The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-12
AN INDIAN INVASION.
One of the Unique Features of the
Omaha Exposition.

OHldnd, OCl, ll.-A llllle Iloie IMAM
thirty-five years ago the people of
Omaha were called to arms to defend
their homes and families against
invasion of Sioux warriors
An expedition sent out to put down
the Uprising succeeded so well that
never since has there been any cause
to fear a second visitation. In the in
tervening years. the red man has been
penned up in the reservations which
Uncle Sam provided for his well-being,
and 1t has been impossible for poor Lo
to organize boards of strategy and
swoop down upon this beautiful and
peaceful city. Today, however, the
Indians are here by invitation and by
grace of the Indian office at Washing
ton. They come from all parts of the
United States, and represent no less
than forty distinct types of the North
American Indian. When the United
States Congress appropriated $4,000
for this purpose, it was the intention
to assemble at Omaha members of ev-
cry tribe and to show, possibly for the
last time, representative types of
race destined to extinction by the slow
but sure advance of civilization. over
three hundred Indians have already
been brought here, and before the Ex-
position closes in November fully one
thousand aborigines will be found on
the camping grounds on the north
tract. AT intervals they will partici-
pate in festivities peculiar to their
tribes. and in their barbarous dances
to which legendary lore has contribute
ed much romantic interest. In lieu of
a better name, the promoters of this
great enterprise have styled it the
Indian congress. The opening session
was called to order Aug. 4, by Capt
w. A. Mercer, Y. S. A., who, by direc-
tion of the War Department, is high
chieftain of all the tribes now at
Omaha.
The opening of the congress was at
tended with ceremonials, savage and
civilized, and drew one of the largest
crowds of the season to the grounds.
In the forenoon $50 children of the
plains and forest, mounted on ponies
and gaudily painted and costumed,
paraded the principal down town
streets, and on their return to the Ex-
position grounds Captain Mercer gath
cred his charges in front of the office
building, where they participated in a
ascended the pole, the band from the
Indian school at Flandreau, s. D.,
played the star Spangled Banner"
and as it fluttered to the breeze three
cheers were raised in as many lang
uags and dialects as there were tribes
represented. The sounds We're strange,
but the cheers were given with hearty
good will. and the hundreds of whites
who were looking on were not slow to
join in.
THE PARADE.
After the Indians had dined, the par
ade was formed.A squad of Exposition
police marched in front, ostensibly to
clear the way, but as the onlookers
showed far greater Difference to the
blue paint of the savages than to the
blue uniform of the officers, their pres
ence was largely a matter of form
Next came the Indian band of twenty
instruments, and then there were
hundreds of Indians on foot. Their APP
parel was gaudy in the extreme. Paint
feathers and blankets formed the basis
Of most OF the costumes. Big wal
bonnets of eagle feathers, garment:
made of skins, hair and beads, anC
great patches of arms, or legs, ol
backs with nothing on them but {
heavy layer of red or blue paint gave the
affair most picturesque appearance
In the line of march was an Indiai
sledge drawn by a pony and bearing
three or four tom-toms which tn,
painted and feathered musicians bea
constantly as the procession wended it
way through the Midways and rounC
hA
campment. Another sledge laden Will
tom-tom2 followed a short distance
down the line. The Indians who rod
were clothed in all of the known color
and painted to perfection The faces o
some We're a dead white, others wer,
black, while others We're red, blue O.
green. There were as many styles o
painting as there We're Indians. Eagle
feathers formed feature of the attr
Of many, especially the Rosebud, tn
Brule and the Standing Rock Sioux
There We're carried all of the IndiaI
implements of ancient and civilized
warfare. Some had the modern rifle
some the tomahawk, while plenty hat
bows and arrows. Many a brave ha,
bunch of scalps dangling at his belt
while others held aloft, and waved witt
great satisfaction, great punches o
flesh, to which was attached hair, no
human flesh and hair. but flesh an
hair torn from a beef that had beer
slaughtered during the morning hours
INDIAN AMUSEMENTS.
After the Indians had returned I
| the enclosure, the public was admitte
to witness dances and sports of variou
| descriptions. In the center of the gras
| plot some twenty bucks and squaw
| seated themselves in a circle and bega
| to beat the tom-tom. Other Indian
| quickly gathered and the fun begar
| The dance was designated as He l.
| Ski, which when put into English mean
| nothing more than Brave Dance. Thi
is a dance for the Winnebagoes an
| Omahas, and they We're the only one
who participated. An Indian woul
start out with a slow swinging steJ
This he would continue for a tim,
! Gradually he would move faster an
faster, continuing till he fell exhausted
| Then others would dance and fall unit
about all had taken a tumble.
To celebrate the occasion, Tol
Sloane, an Indian attorney from tn
Omaha agency, presented silver med
al as big as saucer to Stone, one {
the Foxes. Glft-making proved cor
| tagious, and Silver Brown of In
| Omahas, in the best language he coul
command, said he would give a pom
to the Indian he loved best and n
| quested S. A. Combs, a white man,
name the recipient. Combs picked OF
Smoke Maker, and Mr.. Maker got ii
| pOny Mr., Brown then exnIained the