The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-25
ON The WARPATH
VIA AUTOMOBILE
How a Noble Band of Indian
Chiefs Went JOY Riding.


sent me an urgent cali 20 meet him with
my automobile because there were some
Indian chiefs who wanted TO go on the
war path. via auto. l hurried to meet
him and then We went to Beveridge's.
I don't suppose you ever heard OF Bev-
eridge's Hotel? It's been famous for
years as the Washington home of the
noble red man. The noble red man comes
to the city OF his White Father with
regularity. in populations. every year. He
wants more land or whisky or blankets
or eats or permission 10 wage war against
"Hole-in- the Ground" and hts tribe, or
else he Just wants to come and I'LL up
on White Papa's whisky. And Beverage
he's dead now-opened this hotel and
took EN- in and made them welcome and
money out of them at the same time
When we arrived at Beveridge's we
found II full of Indians. Queer-looking
fellows. with. civilians clothes and no
collars. moccasins. and braided hair. and
masks for faces. The Newspaper Man
said something TO one OF them, better
dressed than the others. who turned out
10 be the interpreter, and presently there
filed solemnly down the stairs the most
magnificent bunch Of Sioux Indians you
ever saw. and every one of them had on
his full war rig. bonnet and all save
only the paint Great big. strapping fell
lows they. were. from Rosebud, and
realized then what Custer and his men
must have felt like with a million or so
of these things. to fight. Wow I would
certainly hate to meet EN- on a dark
night by myself
But perfectly harmless to-day. They
were here TO see the great White Faith
ers city and learn something Of the
great White Fathers people and ways
And the Newspaper Man had decided
that II would be a good STUNT to show
EN- the city from the automobiles and
take 'em for a new kind of ride.
Well. il seems they Jumped az the
chance. But when we got in and started
OF the interpreter turned 10 the News
paper Man and said Not go fast Big
Lightning. him much afraid Chief Wits
perng Wind. he not like it much, you go
fast"
l looked at Big Lightning II ever a
man sat stolid. impressive. with half-shut
eyes. looking as If he didn't care a boot
whether school kept or not. it was this
same bebonneted and alleged-to- be-
scared Indian
Wen. we saw all the public buildings
The Indians, If one could believe the in
terpreter. were amazed at everything and
enjoying It all hugely: but. as far as
visible appearances went, they were
bored 10 death. saw one OF them smile
"a vivid. real. human smile-at two small
newsboys who were running alongside Of
Us, mouths open In wonder. The Indian
touched his seat mate on the shoulder
said something, and Strengthened up All
OF a sudden he made a swift grab over
the side, caught one lads cap. carried
II half a block. and dropped it. This In
dian wasn't scared, anyway.
But I had a notion | was going 10
break up that stolidity If It cost me a
fine. So. after an hour or so, I shot out
First street and through the Soldiers
Home and into the park. Now there are
several speed regulations in this town
and I've broken them all. but I never
shattered them more than did this
time. OF course. you can't make any
really hot time about those turns. but
we touched thirty often and forty once.
and the only thing that kept me from
freezing to death on that awful cold day
was a side glance at the Indian next 10
me and the consciousness that the News
paper Man was beaming like a sun. while
his teeth chatteTed Ike gear that won't
shove home. And he told me afterward
that every blessed Indian had his fists
clinChed up as tight as a drum: but none
of them made a move even when we
swung around corners or when I lodged
a team. They were game all right. those
Indians-much gamer than the inteTpre-
ter, who. with his veneer Of civilization.
had acquired some OF our lack OF poise
Mo- he shouted above the noise OF
the open muller, 'no-not fast-not go
so fast"
When we stopped at a certain road
house I got the surprise of my life. for
two Indians wouldn't touch whisky and
demanded beer. The proprietor stood
treat when he saw the crowd that fell
lowed US in and it cost him something,
for every Indian that did drink filled his
whisky glass until II overlooked or the
bar and tossed it off as if 1t was water
The war bonnets danced with mods of
approval
The day ended with a call at the White
House. And l doubt II there has ever
been a stranger sight than was presented
at that classical doorway than those two
automobiles full of red Indians in war
dress. ON CTAI-Dy