The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-20

position, mas sent 10 ni1 IIletiut AaJVE
4. II. Norton, OF this city 1 description
Of the reception accorded TO President
Mckinley on the 18th instant by the
representative of the leading Indian
tribes of the west.
The presence Of over one thousand
red warriors encamped in a village
contiguous to- the exposition grounds,
where they occupy tepees. hogans, and
other primitive dwellings with their
women aud children. and give daily ex-
hibItlons of sun dances. parades, peace
dances and sham battles, forms one of
the most unique and attractive fea-
lures of the great Trans-M Mississippi
show. Such gathering OF former hos
tile, but now peaceful and thoroughly
reconstructed aborignees, will prob
ably never again be witnessed on this
continent, and certainly no future
Great Father viii ever again be
brought face TO face with 50 many reps
resentatlves OF a subjugated race who
are now the nations wards. Captain
Mercer has displayed great ability in
organizing this large contingent OF ma
tive warriors, and instructlng them in
the way to perform their savage eere-
monies for the entertainment Of the
multitude OF pale faces who daily visit
the exposition. An Omaha paper gIVeS
the following description Of the THRILL
ang scenes and incidents attending the
reception of President Mckinley last
Thursday:
'As on every occasion Einee the chief
executive of the nation reached the city,
there was no need to announce his COM
ing. While his carriage was stlll roll
ing some distance away toward the
grounds the cheers greeted his way
plainly announced his coming. In a
few moments the double file of his mill
itary escort hove into sight and forced
a passaaewav through the crowds. Be
tween these files the presidential party
rolled into the arena and to the portion
Of the grand stand which had been re-
served for their use. The president re-
celVed another tremendous ovation OF
cheers and waving handkerchlefs and
was kept busy bowling to the enthusl-
astlc crowds
Captain Mercer had In the meanwhile
set his stage. Way to the rear OF the
arena and directly In front OF fle pres
idential stand stood the gnudV ana
picturesque red men grouped in tribes.
They were as silent as the grave, Sud-
denly Captain Mercer raised his hand;
harf1f n raw martial
air; a chorus OF yells and chants arose
fe,Hn the ranks OF the Indians and the
first detachment stepped forward to-
ward the grand stand.
Tribe by tribe the Indians were re-
viewed by the President and their
names were announced to him Us they
stopped before him. First came the wo-
men in blankets OF brilliant com6ina-
tons OF red. blue, yellow and green,
some with toddllng children as gaudilV
clothed as themselves by their sides
and some with papPooses upon their
backs, some silent and shy, and others
singing and chanting and with smiling
faces. Then came the warriors on foot.
some with a superhulty OF gaudy COS
tunes and others with none at all, ev-
cry man with all OF his exposed body,
arms. legs, trunk and face fantastical-
ly painted in brilliant hues. Finally
came the horsemen as brilliantly dec
GRATED, dashing up and hating with
perfect horsemanshlp at the foot OF the
stand. Behind each tribe came It's CHIEF
and his name was also announced 10
the President.
The ealutatlons with which the In
dams greeted the presidential parties
was not the ieast interesting portion OF
the play. Some simply halted for an
instant and wheeled away; others
made an awkward. but a dlgnihed
obelsance: a few removed their head
gear; some grinned; others saluted in
the fashion of their people, with up
ratsed hand or by putting hand 70
their forehead; still others bowed low.
The women OF one tribe came up ana
waited kisses up toward the pFeaiden-
tial stand. To each and every tribe
President Mckinley graciously dohed
his hat In response to the greetings.
And in this public way the President
was introduced TO some great men OF
the dyfug American race. First and
foremost was Geronimo, the once-dread-
ed chief OF the Apaches. As he dashed
an behind his tribe. halted In front OF
them and lifted his eyes to the party In
which was numbered the man who had
crossed his bloody trail and brought It
20 an end, General Miles, he dofed his
headgear and n dlgnihed smile passed
over his wrinkled features as he made
obelsance. There was less OF show and
more Of dignity in the old warriors
mien, for OF all the chiefs he was the
only one that had discarded the dress
OF RavaEery and he appeared In
scout's Uniform with but a few brilliant
adornments,
A variety Of other chIeftAins OF great
er or less prominence were thus paraded
and introduced. Among them was
American Horse. the lifelong cham
pion OF the white man. who made his
greeting with a smiling and friendly
face; Natchez. the heredntnrF chief OF
the Apaches. more responsible thnn
Geronimo probably for the awful needs
IN the southwest. who barely bowed and
halted but FOR an instant and looked
up at the reviewing party With immo-
bile features: Hollow Horn Bear, OF the
Rosebuds, whose painted face was all
Emlies: Little Bat, General Clusters IA
NOUS scout, who rat his horse In dig
nifty while the story OF his deeds was
briefly told rho President. There were
dnzens Of others about whose names nre
clustered tales OF fcrOelty. rapine, MUIR
der or stories OF tried friendship 70 the
palefhccs-de and acts chat were
perpetrated and performed not a half
century ago
The Indians were again maSsed in
the background OF the arena IN q solid