The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-01-14

nance of the OmRha-POncas Feud.
Omaha has within her city limits an
unknown and uncared for historic spot
which in few decades will be looked
upon with far more interest than it has in
the past or is now, for the value of his
torical places grows with the distance in
time from the events which made them
historical This spot which is in Omaha
and vet has been forgotten and neglected
by the city, is the grave of the famous
Omaha chief and warrior whom even
Washington Irving thought worthy Of a
place in his writings. This chief lived in
the latter part of the last century, dying
in 1892. In those days, according to Irv-
ing the Omahas looked upon themselves
as the most powerful and perfect of hu-
man beings and considered all created
things as made for their peculiar use and
benefit. The leader of this tribe, Black
bird, or Washing guh- sah-ba, was war
rior of the highest class. Early in life he
had been taken u prisoner by the Sioux,
where he had his metal tested. Under his
leadership the Omahas attained a reputa-
ton among the other tribes that they
never had possessed before. The Pawnees
having inflicted an insult upon an Omaha
brave, Blackbird led his men against their
town and slaughtered many of the inhab-
itants and burned it to ths ground. He
also waged fierce war against the Otoes
until peace was effected by the interference
of the whites.
Yet, Notwithstanding his fiery DISPOSE
h, FOL 60 10 10 10
Poncas had raided the Omaha tribe and
carried off many of their women and
horses. Blackbird took the field with the
sworn determination of eating up his enc
my. So 1ercely did the battle rage that
the Porcas began to sue for mercy. A
herald was sent out with the pipe of peace,
but he was shot down by Blackbird. A
second herald shared the same fate. AS a
last hope the Ponca chief then sent out his
daughter, arrayed in all her flnery and
bearing the calumet of peace. Her charms
conquered. A treaty was made, and Black
bird married the herald She became his
favorite wife, yet nevertheless in one of
his ungovernable fits of rage he killed her
with single blow of his knife.
No sooner did he see her lying dead at
his feet than his anger left him, and for
three days he sat by her corpse-silent,
motiOnless and tasting no food. On the
third day his people began to fear that he
intended to starve himself to death and
entreated him to be comforted. He paid
no attention to their entreaties and at last
a warrior brought little child into his
presence and placed it beneath the chiefs
foot. This appeal brought him to himself,
and, arising he made speech to his fol-
lowers and seemingly threw off his grief
as easily as he had taken it on. In 1893
the smallpox swept over Nebraska, and
Blackbird was one of its victims. The
following description of his death and
burial is quoted from Washington Irving's
"Astoria:"
"When the general horror and dismay
were at their height, Blackbird himself was
struck down with the malady. The poor
savages gathered around his bed and for
got their own miseries His dominant
spirit and love for the white men were
manifested in his latest breath, with which
he designated his place of sepulture. 1t
was to be ON hill or promontory upward
of 400 feet high, overlooking great ex-
had been accustomed to watch for the
barks Of the white men. The Missouri
washes the base of the promontory, and
after winding and doubling in many links
and mazes in the plain below returns to
within 900 yards of its starting point so
that for 30 miles navigating with sail and
oar the yoyager finds himself continually
near to this singular promontory as if
spellbound.
1T was the dying command of Black
bird that his tomb should be on the sum
NIT of this hill, in which he should be in
tered, seated on his favorite horse, that
he might overlook his ancient domain and
behold the banks of the white men as they
came up the river to trade with his people
His dying orders were faithfully obey
ed. His corpse was placed astride of his
war steed and a mound raised over them
on the summit of the hill. On the top of
the mound was erected staff from which
floated the banner of the chieftain and the
scalps that he had taken in battle. When
the expedition under Mr.. Hunt visited
that part of the country (1SO2), the staff
still remained, with the fragments Of the
banner, and the superstitious rite of plac-
ing food from dime to time upon the
mound for the use of the deceased was
still observed by the Omahas."
"That promontory is now within the
city limits of Omaha, says DR. Mercer,
land I located the grave 20 years ago,
When came TO Omaha 30 years ago, the
river wound around in the shape of an
s, and this promontory upon which 1
found the grave exactly answers to the
description given by Irving. 1t is in the
south part of the city, and Williams street
would run through it if extended to the
river. Just east of it and under the bluff
is brickyard, the roofs of which reach
nearly up to the top of the hill.
1.-THE Omaha camp was located in the
bottom beneath the bluff and a little to
the north. This point was Blackbird S
favorite place for sitting to watch for the
coming of the traders, with whom he was
very friendly. No doubt you have heard
the story When the traders came up, he
greeted them most friendly, made them
open up their goods and selected what he
wanted himself Then he called in his
tribe and compelled them to trade The
whites made up for their gifts to him by
the extra charge they put upon the goods
sold, and not an Indian dared kick The
chief had got his bride and his people had
to pay for it.
"There is another story about the old
fellow. He was great on superstition, and
when pursuing the enemy would fire into