Pueblo chieftain., 1922-01-29
BY Grail R. Fuller

BY Grail r. Fuller
The war bonnet worn by Chief Two
Moons Mt the Custer massacre. a war
club used by another chief In that
same battle, a white woman's scalp.
an Indian scalp, n medicine man
witch rattle and a string OF cere-
monial beads are among few OF the
famous relics in the collection OF y. >,
Hills, proprietor OF the Music shop OF
this city. ,,-
Nearly twenty years ago, Mt. Hilis
then u young engineer in charSe OF
building certain sections or the 'h,-
eago, Milwaukee, and st fAul iaI-
road started westward from tho Mis-
souri, river with his men. As soon As
the river had been crossed there be-
Eau to be trouble with the lnos'ns.
and a company OF soldiers We're sent
to help the engineers force their way
thru the country.
I For eight years Mr.. Hills was occu-
pied with this work In the standing
Rock and Lame Deer reservations ana
1t was during this time that he mace
his Indian friends and such itienos
did they become that they presented
him with articles that are seldom, IL
ever. seen outside OF tho possession OF
some member OF Il tribe. During TINS
time he worked among both the
Cheyenues and tho Sioux and or the
Cheyenncs he Is enthusiastic IN his
praise.
During these years he was presented
from time to time with certain article.
showing their regard and appreciation
or him but tho article which he prizes
most for which hs has been offered
$500 Is tho long war bonnet decorated
with hair and scalps and worn by
Chief Two Moons at the battle OF the
Big Horn.
The presentation Of this article came
1ust as Mr.. Hills was leaving Billings.
Montana, Chief Two Moons went 10
the depot to SEQ him depart and Win
him ho carried the bonnet. "Take 1t my
son and ever keep 1t in our pos
session." said tho chief. 1t IS my
most valued possession and 1t Is for
that reason that j giNo 1t to you.
Among tho other roles are the two
scalps. ono OF white woman with
auburn hair and the other of an In
dian, both given him by a niece OF
Chief Two Moons. The scalp OF tho
woman decorates the head OF doll
and in so giving the scalp to their
children to play with the Indians show
their scorn OF tho race from whom
they took ~.
A long string OF very common look
Ing beads but each one OF which was
worth a pony to tho Chcyenncs and
Sioux. and the medicine rattle are
other articles which Mr.. Hills prizes
very highly.
MANY time" said MIR. Hills. Il
have had Indians come into my shack
and SEQ those things hanSing on the
wall Crunt their disapproval and
walk out" The medicine men OF n
. tribe are never supposed to part With
the tools OF their craft.
A bear tooth necklace. "A pair OF
ceremonial moccaSins. beaded both on
the top and on tho soles several war
clubs showing wonderful workman
. ship. an indian flute. squaw lcgglns. a
I peace pipe presented TO him by Walk
Ing Horse and made hy his squaw. a
war club belonging to Chief Bull
. Thigh who was killed In tho Custer
Massacre, an imitation tepce made by
I the squnw OF Hard Robe. bone pipe
Z belonging to Chief American Horse al
so in tho Custer Massacre and some
wonderful beaded buckskln bags are
among other things in his collection.
In the making OF tho bags the differ
ent characteristics OF the Sioux and
tho Cheycnnes are brought out very
strongly All decorations OF tho
Cheyennes arc straight limo and tho
colorinE Is blended very nicely. while
those OF the sioux arc curved and the
coiorinEs arc harsh.
One or tho chief decorations Of the
Sioux is a fvo point star which
seems to bc some kind OF n trade mark
and is used on all of their. ornaments.
After the Indians came under tho con
troll Of Uncle sam the meal tickets for
the sioux Indians carried this same
star In order to distinguish them from
the other tribes.
From his years spent amouE the
Cheycnnes and Sioux Mr.. Hills is an