Post by Dietmar on Sept 26, 2014 10:38:23 GMT -5
I recently stumbled upon an image of an Indian wedding of Buffalo Bill Show Indians. It intrigued me to find out more about it. Actually there are two newspaper articles which cover the wedding of 1894. I have typed the text and post it below.
The articles are full of stereotypes of the time, but give us a glimpse of this interesting event. We have to read between the lines, I guess. For example, I love the part when Rocky Bear makes the whites believe they are “following the example of the white man” and “ adopting his religion”, obviously something the whites wanted to hear, only to “resume their native rites” shortly after the Christian ceremony was over.
Photo: Wedding of High Bear and Holy Blanket
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody stands in the left midground with a large group of Native Americans gathered for the wedding of High Bear and Holy Blanket in a camp for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Ambrose Park in Brooklyn, New York. Many of the Native Americans wear feather headdresses and ceremonial clothing. A few hold round shields and long spears. A group of teepees is set up in the background.
"Souvenir of Ambrose Park 1894 Stacy 5th Ave. and 7th Brooklyn, N.Y." handwritten on first page of album
(Original photo at Denver Public Library)
Rochester, N. Y., May 31, 1894
AN INDIAN WEDDING
Union of High Bear and Holy Blanket in
the Wild West Encampment
New York
Married, at high noon, May 31. 1894, at the
Wild West Encampment, South Brooklyn,
Mrs. Holy Blanket, alias Tasina Wakaw, to
Mr. High Bear. At home, Pine Ridge Agency,
after the close of the season, Sioux couriers
please notify friends.
The Rev. John Lloyd of the First Reformed
Church of Brooklyn performed one
marriage service, and another one by the
Indians followed, so that to be accurate
the notice should read "married twice."
Mrs. Holy Blanket was a widow. Her
first husband was killed at the Wounded
Knee fight in December, 1890. She and
High Bear have recently joined the Wild
West show. They met on the train. Mr.
Nate Salsbury first saw the love light
awake in their eyes.
When the announcement was made a
week ago that they wanted to get married,
Mr. Salsbury was the only man in the
camp who was not surprised. All the
preliminaries were settled. High Bear
telegraphed home, through the agent, that
twenty ponies should be given to the bride's
relatives. In the present depressed condition
of the horse market that was a
generous price.
During the morning the Indian encampment
was active with preparations for the
wedding. The braves put on their wedding
paint and stuck feathers and pieces of
looking-glass in High Bear's hair until
It suggested a chevaux-de-frise. High
Bear is 32 years old, a fine looking brave.
Mrs. No Neck, a matronly old squaw,
looked after Mrs. Holy Blanket. Mrs.
No Neck is Indian by birth, but quite
Bowery in vocabulary. She talks English,
and says with a stolid glance, "Wot'll."
As a fresco artist Mrs. No Neck compares
well with the best. When the time
came for the ceremony and Mrs. Holy
Blanket appeared from her tepee every
Indian granted. Her face was painted a
rich Italian sunset hue, with incidental
decorations. She was dressed in a yellow
gown and a blue blanket with revers.
Major Burke says that Mrs. Holy Blanket
is only 28 years old. Probably she has
been aging rapidly since the death of her
husband. Her forehead was wrinkled and
her figure was not what it may have been.
She toed in, of course, and so did the
groom.
High Bear stood alone in the middle of
the encampment awaiting his bride. As
he waited he smoked a cigarette nonchalantly.
When. Mrs. Holy Blanket appeared
with Mrs. No Neck, the squaws, with tomtoms,
lined up behind her, and behind them
were about half of the braves. The tomtoms
struck up, and the procession, with
the bride and Mrs. No Neck leading,
marched toward the groom. He didn't
even drop his cigarette when he saw the
bride. He looked at her admiringly, and
with the same admiration turned his eyes
down to the new patent leather shoes of
the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, who stood beside him.
When the bride reached the groom there
was an awkward pause. The Rev. Mr.
Lloyd shifted uneasily from one foot to the
other. Then Colonel Cody stepped forward
and joined the right bonds of the
bride and groom. An interpreter advanced,
and as the Rev. Mr. Lloyd read the marriage
service he told the Indians what it
meant.
Rocky Bear after this service made a
speech. He said that among his people it
was the custom of the groom to make presents
of ponies. High Bear didn't happen
to have any ponies with him. He therefore
would give $2 to be divided up among
the women who made the music. When
this announcement was made the squaws
with the tom-toms whooped it up. Every
one sang.
