The Winslow mail., 1898-09-03
INDIANS AT OMAHA.
Greatest of All Encampments at
the Big Exposition.
A Permanent Feature of the INDUS
trial Show-They VIII Illustrate
the Life and Customs of
Their Tribes.

The preparations for the coming In
dian encampment at the exposition
are being pushed by Capt. w. A. Mercer
and the prospects are that this will
be one of the most attractive perma
nent features of the exposition. Con-
gress has made the necessary ap-
preparation of $4,000 and the de-
partment of publicity and promo
tion received a telegram from Secre
tary of the Interior Cornelius n. Bliss
informing him that Capt. Mercer had
all the necessary instructions to go
right ahead.
All the tribes Of Indians of any con-
sequence will have a representation
in the big camp. Nothing viii be more
picturesque to the public generally;
nothing more instructive to the eth
nologist, The object is to show what
the primitive American aborigine was
like in the days when the buffalo herds
roamed the prairies of the west and
the forests Of the north were filed with
black tailed deer.
The Indian department at Wash
ington has placed at the disposal of
the exposition its facilities, Office force
and field employees for making up this
notable exhibit The Indian congress
is to be undoubtedly one of the strong
est, most original and most interest
ing features of the exposition. 1t will
be the last opportunity of seeing the
American Indian as savage, for the
government work now in progress
will lift the savage Indian into Ameri-
can citizenship before this generation
passes into history and the onward
march of American civilization and
American industry will wipe off the
maps of the United States the Indian
reservation and wipe off the face of
the earth the reservation Indian. In
fact, it will be the rarest chronological
exhibition ever attempted in this or
any other land Situated in the heart
of the great American union, within
easy reach of all the remaining great
Indian reservations, it has been posi-
bic here, at comparatively slight ex-
pense, to gather upon the exhibition
grounds a show which would be pos
sible nowhere else in America.
Not only is there to be permanent
assembly of the Indian tribes, but at
the great feast, like the sun dance of
the Sioux, the dog feast of the Black
feet, and other festivals of like char
acter, either Of 2 religious nature in
the recognition Of the Great Spirit or
corresponding to the annual games
of the ancients, when young bloods
are put to tests of valor and endurance
to determine their fitness for promo
tion to warriorhood, thousands of In
dians are to be transported to Omaha
to take part throughout the entire
exposition season.
In this unique exhibition there will
be Sioux from the Dakotas, Omahas
and nnebagos from Nebraska, Sacs
and Foxes from Iowa, Chippewas from
Minnesota, Kckapoos from Kansas,
Mandans from North Dakota, Crows,
Blackfeet, Cheyennes and Flatheads
from Montana; Sheepeaters, Ban
necks, and Nez Perces from Idaho;
Ya1imas from Washington, Utes from
Colorado, Arapahoes and Shoshones
from Wyoming, Piutes from Nevada,
Zunis. Moquis, Navajoes, and Apaches
from Arizona and New Mexico; Dig
gers and Mojaves from California, U1n-
atillas from Oregon, and representa-
tives from Indian territory and Okla
homa, of Creeks, Chickasaws, Choc-
taws, Seminoles, Cherekees, Osages,
Otoes, Tonkawas, Kiowas, Comanches,
Poncas, Iowas, Quapaws, Delawares,
Kaws, and other tribes and remnants
of tribes, all congregated in their
Wickiups, tents, tepees, wigwams and
cabins, pursuing their usual avocations
and illustrating their dances, religious
rites and savage customs.
Delegations from every tribe in the
union will be on the grounds at one
time or another during the exposition.
Each type will be exhibited in appro-
pirate costume, with weapons, uten-
sils, industrial appliances, ceremonial
objects, burial structures and handi-
work. Their games, their solemn fes-
tivals, their peculiar customs and
their natural surroundings will be
reproduced. In connection with these
hAAuo u dl1Ollo VI odNdSc lie, OIL dDOElS-
inal habits and customs and the para
phernalia Of the plains, mountains,
lakes and forests, their homes, exhib-
its Of their industrial advancement,
their school work aAa other incidents
of their slow but sure movement to-
ward civilization and enlightenment
will be prominent.
The plans of Capt. w. A. Mercer, U.
S. A., who has been detailed to take
charge of the Indian congress, are so
far advanced as to make the assem-
bling of the Indians only a matter of
the short time necessary to transport
them to Omaha. The captain has en-
gagged men who have lived among the
Indians for years to arrange contests,
tournaments and daily programme
of rare features. Prof. James Mooney,
of the bureau of ethnology, will make
a remarkable exhibit of Indian herald
ry, the result of years of study and
fesearch.-Chicago Journal.
After the War.