AN INDIAN
"CRY-DANCE" OVER THE DEAD
BODY OF TOM BUSHYHEAD A Scion of
the Digger Tribe in Mariposa County-Murdered by a "Squaw Man"- A
Strange, Weird and Woeful Ceremonial. Wawonna
(Mariposa County, Cal.) June 15 (Special Correspondence of The Times) The tourists
at this pretty little stopping-off place en route go the Yosemite
Valley had yesterday something more than is found in the guide
books. It was an Indian "Cry" dance," which is something
similar to a "wake," only that it is more so. During the several
previous days there had been bad blood between Tom Bushyhead, a red
man, and James Lawrence, a pale face. Bushyhead is a grandson of
the chief of the Walla Walla or Digger tribe now infesting the region,
and is the :terror of Wawoona." He has a record, having served a
term in the County Jail for thrashing his wife, another for resisting
an officer, and still another for stabbing a red brother nine times in
a drunken row. He whipped his wife about two weeks ago, and she
left him. Lawrence is a "squaw man," having married an Indian woman,
and accidentally killed his brother in Los Angeles many years
ago. He is a brother of Henry Lawrence, who killed a man in this
county several years ago by shooting him in the back, and
afterward lived in San Francisco as a notary publican and kind of a
lawyers. Such in the history of these two characters- one
an Indian "bully," the other a good-for-nothing, drunken loafer.
The bad feeling culminated Wednesday afternoon by Lawrence shooting
"Indian Tom," otherwise known as Tome Bushyhead. Tom had
threatened Lawrence and others, but at the moment he was shot, the
Indian was sober, had not been at all demonstrative, was unarmed , and
was just coming across the creek from the Indian village to the hotel
to sell a string of fish, the result of his day's labor, the principal
means of livelihood of the Diggers at this station. The Coroner's
jury verdict of justifiable homicide is not favorable received either
by the visiting palefaces or the red men. Shortly after Tom died,
THE TIMES correspondent went over to the Indian village, which is
situated just across the creek from this "station,"- or village of
Wawoona. The Chief invited me to view the corpse, and the sister
of deceased removed the shroud. The Indian had been removed from
the cabin and his personal effect, clothing, etc., were taken out and
placed in a pile preparatory to burning, Formerly these Indians
burned the bodies, but they have so far advanced in civilization that
they now only burn the person effects of the deceased, and tear down
the house in which he died. The corpse was dressed in a new suit,
minus a coat, and the hands were clasped vertically over the breast, is
if invoking a prayer to the Great Father. The hands were also
tied together by leather straps, and the arms were likewise pinioned at
the elbows. The head was placed in an oval-shaped basket,
beautifully interwoven with worsted, and his feet were also placed in a
similar basket. Around his forehead was tied a red silken
handkerchief, and another around his chin, exposing only his upper lip
and nose. Shortly after his death the "death cry" began .His
sister, an old woman, stood at the head of the corpse waving a green
branch, slowly muttering incantations, and then began dancing. or
rather jumping up and down. The others standing around the corpse
also began dancing, crying, shouting and wringing their hands is if in
agony or the deepest pain. In a few minutes they would top from
sheer exhaustion, and then continue more furious and fast than ever,
the sad lamentations being heard by the tourists at the hotel across
the creek and by the dead man's slayer, who sat among the crowd,
apparently unconcerned. The "cry would cease for moment, and the
seers would point upward, downward, and in the distance, as if seeing
visions, and then would close her eyes as in a trance, and interpret
her own visions; and then the dancing and lamentation, which were
weirdly pathetic, would be renewed, This was continued throughout
the day and night, and ceased only after the burial, when the bonfire
was lighted, and all that was earthly of Tom vanished in the grave and
in smoke. Among the
mourner were two of Lawrence's sons, half-breeds, weeping at the grave
of their fathers victim. The trouble
was, of course, about a woman. A few months ago, when Tom whipped
his wife, she left him. Since then he has been making love to, or
at, the half-breed daughter of Lawrence, who objected to the match, as
Tom was very cruel, especially to his squaws. Tom threatened to
kill Lawrence, and on several occasions started out to bring in his
scalp, but at this time was not prepared, and Lawrence evidently
was awaiting his opportunity. Lawrence was released on his own
recognizance until next Monday, when the examination will be held. A "death cry"
was to have been held here about two weeks ago, in honor of a red
brother who died doing the State some service at San Quentin.
But, owing to Tom's reputation as a fighter and a bulldozer, only a few
Indians came in , and there was not enough to get up a first-class
cry", the ceremonial was postponed. Strangely enough, the "cry"
was had at last over the body of the man who had prevented the rite
being held over a departed red brother- J. M. S.
transcribed by c feroben
WAWANA CAL., June 19 Daily Evening Bulletin,
(San Francisco,
CA)
Wednesday,
June 19, 1889; Issue 63; col F
The examination of
James Lawrence for shooting Indian Tom occupied two days, District
Attorney Stolder prosecuring and D W Tupper of Fresno and James H
Lawrence of Mariposa defending; Justice Leitch discrged the
accused this morning. Wawona's citizen unanimoulsy aprrove the
decision, and tourist visors who knew the circumstances concur.
This will probably end the case.
CALIFORNIA