Omaha daily bee., 1885-07-06

mediation between them and the mahai
(Omahss) with whom they were now al
war. We promised 10 interpose In theli
behalf when we should meet the Mahas
We then proceeded to distribute among
them our presents, medals, paint, gar
ters, and oloth ornaments of dress. IL
each chief We gave q medal, q csnnistel
of powder, and a bottle of whisky, with
which they we're entirely satisfied.
"The incidents Just related induced "a
to give to this place
THE NAME OF COUNCIL BLUFFS;
the situation of II Is exceedingly favorable
for o fort and trading factory, as the sol
Is we'll caneulated for bricks and there II
an abundance of wood In the nelghbor.
hood. and the air being pure and healthy
1t Is also central to the chiel resorts Of
the Indians, and days journey to tbs
Otoes, one and a half to the Great Paw.
nees, two days to the Mahas, two and
quarter to the Pawnee's Loup village,
convenient to the huntlng grounds of the
Sioux, and twenty-five days journey t
Santa Fee."
The council Yves concluded, the IndlanI
departed, and the explorers proceeded NJ
the river.
August 11th they halted on the wesi
side to examine the spot where one of the
great chiefs of the Mshss, named Black
bird, who died about four years before o.
small pox. was buried. The mound Il
on q knoll, 800 feet above the water,
twelve felt In diameter at the base, ant
five feet high. They raised q pole In the
center over the dead chief, eight feet
high, on which they hung a flag. The
Indians were In the habit of placing pro
Visions on his grave to keep him supplied
during his long journey to the happy
hunting grounds.
From that point q sergeant with four
teen men were send out to find the Otoes,
and bring In a party to have q talk with
them, and try to induce them to stor
their wars with the Otoes and Misuouris,
but they could not find them. Capt.
Lewis says:
"The accounts We have had of the effsctr
OF the small pox on the nationwide Mahas)
are most distressing. 1t is not known In
what way 1t was frat communicated to
them, though probably by some war
party. They had been a military and
powerful people; but when these warriors
saw their strength and numbers wasting
away before a malady they could not re-
sist, their frenzy was extreme, they
burned their village and many of them
put to death their wives and children to
save them from 80 cruel an inflction,
and that all might go together to some
better country
Blackbird was a great and powerful
chief regarded with awe and veneration
by all of his own tribe, and with fear by
all other tribes In this region. The for
mer believed him to bs possessed of
supernatural powers, and he cultivated
this impression on their part, in order to
give him gfeater influence over them.
When he saw more than half of his peo-
pie swept away by that dreadful disease
smallpox, and he and his medicine men
were helpless to stop Its ravages, he be.
came well nigh frsnzied, and gave him
self up to despair. While In this condi-
tion he himself was aeized with the fatal
and died in a few days. He
gave directions that he ehou!d be buried
On the summit of the knoll mentioned by
LOWS slttlnS Oh Ms war steed,
both caparasoned for the battle. His
were faithfully carried out.
The horse after bsing killed vas placed
position with his grim rider, and
dropped up, and then the mound was
quilt up over them. This hill is pointed
'ut to this day IS the place of sepulture
# the great chief, Blackbird.
JOHN M. THAYER.
GRAND ISLAND, July 8, 1885.