A Lasso of Human Hair

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 53, 22 October 1892, Page 4

A Lasso of Human Hair

Living in the Wenatchee, a narrow valley putting into the Upper Columbia River at a point called The Mission, because French priests years ago located there and taught the Indians, is an old Indian chief, La Pier by name, who is in possession of a remarkable souvenir. It is nothing less than a lasso of human hair, filty feet long and of variegated coloure. The lasso is very ota, just how old is not known, for old La Pier, who cowers in his cabin on tbe banks of the Wenatchee, is not talkative to stranger callers. Only the priests ot the mission who have known him long can get anything from him regarding the curious relic, the lasso, however, speaks for itself if one gets his eyes on it. It is undoubtedly composed of human hair, and women's hair at that. There you see the dark tresses of women who once were doubtless famous, locally at least, as brunette beauties, further along in the rope may be noted hair of brown and of yellow. Hair jet black, straw-col-oured, and even red is shown, but the saddest of all to contemplate are the long tresses of grey and white which are twisted yards long in places in the strange lariat. As has been intimated, old Chief La Pier will not talk much about the lasso, but to the priests he had confided its gruesome history. The hair was taken by the savages from the heads ot wives and. daughters, ot pioneers. Many years has it been in the possession of the. old Chief. He will not sell it, no matter how much is offered, and it is rare that he will show it to anyone except a particular priest who ha« won his confidence. To all others he is exceedingly reticent. He will scarcely talk ot the rope at all. The lariat has been used many a time on the trail. Old La Pier's savage ancestors used to lasso buffalo in the Blackfoot Valley, and when he got it he increased its length by the hair of several scalps he had. It is believed that probably thirty women have been scalped to furnish material tor this fearful relic the taciturn chief has in his cabin. It has come to be regarded as very valuable. The wily old Indian and his followers think there is some occult power attached to it, and it is rare that it is brought to the light from the blanket in which it lies.