Identifier: deedsofvalorhowa02beye (find matches)
Title: Deeds of valor : how America's heroes won the medal of honor : personal reminiscences and records of officers and enlisted men who were awarded the congressional medal of honor for most conspicuous acts of bravery in battle : combined with an abridged history of our country's wars
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Beyer, Walter F Keydel, Oscar F. (Oscar Frederick), b. 1871
Subjects: United States. Army United States. Navy
Publisher: Detroit, Mich. : Perrien-Keydel Co.
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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ends, and ere long the movement turned into one huge political conspiracy — death and destruction to the white conqueror became the aim, America for the Indians the slogan. The Messiah dance has been variously described, but the manner in which it is most generally indulged in is as follows: A high priest, a leading medicine man, has entire charge of the ceremonies. He is assisted by four helpers, who have to start or stop the dance as they see fit; they are empowered to inflict punishment on any person who disobeys their orders. Those who are to participate in the dance prepare themselves by a sweat-bath, while the high priest and his assistants engage in prayer. The sweat-baths are taken in tents erected for this purpose. Poles are stuck in the ground and the tops are bent and securely tied. Blankets and robes are thrown over this framework to such thickness as to render the interior as nearly air-tight as possible. A fire is then started inside in a hole in the ground and good-sized stones
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vc.o LlJUl z 3 o I- < m — 319 — are heated. The participants now enter the tent and proceed to force the perspiration by sitting almost naked upon these heated stones. The atmosphere is made still more disagreeable by pouring water on the stones and thus filling the interior of the tightly closed tent with steam and vapor. Attendants keep hot stones in readiness as long as the youths are able to stand the confinement. The pipe is vigorously smoked during the sweat, and smoke, heat, vapor and steam all contribute to produce a peculiar effect upon the participants and prepare their minds for the approaching exultation at the dance. Finally the young men emerge from the enclosure, perspiration fairly streaming from every pore. Weather permitting, they plunge into a pool in the creek near by, but if the air be too chilly blankets are thrown about their bodies. The high priest wears eagle feathers in his hair and a short skirt reaches from the waist nearly to the knees; the assistants are

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