I have read conflicting reports concerning the “order” of her death and burial. This book places her as the thirty-second child and other more fabled accounts claim that she was the first to be buried at Carlisle. However, her name stone now lays in the first row on the first corner of the cemetery after its relocation in the 1920’s. It is not clearly known or documented how or why Take the Tail died.
Since Carlisle’s closing, the grounds were reclaimed by the US Army War College. Over the past one hundred years several variations of haunting and ghost stories have been created by non-Indians. In 1996, the building that was reported as having been a girl’s dormitory and the place that Take the Tail lived, has now been found to actually have been a matron’s dormitory; debunking any plausibility to the former matron’s tales.
***Click on the title of the post and you be transported to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School Archival Website and a page dedicated to the story of Take the Tail "Lucy Pretty Eagle."
At such a tender age of 10; that is so sad, and to be so far away from home. I cannot even began to imagine how afflicted her parents and family would be. Thank you for sharing Kara.
ReplyDeleteIt scary to think about how many boarding school children lost their living during their younger years. It make me sad knowing 100's and 100's of children did not receive the proper burial, as if they were simply disgarded.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the addtional information regarding Take the tail's story, I found myself aswering the "Questions to think about" at the end of the article. I also thought to myself and wondered how she passed and from what health condition...as it stated that she was a bit under healthy when she first arrived. And as I continued reading, another question popped into mind...what did Pretty Eagle mean by, "She had died the year before but had come back to life again."
ReplyDeleteLike Nevada says, "It's scary to think about how many boarding school children lost their lives" and especially to hear about the spirits that are still surrounded today. Like the article had mentioned, shoe laces being tied together, the aroma of cooked food in an empty kitchen, photos being rearranged, etc...
As you know, I consider myself a traditional Dine' woman, and talking about spirits are usually taboo in my culture...and as I sit here in the computer lab...alone...I too am starting to get chills...
...thank you for sharing the story of Take the tail...
I know I am guilty of passing along ghost stories! At least we know Lucy Pretty Eagle Eyes is at peace and not haunting others around campus. Thanks for sharing your comment!
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you ladies for your comments. Sometimes, "stories" can turn out to have an interesting outcome. If it were not for her "urban legend" we would not know who Takes the Tail (Lucy) is today...:-)
ReplyDelete