FROM THE "PEOPLE WE WISH WE HAD KNOWN" SERIES
BACKGROUND MUSIC WITH PERMISSION: NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE by ELAN MICHAELS
~~~~ " WINDWALKER " ~~~~
ST. CATHERINE’S INDIAN - 1929
By Ken Williams
The old Sioux Indian chief was up at dawn as had been his custom for most of his 77 years. He was tired … worn out perhaps … no longer a young man and the harsh years of his long life had taken their toll.
He relished taking a long walk in these woods, enjoying the Sunday morning quiet. An old Indian trail, older even than him, ran across this Pennsylvania knoll, but Chief Flying Hawk’s tribe was from the Dakota Territories, a lifetime away from this place.
Prospect Knob, also known as Pinnacle Hill, was a picturesque spot much different from the land of his fathers and of his youth. Here tucked beneath the pine trees was the Wigwam, home of his friend of thirty years, the white Chief Tchanta Tanka. Great Heart.
It wasn’t really a Wigwam, it was just that by name alone. It was really a wonderful house, quite modern by the day’s 1929 standards. It had been christened the Wigwam by DuBois banker Major Israel McCreight who was Flying Hawk’s co-author, friend and host. McCreight was also his Blood Brother, Tchanta Tanka..
The aged successor to Sitting Bull and survivor of the Indian wars against white soldiers of the west in the late 1800’s, Flying Hawk felt at home here. He had come to the Wigwam many times. He was at ease here, comfortable and welcomed.
Flying Hawk had many memories and stories he shared with McCreight …not only to be shared but to be written down. Some of his memories were good … some tragic and painful to recall. He had traveled thousands of miles, toured the world with Buffalo Bill, and like McCreight had become something of a noted philosopher and historian. He thought of the Wigwam perhaps as a second home.
As he walked back to the Wigwam an idea came to him. It was Sunday. Why not go to the white man’s church. And so they did just that, Flying Hawk dressed in Indian regalia befitting a Lakota Sioux Chief and McCreight equally dignified in a suit befitting his stature as a recognized town leader and DuBois bank president.
It was just a short drive to St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in DuBois. Taking their seats in the church, the duo created quite a stir. Here was something to be talked about, talked over, for weeks. The parishioners wanted to look, had to look, but did not want to be caught staring.
Seemingly unaware of being the center of attention, Flying Hawk sat quietly and was quite dignified through the long and solemn service. That too was simply befitting his stature as a Sioux Chief. The congregation was pleased now as well as curious … and impressed.
The first Mass in DuBois had taken place in a log cabin in 1875. The worshipers at St Catherine’s in 1929 didn’t know that as a twenty year old Flying Hawk, this now aged Indian in their midst, had taken his first scalp three years before that 1875 occasion. It had been his first of many scalps. So much for being pleased.
They didn’t realize, couldn’t know that he was a warrior as well as a famous chief, never dreamed he had once written, "I can not tell how many I killed as a young man."
How wide-eyed would the crowd at St Catherine’s have been had they known that this peaceful old man, this friend of Major McCreight’s, had fought alongside his cousin Crazy Horse and with his uncle Sitting Bull shared in the total annihilation of the soldiers of the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn Battle 53 years before quietly seating himself in their church?
Perhaps it was better that they did not know. Flying Hawk had told McCreight of that battle, "…we fought for our women and children."
It was said that after the service the priest shook the old chief’s hand and gave him a blessing.
Leaving DuBois shortly thereafter, Flying Hawk seemed to sense that this would be his last visit to the Wigwam and he was visibly saddened by the thought of never again returning to DuBois. This would be the last farewell between friends.
Just over two years after visiting DuBois the 79 year old chief died at an Indian Reservation in South Dakota on Christmas Eve, 1931. It was said that Chief Flying Hawk, Major McCreight's often welcomed guest, Sioux warrior, and St Catherine's Indian had died of neglect and starvation.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This article appears here with the permission of the author and webmaster who retains exclusive and full ownership rights. It is also fully protected by this website's copyright and may NOT be copied, printed, referenced to or transmitted without written permission. Published June 2011
The photo of Chief Flying Hawk was taken at Major McCreight's famed "Wigwam" on June 23, 1929
We checked the old calendar for 1929 ..... it WAS a Sunday !
Learn about Major McCreight: (SELECT)
EDITORS NOTE: The tale above is based on an actual account in "Firewater and Forked Tongues" by Flying Hawk and Major McCreight through which verification of the visit to St Catherine’s Church can be made. Furthermore, documentation was found that authenticates Flying Hawk’s presence at the Wigwam in DuBois on June 23, 1929. The photo below is authentic and that date in 1929 was a Sunday. The article is based on that evidence
Click the picture to view an enlarged image
BACKGROUND MUSIC WITH PERMISSION: NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE by ELAN MICHAELS
~~~~ " WINDWALKER " ~~~~
ST. CATHERINE’S INDIAN - 1929
By Ken Williams
The old Sioux Indian chief was up at dawn as had been his custom for most of his 77 years. He was tired … worn out perhaps … no longer a young man and the harsh years of his long life had taken their toll.
