INDIAN PRINCESS DIES AT HER COTTAGE NEAR LINGLESTOWN
Princess White Feather, a member of the Quinabella Sioux Indian tribe of South Dakota, died at her cottage home back of Linglestown, on her eighty-fourth birthday, Thursday, August 24, 1939.
When she was six years of age she heard of God, became a Christian and remained a firm member of this faith to her dying day.
In one of the early drives to clear the Indians off newly taken over land, her parents were killed by the U. S. troops and later her uncle, Chief Iron Tail, whose picture appears on our U. S. nickel, found her in the arms of her dead mother. Her father was Chief Prairie Flower, a noted chief who battled for his native land died in the cause. She was next sent to the Carlisle Indian School where she grew to be a most beautiful girl in stature and looks. Her superior beauty she carried to the grave. More than five hundred persons viewed her body at the Zimmerman undertaking establishment. All who saw her remarked about her beauty and wonderful profile.
While she was at Carlisle, Jim Thorpe, the great football player, and Long-haired Harry, the world’s greatest knife-thrower, were students there.
The story of her life and the completing of her education at the Indian School, is a long and interesting one which shows from her childhood she had much cause to fear the white race who caused her to shed many tears. After leaving the Indian School she came to Harrisburg and was given a home with a good colored family, after which she married Charles Alexander Redd, with whom she had many children. Three of them are Mrs. Irene Denkins, 323 Mohn street; Mrs. Lavina Jackson, 405 Front street, and Wm. Redd, 405 Mohn street, all of Steelton. In course of time her husband died. After marriage she took the name of Mary Redd.
When the Bonus army was at Washington, D. C., she frequently saw the name of Carl C. Taylor, or chief Running Wolf, in the papers, whom she remembered as her sweetheart when a young girl, but separated by Indian Wars. She started a correspondence which all proved too true. Time went on, when later they were married.
Chief Running Wolf who was a member of the Miscelearo apache tribe of New Mexico, who left New Mexico when it was a territory not affiliated with the U. S. His father was accidentally killed when aged 114, and his mother died at the age of 104. His father could speak twenty-three Indian languages.
Chief Running Wolf served in the cavalry service in the Spanish-American War, serving as a Scout, and in the World War he served in the 80th division on special duty. He was one of the first Indians to be with the Buffalo Bill Show and later the Pawnee Bill Show; was with them for two years in Europe. While on this trip he joined a Masonic Lodge in England.
At present Chief Running Wolf operates an archery range near the Blue Ridge Country Club, two and a half miles west of Linglestown. The chief says he is seventy-five years old.
Princess White Feather had tattooed on her upper left arm by her tribe a star, a secret mark of the tribe, and the letters Q.S.T., which stands for Quinabella Sioux Indian tribe. On lower left was the bust of Pochontas, and lower right arm was the full picture of their great Princess, Pocahontas.
She was a second cousin to Sitting Bull.
Funeral services were held from the W. G. Zimmerman Chapel, Linglestown, Saturday afternoon, August 26. Rev. Mr. Tice, pastor of Dauphin Congregational Evangelical Church, officiated. She was buried in the land of her forefathers in the old cemetery at Wenrich’s Church, Linglestown,Pa. She was dressed in her native costume and that of an Indian Princess. She wore a green silk beaded dress, her beaded broad headband and feather, silver ear rings, many string of beads, rings, bow, three arrows and pipe. She used Honest Long Cut.
People for whom she worked for twenty-five years praised her above all others for being exact as a housekeeper and cook. She was known for her kindness to families when they were in need and for her healing power. She knew her Indian remedies, now lost.
Because the chief was a veteran, he asked the Linglestown Legion Post to furnish bearers. This they did and considered it an honor.
This is a rare incident to happen in any district.
Nevin W. Moyer
August 26, 1939
Indian friends of Princess White Feather, formerly of the Quinabella Sioux tribe of South Dakota, who died Thursday on her seventy-second birthday anniversary at her home in the mountains north of Linglestown, were expected to attend her funeral services this afternoon at the funeral chapel of Zimmerman and son, Linglestown. Other Indians residing in this immediate vicinity were advised of her death by Chief Fireaway, of Edgemont, head chief of Indian Six Nations in the East.
A former student at the Carlisle Indian School, Princess White Feather was buried in her native costume, with a bow and three arrows and a pipe more than 100 years old, being placed in the casket beside her. She was the daughter of Prairie Flower, who was killed in a massacre about 1870.
The Princess is survived by her 75-year-old husband,Chief Running Wolfe, who participated in three Indian wars, several “bonus marches” to Washington, the Spanish-American and World Wars, having seen service in France in the latter conflict. He is a friend of Pawnee Bill, and knew both Buffalo Bill and the late Charles Curtis, former Vice-President of the United States.
The Chief and his Princess have resided in Pennsylvania since 1899, being former residents of Huntingdon and Steelton. He transported his household goods from the mountain cottage yesterday, and will reside with Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Spahr, along the Linglestown road near the Blue Ridge Country Club. Chief Running Wolfe operates an archery range at the Spahrs and frequently preached in churches in this vicinity.
The Rev. Mr. Tice, pastor of the Congregational Evangelical Church in Dauphin where Chief Running Wolfe recently preached, was in charge of the services. Burial was in Wenrich’s Cemetery, near Linglestown.
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