.
THE dinner progressed faDyously
All the while Black Horse kept his
eye on me and never missed an cDpor-
| tunity TO sip from the tin cup when
did. He slipped a little harder, and
presently his cup was empty
1 reached over and poured into his cup
more than half of the punch which
remained in mine. an Indian can I'M
derstand your giving him half of any
thing you have, but The man who will
give you more than half is generous
,. beyond belief
AT last the moment came for a
4 final play for the blanket. l arose and
made a speech Finally | took off the
uniform blouse, which was about az
ydisreputable looking one as an Off
Ger ever wore | had worn il three
4 months in the brush, and 1t certainly
! showed it. This blouse, l explained
| to him, was made for the father of
the white captains father many, many
Years ago. 1t was old, and it was near
to the white captains heart But so
( was Black Horse, and the blouse was
I to be his.
He took it wfth more eagerness
Ethan an Indian usually shows about
4 anything, and then he made his
I, speech. He spoke principally about
himself and made himself out very
great man. Then he muttered some
thing and left the tent for moment
i. When he returned he had the saddle
I blanket, which with fine bow he
\ cast at my feet"
Operation on a Hen.