Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-04-04
aREWEl.L or RED alEN
FORMAL LEAVE TAKING or THEIR
FkVoRiTE HUNTING GROUND
Wfd and Wierd Death caant--vet-
eran chieftaln's Addfcss-canoes
Launched 1T Midnight Moon.

Spokane wash, april 1-chiei
I,fomanawas and his Flbe Of siwashes
haze sad their fafe9elis and taken
forma leave of tnen sayofite hantins
and fisilng grounds on the Columbia
river near whal Is 70 be the town
site of white BlaHs, I'll Douglas coun
tg. southwest of spokana The fina'
powwow aad pellatch took piece al
night, and closed With the tribal SCI
lutte 70 the coming white race
Graceful III bis gestures ara elo-
quent n tongue Tohaaawas deliver
ed the principal GRAFTON lasting guar
e7 horr. while lie gloriied their
deeds Of yalor told Of their struggles
agaias, the white man and Of their
battles with other tribes who sought
10 invade the rich va ieg whore he
and lis tribesmen and their forebeafs
held sway many years.
The ceremonials were Witnessed by
q number Of Yalsimas, one time the
bitterest fees az the departing tribe.
also by large gathering o. settlers.
who came into The valley In advance
Of the transeontinenta railroad now
building through Washington
The farewell was preceded b. three
days Of dancing, during which the
chief and headmen visited the old
stamping ground, which marked The
scenes Of Their Victories in the
Yakima Indian wars This was fol-
lowed by IL hours OF fasting, during
which the sqHaws and girls prepared
the camp for final leave taking
AL dusElh heads Of the bands Wis
tied the tribal burial grounds, re-
questing the new Corners to permit
the remains Of their departed BROTH
ers TO remain undisturbed This rite
being carried out with ceremony and
ppmp. the Indians assembled at the
waters edge. where small fires had
been started and flames smothered.
Oh ef Tomanawas impersonated the
war god to salute the new Corners.
When the moon appeared at a cer-
tain point in the sky, the squaws be.
gan death chant. which was wierd
and wild in the extreme. their voices
mingllng with the bowling of the
COYOTES Winnebishu declared to be
the Oldest squaw in the Pacific North
west, Frustrated herself before the
central fire at the beginning of the
chant and her voice gave expression
10 tones Ike The wall Of lost soul
The ares, in turn, were uncovered and
the squaws formed circle about
them AT points between the fires
The headmen took positions. each
iecked in par paint and head-feather
Of the old DAYS
Squaws and girls with the old-fash-
Toned nest'e and mortar, ground grain
for the food The corn and wheat
had been charmed by the medicine
men, The chanting of the squaws
continued 20 minutes, when Chief
arose from crouchiHg
position in the center OF the big cir
Gle and, giving a shout which echoed
along The hills, commanded those as
sembled to harken to the last voice
Of the warriors which would yer be
heard in the Columbia river valley.
AT the close of his address, which
was largely of historical character,
the veteran chieftain suuatted on the
ground and the Indians joined th-
chant OF the aged squaw, who, DURING
the early part of the ceremony and
the chiefs big talk, Frustrated her
self. squ'rming to free herself from
the bands which bound her and the
others Of the tribe to this part OF the
river lands When all was quiet the
squaw uttered terrifying scream
and swooned striking the ground
with force.
Without The S 'ightest heed to the
woman. the chief and his tribesmen.
disregarding all formaHties, gathered
around the caldron of steaming ''mul-
ligans," and during the following Is
minutes they did full justice to the
dish. At the close of the feast there
was a dance, several of the Indians
doing their torture dance with their
war clubs. When this was over Chief
Tomanawas and his men l1neM at the
waters edge on the bank Of the river.
and, raising their faces to the heaven
thew voiced another dirge-Hke song.
At midnight when the moon had
reached the point in the sky for which
tba farewell had been timed The fires