He relished taking a long walk in these woods, enjoying the Sunday morning quiet. An old Indian trail, older even than him, ran across this Pennsylvania knoll, but Chief Flying Hawk’s tribe was from the Dakota Territories, a lifetime away from this place.
Prospect Knob, also known as Pinnacle Hill, was a picturesque spot much different from the land of his fathers and of his youth. Here tucked beneath the pine trees was the Wigwam, home of his friend of thirty years, the white Chief Tchanta Tanka. Great Heart.
It wasn’t really a Wigwam, it was just that by name alone. It was really a wonderful house, quite modern by the day’s 1929 standards. It had been christened the Wigwam by DuBois banker Major Israel McCreight who was Flying Hawk’s co-author, friend and host. McCreight was also his Blood Brother, Tchanta Tanka..
The aged successor to Sitting Bull and survivor of the Indian wars against white soldiers of the west in the late 1800’s, Flying Hawk felt at home here. He had come to the Wigwam many times. He was at ease here, comfortable and welcomed.
Flying Hawk had many memories and stories he shared with McCreight …not only to be shared but to be written down. Some of his memories were good … some tragic and painful to recall. He had traveled thousands of miles, toured the world with Buffalo Bill, and like McCreight had become something of a noted philosopher and historian. He thought of the Wigwam perhaps as a second home.
As he walked back to the Wigwam an idea came to him. It was Sunday. Why not go to the white man’s church. And so they did just that, Flying Hawk dressed in Indian regalia befitting a Lakota Sioux Chief and McCreight equally dignified in a suit befitting his stature as a recognized town leader and DuBois bank president.
It was just a short drive to St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in DuBois. Taking their seats in the church, the duo created quite a stir. Here was something to be talked about, talked over, for weeks. The parishioners wanted to look, had to look, but did not want to be caught staring.
Seemingly unaware of being the center of attention, Flying Hawk sat quietly and was quite dignified through the long and solemn service. That too was simply befitting his stature as a Sioux Chief. The congregation was pleased now as well as curious … and impressed.
The first Mass in DuBois had taken place in a log cabin in 1875. The worshipers at St Catherine’s in 1929 didn’t know that as a twenty year old Flying Hawk, this now aged Indian in their midst, had taken his first scalp three years before that 1875 occasion. It had been his first of many scalps. So much for being pleased.
They didn’t realize, couldn’t know that he was a warrior as well as a famous chief, never dreamed he had once written, "I can not tell how many I killed as a young man."
How wide-eyed would the crowd at St Catherine’s have been had they known that this peaceful old man, this friend of Major McCreight’s, had fought alongside his cousin Crazy Horse and with his uncle Sitting Bull shared in the total annihilation of the soldiers of the 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn Battle 53 years before quietly seating himself in their church?
Perhaps it was better that they did not know. Flying Hawk had told McCreight of that battle, "…we fought for our women and children."
It was said that after the service the priest shook the old chief’s hand and gave him a blessing.
Leaving DuBois shortly thereafter, Flying Hawk seemed to sense that this would be his last visit to the Wigwam and he was visibly saddened by the thought of never again returning to DuBois. This would be the last farewell between friends.
Just over two years after visiting DuBois the 79 year old chief died at an Indian Reservation in South Dakota on Christmas Eve, 1931. It was said that Chief Flying Hawk, Major McCreight's often welcomed guest, Sioux warrior, and St Catherine's Indian had died of neglect and starvation.
~~~~~~~~~~~
This article appears here with the permission of the author and webmaster who retains exclusive and full ownership rights. It is also fully protected by this website's copyright and may NOT be copied, printed, referenced to or transmitted without written permission. Published June 2011
The photo of Chief Flying Hawk was taken at Major McCreight's famed "Wigwam" on June 23, 1929
We checked the old calendar for 1929 ..... it WAS a Sunday !
Learn about Major McCreight: (SELECT)
EDITORS NOTE: The tale above is based on an actual account in "Firewater and Forked Tongues" by Flying Hawk and Major McCreight through which verification of the visit to St Catherine’s Church can be made. Furthermore, documentation was found that authenticates Flying Hawk’s presence at the Wigwam in DuBois on June 23, 1929. The photo below is authentic and that date in 1929 was a Sunday. The article is based on that evidence
Click the picture to view an enlarged image
