Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-29
Several Delegations Of Indians Visit
ing the Capital.
MANY IN The Old COSTUME
Some Of the Things They Are Ask
ing From Government.
f a MOU IS w A R R 1 o r S

At no time. in recent years at least, have
there been 30 many Indians in Washing
ten. There are so many here that this
fact is talked of not only by strangers, but
by residents Of the city. They can be seen
any day on the avenue up at the Cap
itol, which they haunt regularly as did
any of the old-time lobbyists. A party OF
them, numbering fifteen or twenty, can be
seen nearly every day passing the Peace
monument shortly before noon on their way
up to the Capitol. They are as punctual
as the opening Of the sessions of Congress
themselves.
1t was stated to Star reporter that
there are now between l25 and $50 Of the
red men in the city. While, as usual the
headquarters of many of them are down
OH ID street above the avenue, others are
scattered about various sections of the
city. Some of them are sufficiently Amerf-
canized to wear black store clothes and
black SLOUGH hats. with boiled shirts: but
a number of them appear in fun regaiia of
an uncivilized or partially unciyiliZed In
dian. These are robed principally in red
blankets with moccasins and deerskin leg
gins, and attract no little attention as they
walk along the street.
There are the following tribes represent
ed here at present: Senecas. Cherokees,
Creeks, Choctaws Chickasaws, Seminoles
ChippewaS, Caddos. OttoeS Delawares,
Osages. Arapahoes, Omahas, Tuscaroras,
Miamis, Sissetons and one or two others
Among these are several chiefs who have
gained regulations through personal deeds
of valor and by other actions which have
made them distinct from their fellows.
One of the most noted of the red men in
America has just left Washington, after a
stay here Of some little time This was
Oquanah Parker, who was with the motor
ious Geronimo. but who has now become a
good Injun''-apparently SO. at least.
Here on Business.
Nearly all Of the Indians who are here at
present have come to the capital on bust
ness. Some of the tribes which the dele
cations represent have grievances against
the agents; others are working to defeat
bills in Congress which they regard as in
imical to their interests. All have mat
tiers which take them to the Capitol or the
office of the commissioner of Indian affairs.
They enjoy their visits here, however, ac-
cording to their own declarations, and
mar age to combine business with pleasure
One Of the most impressive-looking dele
cations here now, and one Of the largest,
is that of the Arapahoes, from Oklahoma
territory. They number fifteen or eighteen
braves. many of whom appear in their abo-
riginal finery. There are two big chiefs in
this delegation. which has its headquarters
on I'd street just above Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. They are Wau Shee and Wa-Tan-
ga-a, or, In English, BLACK Coyote The
latter is a. well-known warrior and is a
f1re-looking brave of forty-five or fifty
years of age. He speaks little English and
wears an attractive costume which savors
greatly of the wild west, being decorated
with quilts. beads and other objects which
delight the taste of the red man. BLACK
Coyote also wears large silver medal
the size CT a small saucer. This hangs
danglin8 from a cord In front on his
breast. lit Is nearly half an inch thick and
bears on one side the portrait of ex-Presi-
dent Harrison with the name of the chief
1t was presented Black Coyote in recogni-
ticn of faithful services performed by that
chief as chief of police of the Oklahoma
territory. He held that position for sew
eral years and finally gave it up, having
had some trouble with the agent An eff
fort was made to have the chief take the
position again, but he refused to do So
his feelings having been too greatly in
jLred by the agent.
Has Many Scars.
The chief bears on his person more than
seventy scars, some of which were legiti-
mate wounds, but the majority Of which
were self-inflicted. Black Coyote is exceed
ingly superstitious. AT one time several OF
his childr en- died in quick succession. AS is
the habit Of the Indians in such cases, the