Submitted by
Karen Stewart

Horse Chief Eagle Is Dead
At Ponca Reservation Home

Tribe Conducting Funeral Rites Sunday
For Departed Hereditary Leader

Horse Chief Eagle, hereditary chief of the Ponca Indians,
who had served as the leader of his tribe since the death
of his father, Chief White Eagle in 1914, died Friday
afternoon. Although his age is not known, he is believed
to have been in his 80th year. His passing marks to the
Indians a definite step in tribal history, for according to
governmental and tribal provisions, there can be no more
hereditary tribal chieftains.
Horse Chief Eagle was a genuine blueblood among the
Indians and held his position with highly respected dignity.
He was of famous and colorful lineage - the son of White Eagle,
grandson of Iron Whip, and traced his ancestors back to
Little Bear, most feared of all Ponca warriors. Older Poncas
know the tales of Little Bear's deeds.
Among the possessions handed down by Standing Bear
descendant of Little Bear and uncle of Horse Chief Eagle, was
a necklace of grizzly bear claws, and the tale accompanying the
necklace foretold that the ornament brought the owner luck. If
he were the person to whom the necklace belonged, placing a
higher than material value on the gruesome looking necklace.
Horse Chief Eagle wore the necklace on numerous occasions.
Horse Chief contended all of his life as leader of the Poncas,
that his father was the last active tribal chief and that he himself
should be the acknowledged social leader of the tribe. He won his
contentions and with it the right to open conferences, lead parades
and have the place of honor at dances, feasts and councils. As early
as 1906 Horse Chief was one of the nine warriors who went to
Washington as a business delegation. That delegation was regarded
by anthropologists as made up of the finest specimens of Indian
manhood then living.
White Eagle, father of Horse Chief, was chief of the Poncas when
the tribe was brought here from Nebraska in 1877 and members were
allotted their lands on October 12, 1895 with White Eagle advising them
to take the allotments.
Horse Chief's first wife died in 1924 and members of the National
Editorial association who were meeting here at that time attended the
funeral and well remember the somber beauty of the mournful service.
Mrs. Mamie Eagle (Mamie L. Stands-up) is his widow. He leaves also
three sons, David, Simon and McKinley Eagle, and a daughter,
Mrs. May E Kemble. There are 16 grandchildren.
Funeral rites, fitting for the burial of a chieftain, are planned for Sunday
at 2 o'clock at Horse Chief's home 1 1/2 miles west of Whiteagle especially
impressive will be the funeral, for in addition to honoring Horse Chief, the
Indians again will pay homage to his father and grandfather, hereditary tribal
chiefs.
Horse Chief will be sent by his people to the happy hunting ground, clad
in all of the ornate regalia suitable to his position as the leader of the tribe,
including the chief's helmet. He will be buried in the Indian cemetery.
The Miles funeral home is in charge of arrangements

Chief of Ponca Tribe Is Buried
With Mourning, Solemn Rites

Many Vestments Symbolizing Authority
Accompany Horse Chief on Journey


With all the traditional ritual of the Ponca Indians the tribal chief,
Horse Chief Eagle was buried Sunday afternoon His death
occurred late Friday.
Horse Chief, hereditary chief of the tribe who has served as
leader since the death of his father. White Eagle, in 1914, is the
last hereditary chieftain of the tribe, for according to governmental
and tribal provisions, there can be no more.
Regalia, the possession of which designated Horse Chief and
his family as members of Indian royalty, went into the coffin to be
buried with the dead chieftain, as well as food for him to consume,
according to Indian belief, on his journey to the happy hunting ground.
Placed by his side were oranges, bananas and a meal of stew, to
feed him until he arrived at his destination. Two blankets were placed
with him. He wore his feathered chieftain's headdress and feather collar.
Among other treasurers that adorned his body was the coveted
necklace of grizzly bear claws, handed down by Little Bear, ancestor
of Horse Chief, that brought ill luck to any but the owner, if it were worn;
the matching earrings; a hair necklace made from human scalps captured
many years ago when the Ponca Indians roamed the northern prairies;
a long red clay peace pipe over 150 years old, a scalping knife and five
rings, all surrounded with traditional lore of the Poncas. His face was
painted, in ritualistic burial manner.
The mourning of the grief-stricken tribe members was done in the chief's
house, 1 1/2 miles west of Whiteagle, and the vestments of eternal travel
were placed with him there. After this latter rite, all tearful mourning ceased,
and the burial service in the Indian cemetery, was conducted without
display of emotion on the part of survivors and friends. The American flag
draped the coffin.
The Miles funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Officiating during
the funeral ritual were the Rev. Don Klingensmith, Louis McDonald and Moses
Bellmard.