Rocky Bear's first speech was so well received
that he called an Interpreter and
made another. It was on marriage. The
Syrian poet Mr. W. T. Bliss, who heard
it, interpreted it as follows:
"Oh, my people, ye have witnessed
All this glorious celebration;
Ye have seen how by a white man
Were united two red Indians.
Let It be example to you;
To your maidens and your warriors,
To your young men and your daughters.
When you reach your reservation
Tell them what you now have witnessed;
That they must be always wedded
In the lawful way of white men.
Let us drop our savage customs
And remember we are better;
Thus will Manitou, Great Spirit,
Call us blessed in His Kingdom.
When we leave our earthly dwelling,
Brightly will our names be written
In the Islands of the blessed,
In the kingdom of Pouetnah. [?]
In the land of the hereafter.'
Colonel Cody congratulated the bride and
left in her hand a coin. While she was receiving
congratulations the groom walked
off and took a smoke. After this the Indians
held a Sioux wedding dance. It was
very noisy and even the little Indians joined
in. This was the Indian part of the ceremony.
At its conclusion High Bear led
Mrs. High Bear to his tepee.
HIGH BEAR – HOLY BLANKET
LITTLE WOUND´S NIECE WEDS
SIOUX WHO SAVED HER LIFE.
Matowaungata Is His Name – Contracting Parties Members of “Buffalo Bill´s” Wild West – Double Ceremony, Indian and Christian – Weird Music, Gaudy Color, and Strange Rites in the Camp of the Sioux in South Brooklyn.
Tasinawakan, otherwise Holy Blanket, a niece of Little Wound, the Sioux Chief who led the hostile Indians against the United States troops in the battle of Wounded Knee, was married yesterday noon at “Buffalo Bill´s” Wild West encampment, in South Brooklyn, to Matowaungata, or High Bear, with ceremonies half Indian and half Christian.
Uia Mato, or Rocky Bear, the chief counselor of the camp, and Maza Balaska, or Flat Iron, were the masters of ceremony for the Indians, while the rev. Dr. John E. Lloyd of the Twelfth Street Dutch Reformed Church officiated at the Christian services. It was a strange blending of paganism and barbarity with civilization.
The Indians were busy all the morning making preparations for the ceremony. The braves and squaws smeared their faces with paints of all colors. Even the children were painted in colors appropiate to the occasion. Little Seven-Up looked gay with red and yellow streaks and a yellow suit.
About 11 o´clock Flat Iron, who is the camp crier, began to chant a weird Sioux refrain, calling the tribe to make ready for the wedding. One by one the bucks and squaws emerged from the tepees, wrapped in great blue flannel blankets, and took positions in front of theier queer domiciles. They remained silent, reclining against the tepees, until Flat Iron had concluded his chant. They then formed in groups and stood around, apparently discussing the matter very gravely.
Flat Iron´s face was painted a deep red, so that he looked at a distance like an angry sunset. But it was wreathed in smiles, as if the part he had to perform gave him genuine pleasure. He hugged himself, in a huge blue blanket. At a signal from him the bucks and squaws and the children marched in solemn procession to a space in the rear of the tepees, where they lined up on one side.
High Bear then strode out and took a position some distance from them. His face was painted red and yellow. He struck an attitude, with arms crossed, and waited for his bride.
Holy Blanket was led from her tepee by Rocky Bear, who escorted her to a group of singers and tom-tom players in the centre of the assembled Indians. Then, walking between Rocky Bear and Flat Iron, and followed by the tribe, she advanced toward the bridegroom. At the same time the singers began a weird wedding chant and the tom-tom players beat their tom-toms. When they reached High Bear, they stopped, and Holy Blanket stepped up to him. He received her with apparent indifference.
Holy Blanket presented a strange appearance for a bride. Her face was covered with thick yellow paint, and she wore a bright red dress spotted with white moons. This was partly concealed under a heavy blue blanket similar to those about her.
Rocky Bear then advanced and announced, through George Shaughran, that, in accordance with Indian custom, he would give eauch of the singers $2. He said that if he was in the West he would give them horses, but he had none with him.
While Rocky Bear was speaking, Dr. Lloyd appeared and walked over to the bridal couple. Col. Cody, who was present, gave the bride away, and Dr. Lloyd then, with uncovered head, read the Episcopal marriage service. During this part of the ceremony the bride stood with her head bowed, and all the Indians kept silent. Dr. Lloyd pronounced the couple man and wife and closed the service with a benediction. He then retired.
