Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-08-24
WITH A WAR WHOOP
NOBLE RED MEN OF THE FOR
EST WILL PLAY THE GAME
OF LACROSSE.

or LAShoSSE.
Typical Indian village on the Grounds
War Dance-Scalp Dance-Squaw
Dance-Ghost Dance.
The state fair management have en-
gagged number of Indians from the
Winnebago tribe, including the great
chief, Black Hawk, and a number from
the Sax and Fox tribe. The purpose Of
getting some Of each tribe being to put
spirit and genuine rivalry into the
great games of Lacrosse that will be
played by the contending sides.
The Indian of today possesses
charm for American boys just in pro-
portion as in times past the very name
Of RED Man" struck terror to the
hearts Of white settlers. The boys love
to look upon the noble red man of the
forest, having mostly read with avidity
the thrilling stories Of wild Bills Ad-
ventures" or "The Bloody Scalplock."
In years gone by this class Of literature
was looked upon by some people as
vicious reading, because it led many a
youth to arm himself and steal away
from the parental roof, going west for
the purposes they would explain
when caught, ito fight the Indians"
That kind of heroism is now a phan-
tom, and the small boy contents HIM
self with dressing UP like an Indian
and parading around the yard at home.
And yet they long to see one real live
Red man-they yearn for 1t, and some
of the older folks are about the same.
Responding to this evident and praise
worthy desire, the state fair manage
ment have decided to have some stall
wart representatives of the race pres
emit on the grounds during the entire
fair. But among them will be one his
toric Indian chief, II his life Is spared
that long, Black Hawk, chief OF the
Winnebagos, said to be SO years old.
His picture represents him as putting
up an old and wrinkled front, and as
a relic Of the old fighting days, when
Indians were plenty, and to be chief
was to be a doughty warrior, Black
Hawk stands out the now fading en-
bodiment Of one of the best and noblest
types Of the Indian chief. He Is COM
ing with other and younger of the
Winnebago tribe to engage in what
used to be a favorite Indian game
called Lacrosse, game that has since
been adopted and made popular by
athletic clubs in the east, been intro
duced into England and Australia, and
is still growing In popularity.
Lacrosse is game, the origin OF
which is unknown further than that it
is the development Of a game called
"Bagataway' which the early French
settlers of Canada found among the In
dian tribes. The games had no rules
and consisted in an attempt of a vary
ing number of players to throw or car
ry ball with the aid Of racquets, not
unlike small handnets, through an OPP
posing mass of players. Running and
lodging were the features Of the game,
whose object seems to have been the
training of warriors for the warpath
by cultivating agility and endurance.
The Iroquois Indians have been long
accustomed to play Lacrosse in Can
ada.
Every player is provided with kind
of large battledore. This consists of a
long stick of light hickory, bent at the
top like bishops crozier; strings of
deerskin are stretched diagonally
across the hooked portion in different
directions, forming a network-not so
tightly as in regular battledore or ra-
quet bat nor so loosely as to form a
bag. AS this stick, called the Crosse"
is five or six feet long, there is great
leverage power in handling 1t. Only
one ball is employed, made of India
rubber, and eight or nine inches In cir
conference. The players divide them
selves into two parties, the reds and
the blues. Red and blue goals are set
I'D at opposite ends Of the field, and 1t
is the object of each party to drive the
ball through the goal Of the opposing
color. The ball Is caught up and
thrown from the Crosse or stick.
The picturesque costumes OF the
PLAYERS. the quick changing Of the play
from one part Of the field to another,
it's simple rules, the graceful action OF
the runners all combine to make 1t in
teresting to spectators.
1t is this game that will form an at
tractive feature of the fair, the Indians
having contracted to play every day.
Bring the boys and let them see for
themselves how the untutored savage
can "Play Ball."
In addition to this there will be
perfect Indian village, including the
squaws and papooses in native tents OF
rush and bark. The squaws will be
seen In their daily avocations, doing
beadwork, weaving blankets, tents, etc.
The game Of Lacrosse will only be one
feature of their interesting exhibits.
There will also be war dances, scalp
dances, ghost dances, squaw dances,
horse races, foot races, bow and arrow
contests, Indian songs and games,
making them one of the great attrac-
lions Of the fair.