Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1890-07-11
The Fourth at Tewaukon.

There would not be any celebration
at Oakes on the 9TH, we decided tt
go to some other place Of equal at
fractions where we could be patriot.
ic and enjoy ourselves at the same
time. And where could there be 6
more suitable place than Lake Te.
waukon? The ride over there was
a very pleasant one. We took the
road past Ludden and thence ovel
to Newark, which was quite round.
about way and not nearly so direct
as to 60 to Rutland, when We
would be within eight miles Of the
lake. The road lay through fields
Of growing crops, interspersed with
tracts Of prairie and here and there
large fields of beautiful prairie flow
ers-roses, lilies and various other
fowers-and all looking their best.
1t is our belief that Dakota boats
the world in the profusion and
beauty Of its wild flowers. The
crops look in about the same condi-
ton all along the road chat they do
in the vicinity of Oakes. There
was a strip of country east Of New
ark over next to the hills on the
Reservation where the crops looked
very fine and much farther advanc-
ed than elsewhere on the road We
saw some land on the Reservation,
at the foot of the hills, which will
soon be opened to settlement Chat is
the finest looking land in the whole
State, and those who are able to
take farms there will be fortunate
indeed. We found Lake Tewaukon
a very beautiful place, surrounded
as it is by a fine growth of timber
and bushes; on three sides the level
prairie and to the south the range
of hills stretching away for thirty
miles Or more. Mr.. Holding, Of
Ransom county, had charge of the
grounds, and he spared no pains to
make the celebration success. He
had erected a large stand, forspeak-
ing, singing, dancing, etc., and had
several refreshment stands besides,
where the vast crowds Of people
could obtain whatever was needed
for their comfort, and such crowds
Of people as were there! It was es-
timated that there were nearly
1000 people on the grounds that
day and a large number camping
for the week and some for a few
days only. The sights Of the many
tents, lii among the trees and the
people wandering about on the
beach or enjoying themselves in
various ways on the land or rowing
on the lake, was one always to be
remembered with pleasure. 1t was
the most orderly crowd we ever saw
for so large one on the 4th of
July, and this state of things was
due in large measure to the efforts
of Mr.. Holding, who gave his whole
time and attention to the business
Of having everything pleasant and
agreeable to the people who were
there. And it is safe to say that
all were well pleased with the way
things were managed and will long
remember the 4th Of July, 1890, at
Lake Tewaukon with a great deal of
pleasure,
The Indians gave some very good
Of their dances and
games, although there were not as
many there as expected. The sing
ing by the Indian girls was good
and goes to show that the Indians
can be trained and educated to be-
come citizens Of the United States.
Besides the singing we listened to
speeches by several good speakers
and a recitation by Miss Alta Martin,
one Of the graduates Of the Ellen
dale High School. There were not
as many Indians there as last year,
but those who were present gaye
some interesting entertainments in
the shape Of a sham battle, a war
dance, scalp dance, etc, etc. The
squaws also gave what they called
a squaw dance, on the stand where
the white folks had their dancing.
The game Of lacrosse was quite
lively and exciting; but space is
I, t5s, !, =, :, !, = q J, III