The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-31
BLACKBIRD'S GRAVE.
LAST RESTING PLACE OF THE IA
NOUS INDIAN CHIEF.
On blum That d Now Inside the City
of Omaba--on Its summit the Chief
Watched For His White Friends-Ro-
mance OF the OmaIia-Ponoas Teud.

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 yet 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
place i'm his writings. This chief lived I'm
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 hui
man beings, and considered all created
things as made for their peculiar use and
benefit. The leader of this tribe, Black
bird or Wash -ing-guh sab -ba, was war
rior of tho highest class. Early in life no
had been taken a prisoner by tho 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 the ground. He
also waged fierce war against the Otoes
until peace was effected by the interference
of the whites
Yet notwithstanding his fiery disposi-
ton, he fell victim to Cupid's dart. The
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 flercely did tho battle rage that
the Poncas 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 q
last hope the Ponca chief then sent out his
daughter arrayed in all her inery 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 "a 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 no
intended to starve himself to death and
entrcated him to DO comforted. He paid
no attention TO their entrcaties, and at last
warrior brought little child into his
presence and placed it beneath the chiefs
foot This appeal brought him to himself,
and, arising, he made IA speech to his fol-
lowers and seemingly threw of his grief
as easily as no had taken 1t on. In 1872
the smallpox swept over Nebraska, and
Blackbrd was one of It's victims. The
following description of his death and
burial is quoted from Washington Irving's
"Astora:"
"Whon tho general horror and dismay
were nc 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 sepulturo. 1t
was to be on a hill or promontory upward
Of 400 feet high, overlooking great ex-
tent of the Missouri river, from whence he
had been accustomed to watch for the
banks of the white men. The Missouri
washes the base of the promontory, and
after winding and doubling in many links
and mazcs in the plain below returns TO
within 900 yards Of its starting point, so
that for 80 miles navigating with sail and
near to this singular promontory as II
spcllbound.
at was the dying command Of Black
bird that his tomb should be on the sum-
nit Of this hill, in which no 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 time 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 1 located the grave 20 years ago.
When came to Omaha 86 years ago, the
river wound around In the shape of an
s. and this promontory upon which
found the grave exactly answers to the
description given by Irving. 1t Is in the
south part Of tho city, and Williams street
would run through 1t II extended to the
river. Just cast of it and under the bluff
is brickyard, the roofs of which reach
nearly up to the top of the hill.
"The Omaha camp was located In the
bottom beneath tho bluff and little to
the north. This point was Blackbird's
favorite place for sitting to watch for the
coming of tho traders, with whom he was
very friendly. No doubt you have heard
the story. When the traders came mp, 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
their tracks, claiming that would kill
them. He posed as a kind Of god, but
after awhile some of. his people grew skep-
| teal of his superhuman power and refused