The Washington herald., 1912-06-02
ACCIDENTALLYKILLED MOTHER;
INDIAN PAYS LONG PENANCE
pegan Ute Lays Unoted Place Twenty Years. Through All
Seasons Maintaining Absolute SlenceSketches of Indian Life
in the Redmans Own Country.


cottonwood, Engelmann spruce. and yell
low pine are to be found great NUM-
bers OF blue grouse, deer, 'snow-shoe"
rabbits, and an occasional coyote or
timber wolf.
Here. too, the, disciples OF Isask WAL
ton viii md the rushing mountain
streams fairly alive with the Ramest OF
sit speckied trout, and revel IN natures
priceless gifts: the purest, softest water
and sweet mountain air. At evenings
ci,se IN WhiteroclSs. instead Of the usual
city arc lights. there is furnished the
pretty spectacle Of a multitude Of hre-
files, their quick cleaning tiny lanterns
being everywhere visible in the twi-
light.
Squawa Take Part.
squaws are permitted to take part with
the warriors IN the bear dance. while
In the turkey dance youth and old age
Of both sexes meet on common ground,
even the children participating; both Of
these dances being made the occasion
for q great deal OF innocent fun and
merry making. The sun dance, formerly
q fearful ordeal, which the young bucks
who were ambitious Of becoming war
.riors had to undergo, is now shorn OF
nearly all Of its old time cruel. barbaric
features, and has developed into q sort
OF marathon contest the Indian dancer
who Is able to hold out longer than any
OF his competitors winning the prize As
this dance lasts for several days, and is
continuous except for a few hours OF
necessary sleep taken by the partici-
pants, IL. Is no small test Of endurance.
The Indian, however, has long been noted
for his powers Of endurance Of both IA
tigue and physical pain.
On years long past 1t was the Gus
tom Of the young bucks to inhict upon
themselves the severest torture to prove
their fitness to rank as warriors OF the
tribe. The sun dances Of those days
were OF a character calculated to startle
even the hardened trapper and frontiers
man. The process was this: A buck
Indian would gather up in one hand as
much Of the skin and flesh as he could
grasp over the pectoral muscle (the large
muscle on the side OF the chest), and
then transfix II with a knife, making an
incision large enough TO pass in stout
stick; to this stick was attached a rope
with the other end fastened TO the top
Of the Totem Pole, which had been firm
ly set in the ground. When this was
done, the Indian would pull back until
he tore out the stick through the skin
and flesh, and II unable to accomplish
IL by a stead pull. he would forcibly
throw himself backward, hoping by
sudden jerk TO overcome the resistance
Of the tissues. In one instance a saw
age had transfxed the muscle so deeply
as TO be unable, without assistance, 10
tear 1t through, so he had his pony
fastened TO him and made to pull until
he was liberated, when his conduct was
applauded by the loudest shouts OF his
companions. After subjecting themselves
to this ordeal they ranked higher in the
tribe and seemed very proud OF their
new honor.
Fight sham Battle.
Preceding the sun dance a sham battle
is usually fought, the assembled warriors
being divided on into two separate
bands. 1t Is indeed a thrilling spectacle
to witness, as they charge down upon
each other at a given signal with shrin
war whoops, Stimulating the greatest
ferocity, blank cartridges being used
in order to make the AFFAIR as realistic
as possible. The painted Sioux and
tawny Ute, ancient enemies, each stark
naked, except for breechclout and eagle
feathers, rush together mounted on their
feet ponies in supposed deadly conflict.
The sham battle, however, is soon at
an end and the warriors, in great good
Eumor talking and laughing, now act
as an escort to the big totem pole, which
is being hauled in by other Indians from
the mountains near by to the sun dance,
wigwam or tent, and upin its arrival is
set UP in the center with appropriate
ceremonies. During the progress Of the
sun dance, all who participate worship
the deity supposed to inhabit the totem
pole
On issue day at the agency it is a
common sight to see motley groups of
braves and squaws, garbed in the usual
blankets Cred being the predOminating
COLOR, gather on the greensward engaged
in card games, feeting the time careless
ly away as in the Golden Age. With
them the Mexican game of monte"
seems to rule favorite. Women as well
as men are inveterate gamesters, and
it generally happens that a few hours
play sufices to reduce some Of the less
fortunate to absolute beggary. The love
Of gambling as manifested in the Indian
history shows 1t TO have been a passion
keen even among ancient peoples, from
the dwellers by the moaning strand Of
the Mediterranean to the wandering Es-