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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1950)
4th of July Celebration at Crow Creek Agency T » I saw the Sioux Indian Dance," the last, I believe that was ever held as the U. S. govern ment had banned the sun dance and this one was without their knowledge. It was the custom of the Indians in those days to hold a big powwow once a year at one of the reservations for a council of the chiefs of the different tribes and a general social meet ing and feasting. This time it was at Crow Creek Agency on the Fourth of July. There were Brule, Cheyenne and other res- delegations from Pine Ridge, rule, Cheyenne and other re servations, about two thousand in all. Each tribe had its own tepee village in the trees along the Missouri River. There was much visiting back and forth and a general air of excitement and suspense. The agent at Crow Creek donated several head of beef, a generous supply of flour, coffjf! sugar, etc., for the feasts and entertainment of the visitors. The first day was devoted to a solemn council of the chiefs ana the head men of the tribe on the welfare and problems of the Indians, After that came days of horse racing, dancing, feast- ing and other entertainment? ending with a big sham battle in which the Indians attacked Fort Thompson and incidently, captured the fort and all its Send your Dry Cleaning M Portland’s most mo dern plant. One pick up and delivery weekly on Thursday at Ver nonia al your home our local agent— BEN BRICKEL’S BARBER SHOP OREGON Laundry and Dry Cleaners defenders. The Indians are great racing fans and some of them have very fast horses. Each tribe brought their best horses and there were some great races. Most of the races were doubles—one horse running against another, but there were many in which sever al horses were entered, especially in the long races of a mile or more, The Indians back their horses to the limit, not with much money, but mostly with blankets, guns, saddles, ponies, etc., sometimes even squaws being put up as a wager.When an Indian makes his bet, he brings his gun, saddle, pony or what have you to the betting ring announces the name of his horse and waits for someone to put up something of equal value. If it is satisfactory he nods his head, if not the other has to go and get something else to make up the difference. I once saw an Indian lead his squaw into the better ring; she was rather good looking, as squaws go, and did not seem to mind being put up as a bet on a horse Lace al though she looked rather lone some like, standing obediently beside a pile of blankets and two horses that had been wagered against her. The highlight of the celebra tion was the sun dance. It was a rather grewsome affair, a mer ciless test of stamina and wi’.l power to show their courage and the strength of their “medicine”. Four young warriors entered the dance. Their faces and bodies were painted, they wore breech clouts and bells on their ankles and eagle feathers in their hair. Two slits, about three or four inches long, were made on each side of the breast A rawhide thong was passed through under the skin on each side and these were in turn fastened to a long rawhide rope that was fastened to the top of a cottonwood, pole about 15 feet high that was firm ly imbedded in the ground, each dancer having a seperate rope. The dancers danced around the pole, surging back against the ropes till the skin on their breasts stretched out six or seven inches. One marvels at the strength of the human hide and the excruciating pain that must be born by the sun dancers, but it is a fetish of the Indians to bear pain without flinching and those dancers gave no evidence of the agony they must have felt,- but kept on dancing and singing their war songs in the hot July sun, blood and prespira- tion running down their bodies, never stopping for a drink of water or any refreshments. One of the dancers had the slits through the skin made on his back and the thongs fastened to two buffalo skulls with the horns still on them. He danced and cavorted around the circle drag ging the buffalo skulls behind him. Outside the circle of the dancers were the drummers and tomtom beaters who kept up a monoto nous rhythm. Back of them were the other Indians and spec tators who now and then gave the dancers encouragement and ap proval with many “wastays” and “waupekas.” Outside all these were the squaw dancers in a great circle nearly a hundred feet in diameter. They stood side by side, facing in, continually moving a little to the right at each beat of the drums and sing ing a low, monotonous chant. There were a hundred and fifty or more squaws in the dance and, although there were many voices, there did not seem to be any dis cord. The chant rose and fell in volume lending a wierd but not unpleasant background to the whoopping and shouting of the other dancers. When one be- came tired another squaw would take her place. The ground in the circle in which they danced became packed hard as cement mid for years after the circle was clearly marked in the grass. There is a superstitution among THE EAGLE, Visitors for Week End Noted for Riverview RIVERVIEW—Week-end guests at the R. A Wyckoff home were Mr. and Mrs. Glenn DuRette of Aurora. Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Cochran and Mrs. H. S. Wood spent Wed nesday in Portland. Mr. Cochran and Mrs. Wood each had a physi cal check-up. Mrs. C. A. DeForest of Seattle and Mrs. Wm. Muller of Tacoma, twin daughters of Mrs. Wm. Tyack, visited her from Wednes day until Saturday. Herbert Olin and son, Bobby, of Kelso, Washington spent Tues day night and Wednesday at the F. R. Olin home. son, Gary, spent Sunday at New berg visiting relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hartman entertained a few friends Sat urday evening at bridge. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Kent Bauersfeld, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Robinson and Mr. and Mrs. Dave Brunsman. The Sunday dinner guest at the L. L Wells home was Gerald Heskett of Salem. RIVERVIEW — Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bond drove to Portland Sun day to visit Mr. and Mrs. Jim Frost. Mr. and Mrs A. R. Porter of Kalispell, Montana came Satur day for an extended visit at the home of their daughter, Mrs. Lester Blair. Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Haight and the whiskey that's Cieerfu/ as its /Vante Sure-Fire Hitl V«'"* »23« pt. »360 the Indians that any woman who has danced at a sun dance will have good luck so long as the marks on the ground where they danced is discernable. 4/5 <|t. KENTUCKY WHISKEY—A BLEND NATIONAL DISTILLERS PRODUCTS CORPORATION, NEW YORK • 65% GRAIN NEUTRAL SPIRITS SALMON Prince Leo —pink salmon. Grand in a loaf — tasty in paddies, etc. Buy several cans for Lenten meals. It s Nature s Most Perfect Food! MILK builds slrsng bones - and teeth, and helps keep children mentally alert as well as physically fit. See that your child lakes a quart per day. NE HA LE OniRV PRODUITS ID. Grade A Pasteurized Milk & Cream FLOUR MILL MARKET AND LOCKERS ■ S? 3/25« White Star TUNA Kitchen Craft—enriched, all- purpose white flour. CHUNK TUNA 33' Torpedo, Can ;/j The Vernonia Eagle Marvin Kamholz, Editor and Publisher Melvin Schwab, Lino’ype Operator Official Newspaper of Vernonia, Oregon - ■ ■ 1 Entered as second class mail matter. August 4, 1922 at the post office in Vernonia. Oregon under the act of March 3, 1879 Subscription price, 12.50 yearly 29« 25-LB. SACK — $2.05 5C-LB. SACK — $3.99 PEACHES Highway, No. 2’/j Can 19« STWf ON TRIM MID MEATS T-Bone Steaks, lb. Beef Short Ribs, lb. 85c Waste-Free SEA FOODS 29c Salmon, lb. 63« Sliced Bacon, lb. 39c Sole-fillet, lb.43( Smoked Picnics, lb. 37c Whiting, lb. 25« 49c r Oysters, pt. 69« SPARE RIBS * lb. lb. rs 69c Oven-Re 1 Hens, Just open a can for plump, tender fricassee chicken—Lynden brand. 1^ r* A DREAD CRISCO Grapefruit Ocean *) Spray, VALUE-PACKED Tomatoes M« a« Z ini Nob Hill, 1-lb. Bag, 72e Airway, Mb. Bag, 69( NOW ON SALE 5e 1-lb. Loaf 14« 3-lb. Can 8b Teiat whit» a-ib. bag 69' Winesap Apples s-ib Bag, 53c Oranges Calif.-Navels, 5-lb., 63c Rhubarb Hothouse, lb 25c OOc CANS ZY MARCH issue of Edwards, i-ib Can, 77« SHORTENING °dy lb. 59* Whole-Kernel CORN,^i....¿ul^< Coffee: Mrs. MZright s White ®r Wheat, 69* SAVE ON FRESH PRODUCE Serve Cranberry Sauce & Corn with your Turkey for an All American Treat! CRANBERRY SAUCE 37« ib.594 PHONE 471 •tore NO. 1 TALL CAN SARDINES m X.” POT ROASTS meats that fill the bill for good eating— ITS H The values listed here are typicol of the hundreds of low prices on our shelves. They have been taken at random from every section of the store. Shop where everything you buy is priced low—make savings regular at Safeway. Sirloin Steaks, is conveniently located. BRANO QUAKER OATS »•. need for good eating— shopping »pot that RIVERVIEW — Mr. and Mrs. Harold Beck of Birkenfeld visi ted the Olof Jacobson’s Sunday. Mrs. H. H. Frank and Roy, Lois and Helen, Mrs. E. P. Frank, and Mrs. Charles Ratkie atten - ded a Christ’s Ambassador rally at Wheeler a week Monday. ■ zm i 14-oz. Carton, 23c Potatoes ^iwi> s"«i< SAFEWAY 5 Monday Rally for Young People Is Attended Sunny Brook fe Montana Couple Arrive Sat. at Riverview Home every grocery item you the THURSDAY, FEB 23. 1950 VERNONIA, ORE. hket in this id art Effective thru Sal., Fib 25 We ristrvt the rifM ti limit.