Rocky Bear then turned to those assembled and made a speech.
“If you publish this marriage,” he said, “it will show our people in the West that we are following the example of the white man and that we are adopting his religion. In the future we will endeavor to have all our marriages performed by Christian ministers. We believe it will put us high in the estimation of the Great Spirit. We have learned a great deal since we left our homes in the West, and we believe that if we follow Christian customs we will be able to have good homes and many ponies.”
The Christian ceremony over, the Indians resumed their native rites. The tom-tom players and the singers gathered in a circle and the women sang a sioux love song, keeping time with their hands and feet. The the bucks joined in, and in a moment they were dancing the Omaha, or war dance. They danced in circles, in and out, taking short steps and hopping on one foot. Then they would jump up and down and beat the ground viciously with their heels. The children seemed particulary delighted with the exercise. All the while the tom-toms kept up their monotonous beating.
The bridal couple did not participate in this. They had retired to High Bear´s tepee.
Suddenly the dance ceased and the bucks and squaws seperated and disappeared within their respective tepees. Ten minutes later there was nothing in the camp to indicate that anything unusual had transpired.
“Nate” Salsbury, Col. Cody´s partner, says a romantic story is connected with the marriage of Holy Blanket and High Bear. Holy Blanket left the Pine Ridge Reservation with some other Indians on May 3. It was her first experience with railroads. At a way station the party disembarked for dinner. Holy Blanket did not follow her companions, but remained standing on the track directly in the path of an approaching train. She would have been killed had not High Bear sprung to her side and rescued her. The spark of love was kindled then and there in both their bosoms, and when High Bear popped the question a little more than a week ago, Holy Blanket blushed and answered yes.
They informed Col. Cody of their intentions, and he communicated with the Interior Department at Washington. Indian Commissioner Browning consented to the marriage. It was then arranged to have the ceremony performed by DR. Lloyd. Rocky Bear telegraphed to Holy Blanket´s relatives at the Pine Ridge Agency, promising to give them twenty ponies if they would agree to let the marriage be performed with Christian rites. They also consented.
Holy Blanket is a widow, about thirty-two years old. Her husband was killed at Wounded Knee. High Bear is about thirty years old.
The New York Times, June 1, 1894
High Bear
Rocky Bear
Flat Iron
The articles are full of stereotypes of the time, but give us a glimpse of this interesting event. We have to read between the lines, I guess. For example, I love the part when Rocky Bear makes the whites believe they are “following the example of the white man” and “ adopting his religion”, obviously something the whites wanted to hear, only to “resume their native rites” shortly after the Christian ceremony was over.
Photo: Wedding of High Bear and Holy Blanket
William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody stands in the left midground with a large group of Native Americans gathered for the wedding of High Bear and Holy Blanket in a camp for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Ambrose Park in Brooklyn, New York. Many of the Native Americans wear feather headdresses and ceremonial clothing. A few hold round shields and long spears. A group of teepees is set up in the background.
"Souvenir of Ambrose Park 1894 Stacy 5th Ave. and 7th Brooklyn, N.Y." handwritten on first page of album
(Original photo at Denver Public Library)
Rochester, N. Y., May 31, 1894
AN INDIAN WEDDING
Union of High Bear and Holy Blanket in
the Wild West Encampment
New York
Married, at high noon, May 31. 1894, at the
Wild West Encampment, South Brooklyn,
Mrs. Holy Blanket, alias Tasina Wakaw, to
Mr. High Bear. At home, Pine Ridge Agency,
after the close of the season, Sioux couriers
please notify friends.
The Rev. John Lloyd of the First Reformed
Church of Brooklyn performed one
marriage service, and another one by the
Indians followed, so that to be accurate
the notice should read "married twice."
Mrs. Holy Blanket was a widow. Her
first husband was killed at the Wounded
Knee fight in December, 1890. She and
High Bear have recently joined the Wild
West show. They met on the train. Mr.
Nate Salsbury first saw the love light
awake in their eyes.
When the announcement was made a
week ago that they wanted to get married,
Mr. Salsbury was the only man in the
camp who was not surprised. All the
preliminaries were settled. High Bear
telegraphed home, through the agent, that
twenty ponies should be given to the bride's
relatives. In the present depressed condition
of the horse market that was a
generous price.
