The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-08-25
An Indian Invasion.


little more than thirty-fve years
ago the people of Omaha were call
ed to arms to defend their homes
and families against a threatened
invasion of Sioux warriors. An
expedition sent out to put down
the uprising succeeded 80 well that
never since has there been any
cause to fear second visitation.
In the Intervening years, the red
man has been penned up in the re-
servations which Uncle Sam pro-
vided for his well-being, and 1t has
been impossible for poor Lo to or
ganize boards of strategy and swoop
down upon this beautiful and peace
full city. Today, however, the In.
dians are here by invitation and by
grace of the Indian Office at Wash
ington. 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 appro-
priated $4,000 for this purpose, it
was the intention to assemble at
Omaha members of every tribe and
to show possibly for the last time,
representative types of race des-
tined to extinction by the slow, but
sure advance of civilization. Over
three hundred Indians have already
been brought here, and before the
Exposition closes in November
fully one thousand aborigines will
be found on the camping grounds
on the north tract. AT intervals
they will participate in festivities
peculiar to their barbarous dances
to which legendary lore has con-
tributed much romantic interest.
In lieu OF better name, the pro.
moters of this great enterprise have
styled it the Indian Congress. The
opening session was called to order
August 4th, by Capt. w. A. Mercer,
u. S. A, who, by direction Of the
War Department, is high chieftain
of all the tribes now at Omaha.
The opening of the congress was
attended with ceremonial, savage
and civilized, and drew one of the
largest crowds of the season to the
grounds. In the forenoon $50 child
rem of the plains and forest, mount
ed on ponies and gaudily painted
and costumed, paraded the princi-
pal down town streets, and on their
return to the Exposition grounds
Captain Mercer gathered his charg-
es in front of the Office building,
where they participated in a flag
raising. AS the stars and stripes
assembled the pole, the band fiom
the Indian school at Flandreau, S.
d., played the "Star Spangled Ban
ner," and as it fiuttered to the
breeze three cheers were raised in
as many languages and dialects as
there were tribes represented. The
sounds were 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.
After the Indians had dined, the
parade 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 presence was
largely matter of form. Next
came the Indian band of twenty
instruments, and then there were
hundreds Of Indians on foot. Their
apparel was gaudy in the extreme.
Paint, feathers and blankets form
ed the basis OF most of the costumes.
Big war bOnnets of eagle feathers,
garments made of skins, hair and
beads, and great patches of arms,
or legs, or backs with nothing on
them but heavy layer of red or
blue paint gave the affair a most
picturesque appearance. In the
line Of march was an Indian sledge
drawn by pony and bearing three
or four tom-toms which the painted
and feathered musicians beat con-
stantly as the procession wended its
way through the Midways and
round the Bluff Tract and back to
the encampment. Another sledge
laden with tom-toms followed a
short distance down the line. The
Indians who rode were clothed in
all Of the known colors and painted
to perfection. The faces of some
were dead white, others were
black, while others were red, blue
or green. There were as many
styles OF painting as there were In
dians. Eagle feathers formed a
feature OF the attire Of many, es-
pecially the Rosebud, the Brule
and tho HtandinU Rock Siouy