New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-24
Indian Women Settle
Differences With Fists
Members of the Ponca Tribe
eight Like Wildcats" When
Arnuse-I nv Tea1ov,sv

PONCA CITY, Okla, May 6.---Per-
sonal encounters between Indian wom-
en- to settle affairs of honor are not
infrequent, and this Ia particularly true
of the women Of the Ponca tribe, who,
the slaves, practically, Of their hus-
bands, are extremely jealous of their
men. They invariably settle their diff
ferences on the spot.
They fight like Wildcats" is the
declaration of one ranchman who has
lived among these Indians since the
first days in Oklahoma Seeing these
women on the streets here daily, at
tired always in semi-tribal costume,
seemingly paying little attention to
anything that is going on, it is linpos-
sib.e to understand that they possess
this spirit of jealousy. Their ties with
their bucks they hold inviolate, how
ever, and the squaw who attempts to
her interference becomes known.
Only recently there was settle
ment of an affair of this nature in the
general store on the Big v ranch,
southwest OF this city. The two Ponca
squaws happened to meet in the. store,
where they had both come to trade.
One had accused the other of trying to
"vamp" her husband and this was tho
first meeting Of the two. Excepting
for brief quarrel in the Ponca tongue
there were no preliminaries, and the
bout started forthwith.
1T was one Of the most bitterly
messed, even between Indian women"
said one of the white mon who hap
pened to be present. ut was not only
fairly good boxing match, but 1t de-
veicped into q rough and tumble. TO-
gether with hair pulling, biting and
scratching, with frequent clinches.
mo Indian seemed to have any in
tention to interfere with the bout, and
the white men have learned that these
are strictly affairs of honor to be kept
away from. In fact, the man who would
interfere might get a good trouncing
for his trouble. Consequently, the two
women were permitted to have a finish
fight.
THAT portion of the general stock of
the store that happened to be in tho
way of the fighters suffered consider
ably, and when the bout finally ended
with the complainant as the victor
there were cans Of vegetables and fruit
scattered everywhere. tubs were over
turned, turnips, potatoes. sweet pota-
toes and onions were fairly we'll mixed
va StsS ANVIL. ANS Z VuC6 women permit
no double standard of morals. The
man in the case is held equally guilty
BY his sqaaw with the woman who has
tempted him. and he is not infrequsntly
gwen sound trouncing by his wron9ed
wife"
''There are very few instances wher.
the squaw, II she 30 desires, cannot
and does not thrash her buck If he
proves rebelliors or unfaithful," said
the man quoted above. 1.-THE women
are accustomed to do more work than
the men, who really do none At eli il
there 10 any way out Of it.. Conss.
auently, the women are in better fght-
Ing trim. If the buck gets kay he i,
attended to immediately by his sou.w
There are very few Of these affairs
Of honor that ever reach the courts
None Of them doss through the Indians
| learn Of q misdsmeanor and tho offend.
l ing parties are taken in, but this /,
very ssldom."--~Tulaa World.