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Archiver > AR-OLD-NEWSPAPERS > 2003-04 > 1051631237


From: "Fran Warren" <>
Subject: Re: [AR-OLD-NEWS] August 30, 1899 Van Buren Argus
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2003 10:48:32 -0700
References: <002b01c30dc7$409893e0$7dd5bdd0@pavilion> <009c01c30df7$d9baff60$a4e90740@yourus67pi6luv>


That is wonderful! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU for the encouragement,
too!
Fran Alverson Warren
e-mail:
479-369-2703
http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jane Greenwood" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [AR-OLD-NEWS] August 30, 1899 Van Buren Argus


Dear Fran, Thank you so much for this article as Daid M. faulkner was a
relative. Jane
----- Original Message -----
From: "Fran Warren" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 3:46 PM
Subject: [AR-OLD-NEWS] August 30, 1899 Van Buren Argus


> August 30, 1899
>
> INDIAN GREEN CORN DANCE
>
> Hundreds of Full Blood Cherokees at Hanson, Indian Territory.
>
> A Harvest Festival
>
> "Creek Brewer" the Patriarch of the Cherokees is Master of Ceremonies.
Many Attending
>
>
>
> One of the most successful celebrations ever held in the Cherokee Nation
closed last night at Hanson, 25 miles west of here, successful from the fact
that the attendance was very large and the very best of order was
maintained. Thanks to the diligence of the police system under the
management of J M Seabolt, who has served in the capacity of a Cherokee
officer a number of years.
>
> An Argus representative was in attendance on Wednesday night and witnessed
the green corn dance of the Cherokee Indians, a custom as old as tradition
and as sacred to the Cherokees as any of their rights and customs. Through
the courtesy of Mr. D M Faulkner, a prominent merchant of Hanson and one of
the promoters of the annual festival season.
>
> Fully 3000 people were in attendance Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Throughout the day, an interesting ball game was played between the Hanson
and Muldrow clubs, the first named winning the game at a very close score.
Merry-go-rounds, booths, photograph tents and many attractions usually to be
found at such a gathering was there and were liberally patronized.
>
> The principal event each evening was the "green corn" dance or harvest
festival, in which they try by their songs and hours of endurance, to
propitiate the "Great Spirit" and seek His aid in cleansing their food and
drink from all evil spirits and that their garnered grain may give them
health, strength and power to overcome their enemies.
>
> The "stamp ground" was included in a circle 40 feet in diameter and had
been carefully cleared of all sod. Just at dark arm loads of dry wood were
piled in the center of the circle and a flaming torch applied. After the
fire began to subside, "Creek Brewer" the Cherokee patriarch, 80 years of
age appeared in the circle, and through an interpreter said "Tell the white
brother we are their friend, we want them to partake of our Tom Fuller
(pounded corn) and join us in our dance. There will be no more dances, nor
more council fires. We must forget the customs of our honored Chieftain whom
we followed from the far east into a land where the buffalos were as
plentiful as the stars in the harvest skies."
>
> Beating an improvised drum in a slow measure he began to walk around the
smoldering bon fire. Other full bloods followed and in a moment, a score of
them were chanting their harvest songs, the measure growing faster. "Creek
Brewer", despite his 80 years of age walked upright and sprightly. The weird
monotonous chant of the dancers seemed to revive the fire of his youth and
faster he beat the "kari" and he walked when the circle was complete. Creek
Brewer stepped to the center edge of the circle and squatting on his
haunches, continued to keep time with his crudely constructed musical
instrument.
>
> The dancers seemed tireless. The fire burned lower and lower and the dust
raised higher and higher and denser from beneath the dancers’ feet. The
dancers grew in numbers. Fifty, seventy-five, one hundred are now in the
circle. There is no room for more. As one became exhausted another was ready
to take his place and their song, "keyi Kayo, kayu kalu, kali, Inh wagh,"
grew louder. They elicited no applause and they were as solemn in every act,
utterance and gesture as if they were burying one of their number.
>
> Creek Brewer, the leader in all the Cherokee Festivals, is a unique
personage. He refused to leave his camp during the day, and it was not until
after sundown would he mingle with even those of his own tribe. A few
moments prior to his leaving camp for the campground, an Argus reporter,
through an interpreter, J M Seabolt, induced this aged Cherokee to talk. We
went out to his camp and found him seated in the midst of an abundance of
barbecued meats, rye bread and "Tom Fuller". He was a typical Indian and his
semi-civilized garb would not conceal the fact. Long feathers were stuck in
each side of his hat, rings were pendant from his ears and the clear
penetrating eyes that met those of his questioners, showed that his mind was
yet quick.
>
> He told how he made the trip from the homes of the Cherokees in the East
with Chief Ross. He could not tell the number of years he had lived in the
Territory and when asked how much land he had, smiled and shook his head, as
much as to say he did not know.. Asked as to the origin of the green corn
dance he again shook his head as if in a meditative mood and through his
interpreter replied, "our fathers could not tell us." implying that it had
been a custom running further back than the minds of a dozen generations.
>
> During the afternoon, a most shocking accident occurred, resulting in the
death of the little 10-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norid. It seems
that the child was passing near a vicious horse, which struck her down with
its fore feet and continued to paw her in such a manner as to crush the
skull and inflict other injuries from which she died at 8 p m.
>
> Fran Alverson Warren
> e-mail:
> 479-369-2703
> http://www.crawfordcountyarkansas.net/
>
>
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> Thanks, Fran!!
>
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