Native
Americans of the plains and western states were known to use smoke signal to
communicate with each other of great distances. They could be seen at distances of twenty to
fifty miles (32 to 80 km) on the level plains of the west.
On
the highest elevations of land available, a small fire was built but not
allowed to blaze. It was then partly
smothered by placing an armful of green grass and weeds over the fire. This creates a dense, white plume of smoke
that ascends in a vertical column for hundreds of feet. Once the current of smoke is established, the
Native American operator takes his blanket and spreads it over the smoking pile
weeds and grass to confine the column of smoke for several moments. By rapidly lifting the blanket the operator
can cause a dense bubble of smoke to rise.
The operator can control the length and frequency of the bubbles of
smoke with the proper use of the blanket. This will create an easily visible elongated
egg-like bubble or column of smoke to rise.
Interestingly,
the Indé (Apache) people of the American Southwest used a slightly different
form of smoke columns to send messages.
Instead of communicating with elongated beads of smoke as the natives of
the plains did, they used columns of smoke.
The different number of columns communicating different meanings.
The
Rule Book by Stephen Kirschner et al., reprinted rules for American
emigrants to communicate with smoke at distances like the native American
tribes of the plains. These rules were originally from The
Prairie Traveler: A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions, written Captain Randolph
B. Marcy, an experienced U.S. Army officer, (1812 - 1887).
For
modern travelers in the wilderness or survivalists, being able to communicate
over large distance is an important skill.
It could save your life by attracting attention and signaling rescuers. It can also communicate pre-arranged messages.
I
hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me
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That
is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!
Sources
Bodmer, Rudolph John; The
Book of Wonders, [Bureau of Industrial Education, Inc; Washington, D.C.,
1918], page 412, https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Book_of_Wonders/AP8QAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22smoke+signals%22+indians&pg=PA412&printsec=frontcover, accessed
October 30, 2026
Marcy, Randolph B.; The
Prairie Traveler: A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions, [London, Trübner
and Co., 1863], page 149 to 15,
Mallery, Garrick; A
Collection of Gesture-Signs and Signals of the North American Indians, [Government
Printing Office, Washington, 1880], page 32 to 326, https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Collection_of_Gesture_Signs_and_Signal/V7v4W94oId8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22smoke+signals%22+indians&pg=PA325&printsec=frontcover,
accessed October 30, 2026
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