The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-03-07
Indians Used to Think Spirits Took
Crave Presents
BUT POOR 10 IS D|s|llus|oNtD
OKLAHOMA SONS OF THE PLAIN
REPORT GRIEVANCES TO
TERRITORY JUDGE.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, March T..

Every few days from Oklahoma Is
heard the report of some Indian grave
being robbed, and the frequency Oh
these reports and depredations not
only has caused the Indians themselves
much uneasiness, but also has caused
the federal authorities to sit up and
take notice. The Indians want the vlo-
lators prosecuted, and this will be
done if they can be apprehendeI.
The customs of the Indians, founded
upon and surrounded by supersttlon,
leads them to do strange things III
burying their dead. Among the Gus
toms, still followed by many tribes III
Oklahoma, is that of sending to the
grave presents for the deceased, To-
gether with the most valuable of MS
possessions. For instance, the corpse
is attired in the most elaborate blan-
ket and all of the decorations, IN the
way. of ear rings, pipe and the ike,
belonging to the Indian are burr
with him. In addition to these, the
grave is piled high with offerings
brought by friends and relatives, to
be taken by the deceased to the hapN
hunting grounds The disappearance
of these articles until a few years ago
attracted little comment because of
the belief among the Indians that the
spirit Of their fellow had actually
gathered up this plumber and carried
it away to the great beyond.
Indians Are Wiser Now.
Of late the Indians have become wis
er and have discovered that the offer
ngs were not carried away by an In
dian spirit, but in reality were carried
off by some white man, whose con-
science was calloused and whose SUI
perstitious fear was not aroused by
the mere fact that he had trespassed
upon the home of the dead.
The trinkets and wearing apparel
secured from these graves are often
valuable, and the white grave rObber
finds a ready market for them. The
sum realized from their sale is often
large and the traffic in relics of this
sort may be termed a paying bust
ness.
Recently David Pendleton, a men,
Der of the Cheyenne tribe, and assist
ant to Rev d. A. Sanford, an Episcopal
Indian missionary in Bridgeport, Okla,
discovered that the grave of his daugh-
ter, Elizabeth Pendleton, had been rob-
bed. The body was attired in a buck
skin dress, ornamented with nearly
1000 elk teeth. Pendleton's daughter
was u years old and unmarried. The
body was buried on the allotment of
an Indian named Little Chief, near
Calumet. The dress was estimated by
the girls father to be worth $500,
though if the teeth were taken from
the dress and sold they would prob
ably bring several times that amount.
Elk teeth have become valuable and
the best specimens have been found
in Indian graves. All efforts that
have been put forth by the father of
the Pandlaton girl and the government
authorities to locate the robber have
failed, and it is very unlikely that he
will ever be apprehended.
Judge Dickerson, who holds court at
Chicka sha T. IT. has. during his term
in office placed himself squarely on
record many times as standing for the
protection of the rights of live Indians
h11t no fa6 Of
sensation in the territory by becoming
the champion of the Indians dead. In
short. the judge has said, in a late in
terview, that he believes the bones of
an Indian should be allowed to repose
in peace.
Judge Would Protect the Graves.
In speaking of the matter, Judge
Dickerson said:
Il protest against the dissertation
of Indian graves in this Indian coun
try The other day, while on Frisco
train. an intelligent looking young
man was showing the jawbone ana
dian, and he publicly held up to view
these grewsome objects, While he dis
coursed upon how he and several other
young men went into the grave of
this Indian. and how they tore open
the grave and found metal beads of
h.nor which had been presented to
this indian by the United States SOL
diers, showing that he had been a
prominent chief, who was highly hon.
cred in MS day. He said they had
disputed over the relics that they dis
covered in the grave. as we'll as divid.
ing up the bones of the deceased chief
Il could not help but think what w.
would say if an Indian should go up
into the northern states and dig up the
of an honored Union soldier, or go into
one of the southern states and dig up
the grave of an honored confederate
soldier. What would We say If he
would exhibit these bones to the world?
1--WE would brand him at once as a