During the morning the Indian encampment
was active with preparations for the
wedding. The braves put on their wedding
paint and stuck feathers and pieces of
looking-glass in High Bear's hair until
It suggested a chevaux-de-frise. High
Bear is 32 years old, a fine looking brave.
Mrs. No Neck, a matronly old squaw,
looked after Mrs. Holy Blanket. Mrs.
No Neck is Indian by birth, but quite
Bowery in vocabulary. She talks English,
and says with a stolid glance, "Wot'll."
As a fresco artist Mrs. No Neck compares
well with the best. When the time
came for the ceremony and Mrs. Holy
Blanket appeared from her tepee every
Indian granted. Her face was painted a
rich Italian sunset hue, with incidental
decorations. She was dressed in a yellow
gown and a blue blanket with revers.
Major Burke says that Mrs. Holy Blanket
is only 28 years old. Probably she has
been aging rapidly since the death of her
husband. Her forehead was wrinkled and
her figure was not what it may have been.
She toed in, of course, and so did the
groom.
High Bear stood alone in the middle of
the encampment awaiting his bride. As
he waited he smoked a cigarette nonchalantly.
When. Mrs. Holy Blanket appeared
with Mrs. No Neck, the squaws, with tomtoms,
lined up behind her, and behind them
were about half of the braves. The tomtoms
struck up, and the procession, with
the bride and Mrs. No Neck leading,
marched toward the groom. He didn't
even drop his cigarette when he saw the
bride. He looked at her admiringly, and
with the same admiration turned his eyes
down to the new patent leather shoes of
the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, who stood beside him.
When the bride reached the groom there
was an awkward pause. The Rev. Mr.
Lloyd shifted uneasily from one foot to the
other. Then Colonel Cody stepped forward
and joined the right bonds of the
bride and groom. An interpreter advanced,
and as the Rev. Mr. Lloyd read the marriage
service he told the Indians what it
meant.
Rocky Bear after this service made a
speech. He said that among his people it
was the custom of the groom to make presents
of ponies. High Bear didn't happen
to have any ponies with him. He therefore
would give $2 to be divided up among
the women who made the music. When
this announcement was made the squaws
with the tom-toms whooped it up. Every
one sang.
Rocky Bear's first speech was so well received
that he called an Interpreter and
made another. It was on marriage. The
Syrian poet Mr. W. T. Bliss, who heard
it, interpreted it as follows:
"Oh, my people, ye have witnessed
All this glorious celebration;
Ye have seen how by a white man
Were united two red Indians.
Let It be example to you;
To your maidens and your warriors,
To your young men and your daughters.
When you reach your reservation
Tell them what you now have witnessed;
That they must be always wedded
In the lawful way of white men.
Let us drop our savage customs
And remember we are better;
Thus will Manitou, Great Spirit,
Call us blessed in His Kingdom.
When we leave our earthly dwelling,
Brightly will our names be written
In the Islands of the blessed,
In the kingdom of Pouetnah. [?]
In the land of the hereafter.'
Colonel Cody congratulated the bride and
left in her hand a coin. While she was receiving
congratulations the groom walked
off and took a smoke. After this the Indians
held a Sioux wedding dance. It was
very noisy and even the little Indians joined
in. This was the Indian part of the ceremony.
At its conclusion High Bear led
Mrs. High Bear to his tepee.
HIGH BEAR – HOLY BLANKET
LITTLE WOUND´S NIECE WEDS
SIOUX WHO SAVED HER LIFE.
Matowaungata Is His Name – Contracting Parties Members of “Buffalo Bill´s” Wild West – Double Ceremony, Indian and Christian – Weird Music, Gaudy Color, and Strange Rites in the Camp of the Sioux in South Brooklyn.
Tasinawakan, otherwise Holy Blanket, a niece of Little Wound, the Sioux Chief who led the hostile Indians against the United States troops in the battle of Wounded Knee, was married yesterday noon at “Buffalo Bill´s” Wild West encampment, in South Brooklyn, to Matowaungata, or High Bear, with ceremonies half Indian and half Christian.
Uia Mato, or Rocky Bear, the chief counselor of the camp, and Maza Balaska, or Flat Iron, were the masters of ceremony for the Indians, while the rev. Dr. John E. Lloyd of the Twelfth Street Dutch Reformed Church officiated at the Christian services. It was a strange blending of paganism and barbarity with civilization.
The Indians were busy all the morning making preparations for the ceremony. The braves and squaws smeared their faces with paints of all colors. Even the children were painted in colors appropiate to the occasion. Little Seven-Up looked gay with red and yellow streaks and a yellow suit.
