Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-10

II FOTk fIauCIl, IlIlLlllB LlSW GAJGI4"
ence at Darlington Agency, the
Arapahoe life. Beef Issue day
was the time I most enjoyed there.
Beef Issue day was Christmas to the
Indians, as they then received from
Uncle Sam the dole intended to keep
them quiet under their changed condi-
lions of life. To me it was Circus
day. for saw the Indians with their
| families from all sections Of the reser-
| walton assemble in all their finery.
The Government beef for the Indians
| was driven into the corrals near Fort
Reno, to be issued thence ION the hoof."
This system enabled the Indians to re-
enact the buffalo hunt of earlier years,
| and there was excitement for them as
| we'll as for me.
Uncle John Williams was at that
time Government issue clerk in addi-
ton to his duties as Government black
smith. He 1t was who held the pre-
cious pieces Of paper with the names
of those who were entitled to a beef on
the hoof, and who called out the name
at the proper time and place. Uncle
John was Santa Claus on Issue day,
and basked In the reflected light of
that glory-assistant Santa Claus, by
my own appointment
These days began with subdued eX-
element evident all about the camp.
Criers could be heard giving out news
from one village to another; boys,
girls and dogs we're on the move early;
the older people were looking to their
hunting gear. The women were clean
ing their camps and Harvesting the
travois to the ponies chosen to bring
home the spoils.
= 1Te Af tYa
and a crowd of Indians ready to assist
A steer would be singled out and driven
| into a chute, where he would be held
| as the Government brand was scared
| before he was turned loose. Uncle
John would then cry out the name Of
| the man to take the animal, and as
| it raced from the branding chute into
the open the prospective owner would
ride forward on a pony bare of saddle,
| as was the rider of all but breech cloth.
The animal was smarting from the
pain of branding and usually came
forth from the chute at full gallop,
believing rage.
The men chose a variety of weapons
| for killing. Some rode forward suck
| ing the muzzles of AS pistols, others
| held rifles. Some older men still
| favored their hunting bows and arrows.
| With the first steer turned loose, the
real fun started.
| A vast stretch of level prairie lay
before the animal and soon he would
be lined out in the direction of his old
home, going as fast as he could travel.
AS he gained Roadway, the Indian rider
raced up alongside. Silent as death,
he would reach the proper position
and fire.
The workers in the corral were rapid,
and Uncle John soon was calling names
In quick succession. One after another
of the animals was released and pur-
sued by riders until the whole plain
was covered with racing animals and
mounted men. Soon the air resounded
with shots, and the cries Of women and
children, as they saw father or
brother bring down the coveted meat.
NAL. that mans women and children
took after him with the travels AS
soon as the animal was killed the
women came and proceeded to skin
and cut it up Tor transportation. The
/ children took part by snatching It'd
| bits for immediate consumption, for
| all Indians liked meat rare, If not
absolutely raw.
: THESE beef hunts often took up the
L. greater part of the middle of the
day. During the remainder of the
afternoon, all the camps were scenes
of animation. Here and there tepee
flaps were raised shoulder high and
Joined with neighboring ones to con-
meet two. three, sometimes four homes
into one banquet hail. Everywhere
could be seen the fresh meat hung in
strips where the sun could dry it, pots
of meat were simmering over fires, the
family tom-tom began to beat out its
invitation-come. come, come. All were
welcome as long as the feast lasted,
and the succeeding nights after beef
issue were given over to feasting.
On these nights there were dances
story telling and Dow.wows. A holiday