The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-09-15
GHOST DANCE
FOR GEN. PERSHING
Given by Apache Scout for Generals Ben
eft Just Before Departure on
Inspection Trip.

Inspection Tip.
Field headquarters, American punitive
expedition Mexico, Sept. 10 The
Apache scouts attached TO the American
punitive expedition came all the way
from III Vale 10 field headquarters TO
give ghost dance for General j. j..
lpcrshmg, lust before the commander of
the expedition left on his recent inspec-
ton trip 10 the border. The dance,
wierd and picturesque, was witnessed by
la thousand soldiers and was held only
after painstaking preparations by the
Indians.
Prior to his first inspection trip (which
took him to Ell Nalle) the general had
heard many times of the ghost dance
the scouts had been giving at their camp
and before leaving for III Vale, had
informed Captain James a. Shannon,
who has directed the destnes OF the
Apaches, that he would be pleased to
have them perform for him, Communi'
Gated to the Indians, the generals re-
quest caused great excitement and they
insisted on leaving at once Tor Held
! headquarters.
| They passed the general en- route and
il was only by the exercise of great di-
plomacy that they were prevented from
debouching from their motor trucks and
giving their dance on the trail. They
were persuaded to continue their trip by
furnishing their costumes and securing
new and complete line of vivid paints.
The dance, held the night after Gen
| cral Pershing's return from FL Vale,
was staged on a level piece of ground
inside the lines near chinatown" Be
hind a circle of bales of hay fifty yards
in diameter. hundreds of khskiclad sol
diers gathered. The general was seat
ed in big camp chair on a low plat
form. A huge fire Of logs blazed in the
center OF the circle, sending showers OF
sparks and great sheets OF flames sky
ward whenever the jealous Apache fire
man dashed gasoline into its roaring YER
tex.
Long before the general was seated,
| the fourteen musicians uniformed ac-
cording to regulations and seated short
distance from the fire, began their chant,
Their soloist, letsuay, would shout
stanza OF perhaps twenty words and his
comrades would chant sort OF chorus
in cultural rythm. 1t was untamed,
unframed and altogether primitive.
Accompanying his chant letsuay
thumped on a makeshift tom tom-a gal
vanized iron pail with wet deer SKIN
stretched across its mouth.
For five minutes the prologue contln-
ued, then the ranks Of the onlookers
parted to admit the dancers. There were
five of them-costumed barbarically in
trappings and headdresses fashioned by
their own hands John Cody led band,
followed by Chow Big, Nonotolth, Saas
and Fskibende. Eskbende was the ghost
and his role partook something OF the
cIown--a stiff legged, dgnifed clown. Oh
the five, he wore the least clothes. Like
the other four he wore mask cut
from burlap sack. A small headdress,
breech clout moecasins and stuffed
frawn dangled against the small OF his
back, completed his costume. In his
hands he carried two redtipped wands.
His body was painted ghostly gray.
The Others were attired most elabor-
atelv. Their headgears, carved from
wood. painted in bright colors, bespangled
with small mirrors and tipped with
fluffy white hawk feathers were works
OF art. Brass studded belts, bits OF
calico blankets of vivid hues and a mum
Der OF small bells that tinkled as they
moved, made up the remainder OF their
dancing clothes.
Entering the area, they filed around
the circle in a dignitied promenade, ali
except the ghost who ambled III the rear,
executing grotesque dance steps to the
encouraging shouts of the singers.
Warmed by the applause OF the spec
tators, the dancers soon increased their
exertions. Around the fire they moved, |
shutting, swaying. hopping. The fire
light was reflected from the mirrors IN
their headdressses and the brass STUDS
in their belts. Streams OF sweat flowed
down their naked torsos. The singers
changed the motif OF their chant and |
the five dark figures that circled the
roaring flames increased their pace. Sud |
denly the chant ceased, the monotonous |
thump thump of the tom tom ended with |
a long roll and the dancers came to
standstill amid burst of applause. The
first act was over.
Ten times this was repeated, 1etsuay |
chanting industriously apparently with
out drawing breath. Toward the last
the impressiveness of the spectacle was
increased by vivid flashes OF lightning
from three storms in the surrounding
mountains. Their fantastic figures sill
houtted against Pajorita mountain by
the binding bolts, the Apaches scored
even more heavily than they had ex-
pected.
After an hours exhibition, the dance
ended, under orders. Left to themselves,
the scouts would have continued Tor
hours, even days, until they were com
pletely exhausted.
No one of the expedition, not even
their mentor, Capt. Shannon, knows Tor
what purpose the dance is given nor
what is chanted The dancers dress in
secret and hide the accoutrements Jeal-
ously. Certain steps occur frequently,
but what they symbolic is unknown.
"They seem to think it's pretty" was the
only explanation Captain Shannon could
give of the ceremony.