About 11 o´clock Flat Iron, who is the camp crier, began to chant a weird Sioux refrain, calling the tribe to make ready for the wedding. One by one the bucks and squaws emerged from the tepees, wrapped in great blue flannel blankets, and took positions in front of theier queer domiciles. They remained silent, reclining against the tepees, until Flat Iron had concluded his chant. They then formed in groups and stood around, apparently discussing the matter very gravely.
Flat Iron´s face was painted a deep red, so that he looked at a distance like an angry sunset. But it was wreathed in smiles, as if the part he had to perform gave him genuine pleasure. He hugged himself, in a huge blue blanket. At a signal from him the bucks and squaws and the children marched in solemn procession to a space in the rear of the tepees, where they lined up on one side.
High Bear then strode out and took a position some distance from them. His face was painted red and yellow. He struck an attitude, with arms crossed, and waited for his bride.
Holy Blanket was led from her tepee by Rocky Bear, who escorted her to a group of singers and tom-tom players in the centre of the assembled Indians. Then, walking between Rocky Bear and Flat Iron, and followed by the tribe, she advanced toward the bridegroom. At the same time the singers began a weird wedding chant and the tom-tom players beat their tom-toms. When they reached High Bear, they stopped, and Holy Blanket stepped up to him. He received her with apparent indifference.
Holy Blanket presented a strange appearance for a bride. Her face was covered with thick yellow paint, and she wore a bright red dress spotted with white moons. This was partly concealed under a heavy blue blanket similar to those about her.
Rocky Bear then advanced and announced, through George Shaughran, that, in accordance with Indian custom, he would give eauch of the singers $2. He said that if he was in the West he would give them horses, but he had none with him.
While Rocky Bear was speaking, Dr. Lloyd appeared and walked over to the bridal couple. Col. Cody, who was present, gave the bride away, and Dr. Lloyd then, with uncovered head, read the Episcopal marriage service. During this part of the ceremony the bride stood with her head bowed, and all the Indians kept silent. Dr. Lloyd pronounced the couple man and wife and closed the service with a benediction. He then retired.
Rocky Bear then turned to those assembled and made a speech.
“If you publish this marriage,” he said, “it will show our people in the West that we are following the example of the white man and that we are adopting his religion. In the future we will endeavor to have all our marriages performed by Christian ministers. We believe it will put us high in the estimation of the Great Spirit. We have learned a great deal since we left our homes in the West, and we believe that if we follow Christian customs we will be able to have good homes and many ponies.”
The Christian ceremony over, the Indians resumed their native rites. The tom-tom players and the singers gathered in a circle and the women sang a sioux love song, keeping time with their hands and feet. The the bucks joined in, and in a moment they were dancing the Omaha, or war dance. They danced in circles, in and out, taking short steps and hopping on one foot. Then they would jump up and down and beat the ground viciously with their heels. The children seemed particulary delighted with the exercise. All the while the tom-toms kept up their monotonous beating.
The bridal couple did not participate in this. They had retired to High Bear´s tepee.
Suddenly the dance ceased and the bucks and squaws seperated and disappeared within their respective tepees. Ten minutes later there was nothing in the camp to indicate that anything unusual had transpired.
“Nate” Salsbury, Col. Cody´s partner, says a romantic story is connected with the marriage of Holy Blanket and High Bear. Holy Blanket left the Pine Ridge Reservation with some other Indians on May 3. It was her first experience with railroads. At a way station the party disembarked for dinner. Holy Blanket did not follow her companions, but remained standing on the track directly in the path of an approaching train. She would have been killed had not High Bear sprung to her side and rescued her. The spark of love was kindled then and there in both their bosoms, and when High Bear popped the question a little more than a week ago, Holy Blanket blushed and answered yes.
They informed Col. Cody of their intentions, and he communicated with the Interior Department at Washington. Indian Commissioner Browning consented to the marriage. It was then arranged to have the ceremony performed by DR. Lloyd. Rocky Bear telegraphed to Holy Blanket´s relatives at the Pine Ridge Agency, promising to give them twenty ponies if they would agree to let the marriage be performed with Christian rites. They also consented.
Holy Blanket is a widow, about thirty-two years old. Her husband was killed at Wounded Knee. High Bear is about thirty years old.
The New York Times, June 1, 1894
High Bear
Rocky Bear
Flat Iron
