The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-18

! ltrlbesmon. His racial instincts an
/ integral part OF his being. were aug
mented by a knowledge " the white
mans ways. and this gave him n
| distinct advantage over those who
had never seen school book or as
lnultted with other races.
His words Of wisdom were sought
frequently by those around him. who
| placed an Implicit confidence In his
ability for leadership.
Black Coyote was about 80 years
old when the climax came In his
life. one day word was received
by the government officers that
there had bccn d ghost dance Of
Otocs. Comanches kHws and .psagos
In secluded spot In the Usage ma.
tlon. II had bcon n comparatively
long time since similar news was
spread. II these dances had been
held. the Indians were careful
TO conceal the fact So II was not
surprising thnt the report caused It
ripple of surprise In official circles.
Ghost dances were under govern
mont ban. They were recognized as
trouble breeders, because they
caused participants TO work them
selves into frenzy OF excitement
and often resulted in wauton kill
lngs and lees serious affairs that
were committed while the Indians
we're under the baneful influence
OF stimulated rage. should sup
ply of "firewnter" be handy. these
occasions became all the more seri-
Gus In the past this subject OF tho
Eighteenth amendment had caused
numerous tribal free for alls" and
fI.s .U.Y. a. .tata
IS described by those who have
witnessed It, the ghost dance was
performed in large. cleared spot,
surrounded by woods and Ia the
center OF which war roaring fire.
Here one or more .tribcs would
gather under tho leadership OF one
OF their number. Throughout the
nights during which the dance last
cd-for It sometimes continued for
n weck-thc half-clad braves woUld
gyrate single file about the IRE
chanting odd songs occasionally
loosing their enthusiasm by indulg-
ing in wild whoops and yells whlch'
II heard on still night by n white
norson would have reminded him or
the days when ferocious bands or
bloodthirsty Indians engaged In
scalping expeditions.
AT ono side Of the circle half
dozen stalwarts would sit cross
legged. with kettle shaped tom toms
In their lnps. beating an uhhoy
tattoo 10 which the dancers per-
formed.
The shlmmy and the cheek-to-
cheek dances were unknown In those
days There were no partners the
enthusiastic braves performing their
maheuvers SINGLED handed When
the stage was properly set the
leader would start off and his fol-
lowers would fan quickly into line.
In n few seconds the circle would be
completed. and the dance was on.
Ry the light Of a glowing fire which
spread its dun rays over the assem-
blage, II appeared that a pack OF
ghosts had gathered Tor Wild con-
fercnco--but ghosts are not sup
posed to yell.
Whenever the dancers became OK
hauStei and reaching this condi-
tlun was only "A matter Of time. he
would either fall out Of line ana 20
inNp the nearby woods for recup-
'ratiye nap, II his condition was
mat he fH!l Ia his tracks. he wna
hali dragged and half carried by
some of his companions TO a resting
spot whore he would be left 10
recover ~ best hc could, his blanket
being thrown over him for protection
against the elements.
The OFFICERS were all OF the same
mind concerning this lateat viola
ton Of the law. without reasoning
a7 10 why they thought So they
were confident that Black Coyote
was the leader.
Because OF other pressing matters
they were unable TO follow up tho
report until three or four DAYS later.
They went to the Otoc encampnont
BACK Coyote was at home. lie
denltd any connection with the