Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20
SACRED ARROWS THE ISSUE.
Cheyennes Lost Them to Pawnees 60
Years Ago and Want Them.


From the Dallas News
More than sixty years ago, in battle on
the banks of the Platte river, in Nebraska,
the Pawnee Indians, then one of the most
powerful tribes in the entire west. captured
two sacred arrows from the Cheyennes,
who were then also at their strongest in
numbers of fighting men. During the bat
tie Pawnee warrior, who had previously
been crippled and who preferred death to
the suffering caused by his wounds, had
stationed himself far in advance of other
Pawnees in a clumb of bushes. AS he con-
tfnued to pick off numerous Cheyennes with
his arrows II was found necessary by the
Cheyennes to dislodge him. and accordingly
party of warriors on horseback made
dash for the clump of bushes, their sacred
arrow keeper in the lead. The sacred ar
rows, four in number, he had fastened to
long spear, and as he stuck at the crippled
Pawnee the latter lodged to one side,
grasped the spear and wTeSted 1t from the
Cheyenne. Almost simultaneously with the
charge of the Cheyennes party of PaWnoe
warriors, seeing the danger of their Grip
pied brave rushed to his assistance The
Cheyennes were routed before they could
recover their sacred arrows.
Ever since, or during the many years
that the two tribes have lived in peace, the
Cheyennes have been trying to recover
these sacred arrows. Last summer 400
members of the Dog Soldier ban<. of the
Cheyennes visited the Skedee band of the
Pawnees, and used every means to regain
the two arrows still remaining in the Paw
nees possession. About ten years ago the
other TWO arrows were recovered by the
Cheyennes paying in exchange 200 ponies.
The Pawnees entertained the visiting Chey-
ennes giving dances and banquets in their
honor. but refused to return the arrows.
saying that maybe So some time in the
future they would consider some proposition
for the return. Again during the past
week the Cheyennes journeyed from their
lodges in western Oklahoma to the tepees
of the Pawnees in the northern part and
again a conference began for the exchange
of the sacred arrows. More dances follow
ed and numerous powwows of great splen-
dor and Indian magnificance but the ar
rows are still with the Pawnees The
dances were held along the banks of Skedee
creek, and the Pawnees have promised that
perhaps when the Pawnees return the visit
next summer IL they are treated according
to their deserts by the Cheyennes the ar
rows may be returned. In olden times this
would have been casus belli between the
TWO tribes, but under the present order IF
tflngs the Pawnees have the Cheyennes at
their mercy. =
When warning times were the program
back in the sixties and seventies however
the Cheyennes considered the Skedee hand
the most formidable soldiers In the Paw
nee tribe and on the other hand the Dog
Soldiers of the Cheyennes were held in
equal reverence by the Pawnees. The pres
ent head of the Dog Soldiers ts FIv;no
Hawk, who is also the tribal pronhet and
medicine man. Under him are the medicine
arrowkeeper, with four assistants eight
priests, or medicine men, and four leading
chiefs and forty chiefs of less Importance
Flying Hawk was important visitor with
the Cheyennes during the last week in dick
erlng for the two sacred arrows
One OF the last big battles fought be-
tween the Pawnees and Cheyennes happen
ed In 1872 on Beaver creek, in what is now
smith county, Kansas, and near the nres-
ent site OF Smith Centre, the county seat
Inc Old Mormon trail from Independence
MO MO, TO Salt Lake also runs in that vicin-
lty and Is plainly visible today At times
the battle between the two tribes was
Waged along the old trail. On one side. as
sisting the Pawnees. were the Delawares
ana al the omahas, and on the other with
the Cheyennes were the Arapahoes and
Apaches, or what was known as the Chew
enne confederation The party n,rmbered
Loo warriors and the Cheyennes 9O0O
Inc Inc Pawnees lost 1900 in the battle and
the Cheyennes 1900 killed and 700 prison.
ers. who were afterward burned at the
stake.
According to an old blind warrior OF the
Pawnees, one OF the survivors of the fight
the battle was brought on by the Pawnees'
who at that time were the most powerful
and warlike tribe west of the Mississfppi.
His story Is authenticated by Monteravin,
an old French trapper and guide, now Iiy-
ing on the extreme headwaters of the
Frenchman's fork of the Republican river.
He got the story of the battle many years
ago from the Pawnee warriors who par
ticipated In the fight.
The battle lasted for three days." said
Monterayin. "and was one of the most
bloody conflicts. 1t resulted in a complete
in the battle by the celebrated chief, Tar
ponaha, at that time the most crafty and
daring chief of the Pawnees. The Chey-
ennes were led by the aged Oconomawoe
said to have been a Iineai descendant.