The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-11-01
RE-ENACT CUSTER BATTLE.
REALISTIC SHAM BATTLE FOUGHT
AT PINE RIDGE.
OLD RED CLOUD STILL LIVES
Though Many Times Reported Dead,
Famous Sioux Warrior, Totally
Blind, Was Striking Figure at An
nuaI FestivaI-Custer Cousin Here.


The great summer festival Of the
Ogallala Sioux Indians, one OF the
chief features OF which Is realistic
reproduction OF the Custer massacre,
has just taken place at Pine Ridge. j.
A Custer of Norfolk is second cousin
of the late Custer, slain in that fight.
The statement that Red Cloud, the
most famous of the Ogallala Sioux
chiefs, Is dead, has often been printed,
but the aged warrior was there In the
flesh participating in the celebration
of his people which has now been con-
July.
Old Red Cloud Is totally blind and
very feeble; and his mind is wavering,
but his people carried him reverently
to the camp grounds, about three miles
from the Pine Ridge agency. and paid
him all the Difference that he has
earned by many years of wise counsel
and courageous leadership.
His son, Jack Red Cloud, acted as
herald for the numerous functions.
On the breast of the young man were
two silver medals fully five inches In
diameter One of them had been CIV
en- to his father and the other to his
uncle, and he wore them proudly with
his war bonnet Of eagle feathers and
his clothing OF heavily beaded buck
skin. The medals we're dated 1871 and
bore the portrait of General Grant, and
his famous saying: LET there be
peace"
During his sons loud oratory and
the throbbing of the tomtoms and the
rhythmic yelping of the war dance. the
worn-out old veteran, Red Cloud. lay
under leafy shelter, his muttering
lips showing plainly that he was re-
calling the events of his own life.
Eastman In the Caste.
No matter how much culture had
been acquired by the individual men,
bers of the tribe, or how much they
had assimilated OF the white mans
ways, the old Indian ceremonies
brought forth the Indians love OF his
own people. Every fullblood entered
into the ceremonies with complete
abandon.
Dr.. Charles A. Eastman Is a gradu-
ate of Beloit, Knox and Amherst. He
is one Of the best educated Indians In
history He has travelled about the
world and addressed many audiences.
always appearing in dress and manner
exactly as any other cultured gentle
man His Yankee wife and his six
children were at their home in Am.
herst while DR.. Eastman was at Pine
Ridge among his people. 1t was with
evident pride that the distinguished
scholar donned the eagle feathers and
took the most prominent part, that or
Chief Crazy Horse, in the realistic re-
production of the great Custer battle
To see him with his erect bearing, his
towering head dress, and his flashing
eyes. one would scarcely imagine that
this was a man accustomed to address
ing metropolitan audiences in polished
accents.
There were others, too, who had
been away in school at Carlisle who
laid aside their acquired culture, for
got for the moment the white mans
ethical theorizing, and threw them
selves heart and soul into the spirit
of the festival, even including the feast
of dog flesh.
Re-Enacts Battle Scene.
Beside DR.. Eastman playing the part
of Chief Crazy Horse, there was also
the famous warrior No Flesh going
through the same part that he took in
the actual conflict over thirty years
ago 1t was he who killed the color
bearer of Clusters command and cap
tured the flag His old eyes Nndled
and his scanned and aged features
glowed as he re-enaCted the events OF
his youthful days.
Old Chief Blue Horse was among
his people, but evoked less attention
than Red Cloud, for the reason that he
always preached peace and took pride
in the statement that he had never
fought the whites. His son, who SerV'
ed as a scout under Generals Crook,
Mckenzie, Sheridan and Miles, was
also present His name is Standing
Soldier. Stands First was another
brave and ancient warrior, who re-
joiced in the festival and renewed his
youth. Other prominent Sioux who
were participants were Red Bear and
Afraid of Bear, Little Crow, Bear-Lays
Down and Clowns Horse.
F. S Curtis took advantage of the
opportunity to collect materials for his
work on the North American Indian
the first two volumes of which will
appear in January The difficulty OF
obtaining data and photographs fol
this great chronological and historical
record is almost beyond belief, Five
more years will be consumed in com
plotting il.
Just Saved the Children.
Wayne Democrat: There was q
thrilling, hair-raising episode at the