Delta chief., 1883-08-15
THE PRESIDENTS PARTY.
Their Journey Across the Plains to Yell
lowstone Park.


Fort WAsHAKIE, Wyoming. August
THE President and party left Green River
station. on the Union Pacific railway, at Z
O'Clock on the morning of August q, having
spent Sunday at that place. The three spring
wagons in which the party was seated were
drawn by four Missouri mules to each vehicle,
and the first days drive was made by RELAYS
for u distance OF l0l miles. to Camp Lord. on
the bank OF the Sweetwater. The President
enjoyed the ride greatly, being seated on the
outside OF the wagon with the driver, during
the last forty-fivc miles. The road ran over a
country covered with sagebrush, and hundreds
of antelopcs, sage hens and jack rabbits,
GAVE PLEASANT EXCITEMENT
to the journey. An enjoyed keenly the mount
ain air and scenery. At O'Clock ON the morn
ing of the 9TH, after bountiful breakfast. the
party left Camp Lord for Fort Washakie. 81
miles distant The President rode with the
front wagon during the first stage of 81 miles,
to Lake Popoagie. At Miners Delight, min
ing camp between the point of starting and the
end of the first stage: the party stopped TO
watch the operation Of gold washing. After
lunch, at the end of Red Canon. a most won
dcrful formation of cliffs of red ochre, giving
name to the valley, the party came on to Fort
Washakie, reaching their camp at $50 p. m.
The Shoshone and Bannock Indians upon
whose reservation the camp is located, turned
out To welcome the Great Father, and dashed
acr5ss the plain around the Presidents party
gailv at,ircd; the squavs especially displaying
their skin in horsemauship. The party viii
rest here tomorrow, and then take horses for
the Yellowstone Park. All are well. and the
President enjoys the trip more than any one in
the party.
The President and his party stopped at Fort
Washakc on the sth.
In accordance with the expressed wish of
Shoshone and Arapahoe chiefs their people
were afforded an opportunity of calling upon
the President Mt 3 O'Clock in the afternoon.
Shortly before that hour they gathered on the
plain to the number of about five hundred war
riors, and, mounted on their splendid ponies,
they dashed in line about thousand yards to
point near which the President stood await
ing them. The column then halted, and sew
eral chiefs dismoun,ed and approached him.
Among them was Washable, the remarkable
chief of the Shoshoncs, from which this post
takes its namc and Black Coal, chief of the
Arapahoes, tribe which within few years
has been permitted to share the occupancy of
this reservation.
The President thanked his visitors for call
ing upon him, congratulated them upon their
fine appearance, assured them of his interest
In their welfare, aud OF the satisfaction with
which he heard OF their exemplary conduct and
their growing attention to the practice of the
industrial pursuits. His address, which was
admirably suited to the occasion, was inter
pleted to the Shoshoncs by an English-speak-
ing member of their tribe who bears the name
of Norcot:, and to the Arapahoes by one of
their number who has been educated At the
Carlisle school,
The chiefs then shouted to their respective
tribes what had been said to them by their
Great Father, and the announcement was
ceivcd with demonstrations of applause. Both
Washakie and Black Coal made pertinent re
plies. They thanked the President for honor
ing them with visit, avowcd their purpose of
living at peace with the white men, and of the
adoption as rapidly as practicable OF their Gus
toms and manner of lifc. Their addresses as
interpreted were full of expressive metaphors,
and all were positively eloquent, The Arapa-
hoes interpreter found no difficulty in making
himself understood. His efforts were oddly
recorded by Captain Clark, of General Shers-
dams staff, who has thoroughly mastered the
beautiful and expressive sign language which
is the entire communication OF the two tribes,
and In Intercourse with the whites fully sup
plies the place OF speech. Sharp Nose then
brought forward an Indian pony and placed 1t
In the hands OF the President, He presented
the handsome animal for the use of his dsugh-
ter Gifts Of moccasins and leggius were pre-
sented also to the members OF the Presidents
party Then followed war dance, In which
twenty young Shoshonc braves took part
Eight beat the drum and chanteda weird bat
tie song. Some OF the dancers were nearly
Naked and their akin painted In various colors
Others were gaily dressed In f,ashy colorcd cos
tunes, no two Of which were alike. Some
were ornamcnted with beads, feathers and every
sort Of Indian ornament.