34 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 195 



fell nearly every day, and sickness added to the hardship of the march. 

 After crossing the river it was not until May 21 that they were or- 

 ganized and got under way, one child having died during the delay 

 in camp. On the 23d, in the midst of heavy rains, another child died, 

 and they delayed the next day to give it burial. The roads were ex- 

 tremely bad, and much time was required to rebuild bridges which 

 had been swept away and to repair the roads, deep in mud, through 

 which they toiled. 



The Ponca crossed Nebraska by way of Neligh, Columbus, Seward, 

 and Beatrice. When they arrived at Columbus, Major Walker and 

 the 25 troops under him, who had come along as guards to prevent 

 escape, left the expedition and returned to Dakota. Every few days 

 someone died of disease or exposure. On June 5, near the village of 

 Milford, Prairie Flower, the daughter of Chief Standing Bear, died 

 of consumption. She was given a Christian burial in the village 

 cemetery by the townspeople. So overwhelmed was Chief Standing 

 Bear by the kindness of the ladies of Milford in arrangmg the burial 

 service that he stated to those around him at the grave that he wished 

 to give up liis Indian ways and become a Christian (pi. 10) . 



Later, on the day of the funeral, the camp was devastated by a 

 tornado that carried away wagon boxes, camp gear, and even some of 

 the people through the air as much as 300 yards. Several were 

 seriously injured and one child was killed. After they broke camp 

 the next day and proceeded on their way, another child died. Re- 

 membering the kindness of the citizens of Milford, the tiny coffin was 

 sent back to be interred in the grave with Prairie Flower. 



On June 16 the party reached Marysville, Kans. Their route 

 through that State then led to Manhattan, Council Grove, Emporia, 

 lola, Columbus, and Baxter Springs. Deaths continued along the 

 way, and two old women died in the camp near Council Grove. They, 

 too, were given Christian burial, which was now becoming popular with 

 the Ponca. Not far from Marysville four families, homesick and dis- 

 couraged, dropped out of the line of march and turned back to Ne- 

 braska. As soon as they were missed, however. Agent Howard rode 

 back to find them, and by the use of patience and diplomacy, suc- 

 ceeded m inducing them to return and rejoin the expedition. 



It was not until July 9 that the party passed through Baxter 

 Springs and crossed the line into the Indian Territory on the lands 

 of the Quapaw tribe. After nearly 2 months the march ended in the 

 same sort of weather in which it had begun. Agent Howard wrote: 

 "Just after passing Baxter Springs and between that place and the 

 reservation, a terrible thunder storm struck us. The wind blew a 

 heavy gale and the rain fell in torrents, so that it was impossible to 

 see more than four or five rods distant, thoroughly drenching every 



