Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-07-14
Delayed Report Of Fourth Celebration.


Elbowoods, N. D., July5.-Fort Berth
old agency presented a holiday appear
ance when at $50 a. m. the visitors and
residents Joined in one immense parade
and circled about the agency and sur
rounding camps. The procession was at
least half a mile in length. 1t was a
dazzling and brilliant display.
The first carriage contained Hon. r.
N. Stevens and Mr.. A. Van Horn of Bis
marck, and Messrs. Walter Lee and F.,
). Packineau of the agency. This party
was followed by Chief Grow Flies High.
in the uniform of a brigadier general of
the u. S. army. Then came the indie
independence Brass Band, after which
came the white visitors and residents.
and Indians in civilized costume, in war
costume, afoot, ahorseback, in fact in
every conceivable garb, vehicle, and con-
dition.
On the left flank of the parade, super
vlslng and %marshaling the line, could be
seen the jovial countenance of the agent.
accompanied by Mrs. Richards, Miss
Dunahey, Mrs. Satterlund and Mrs.
Wallin.
At 10 o'clock the exercises of the day
were begun and the following program
carried out:
Prayer by Rev. G. L. Hall.
Reading Declaration of Independence
by Walter Lee.
Song, ":America."
Music.
Song, "The Star Spangled Banner"
During the singing of this beautiful
piece the audience rose to it's feet and
the gentlemen removed their hats.
Music.
Address of welcome by Rev. G. L.
Hall.
Music.
Grafton of the day by Hon. r. N.
Stevens.
Music.
Closing remarks by U. S. Indian
Agent Thomas Richards.
The Grafton by Hon. r. n. Stevens
was enthusiastically received by all. It
was interpreted to the Indians so that
they too might understand and appre.
clate the orators eloquence.
MI. Stevens spoke more directly to
and for the Indians than the whites. He
told them of the discovery of this coun-
try and its improvement and advance
ment up to the present stage. He i'm
pressed upon them the fact that slowly
but surely they were becoming migrated
into this glorious nation and that the
day had passed when by resorting to
arms they could revenge any wrongs
done them; that now they must follow
in the paths of the white man and seek
redress for their grievances in a peace
able and orderly manner. That they
were no longer the merciless Indian
savages of whom they had heard in the
reading of the Declaration of Independ-
ence.
The Indians were then invited to din
ner presented to them by the Agent
and Mrs. Richards. The spread con-
sisted OF beef, biscuits, doughnuts and
coffee. Every body had a plenty so that
all their hearts were good.
In the Afternoon the races and other
sports were held, sS1.5O being distribu-
ted as prizes in the numerous events.
The day was a happy one for all and
showed the Indians much of the white
mans civilization and enterprise in cele-
brating such holidays and that it was
not necessary to return to the old Indian
debauchery and fanatical customs to
have a good enjoyable time.
Bishop Stanley and a large retinue of
priests were at the agency for the fourth.
They attended the Catholic %convocation,
to which large delegations were sent
from several of the Sioux agencies. The
%convocation decided to hold their meet
ing next year at the Standing Rock
agency.
Of.