The High Stakes 'Sing-Gamble' of the Cedar River

For the past week, over 300 Indians of the Black river, Cedar river, and Puyallup tribes have been holding an ancient 'sing-gamble' near Renton, the first event of its kind in this region for thirty years. A 'sing-gamble' was an annual occurrence and the most exciting event among the Indians of Puget Sound. The revival of the ancient custom at Renton proved a howling success, and the somber tone of the tom-tom and blood-curdling chant of the painted bucks made night hideous for a radius of two miles. The Black and Cedar river tribes, always inveterate gamblers, combined to try their fortunes against the Puyallups, but after 130 hours of unceasing hullabaloo, the gamblers, suffering from sore throats, weary from loss of sleep, and weak from fasting, called the game a draw. The stakes included forty horses, wagons, buggies, saddles, blankets, jewelry, rifles, and $150 in cash—totaling $4,000 in property. The Cedar and Black river Indians could ill afford to lose, for everything they possessed, including the winter's food and the clothes they wore, had been put up. The Puyallups are a more numerous and wealthier tribe, but they did not propose to throw the game. The present generation of braves, familiar with card games introduced by white men, were as ignorant of the mysterious principles of the 'sing-gamble' as the uninitiated paleface. Only the patriarchs of the tribes knew how to play, though squaws and young bucks were permitted to assist in the music—a rhythmic noise that fills one with fear and awe. The game is ingenious, involving the use of cedar knots polished into chips, and cedar sticks to register the score. A month ago, Chief William of the Cedar River tribe challenged Seatcum of the Puyallups. Couriers arrived at Renton to confirm the challenge, and soon 200 Puyallups gathered all their goods and arrived at the Cedar River banks. The game proceeded in a spacious tepee until exhaustion forced a draw. During the event, the wife of Jimmy Moses, a ponderous Indian woman, was suddenly taken ill with symptoms of insanity. Dr. Bill performed a ritual to drive away the evil spirit 'Tomomalies' by dancing, singing, and dumping a red-hot stone into a keg of water, successfully restoring her to health.