The times., 1899-12-24
WHERE BLACKBIRD LIES
Dispute as to Omaha Chiefs Grave
Finally Settled.
Interesting Account of the Character
Of One of the Most interruptions
Indians With Which Pioneers Had
to Deal - BY the Use of Poison
He TerrOrized His own People.

We palefaces have a tradition to the ef-
feet that whenever an Indian of the genera
tion of fifty years ago died he was buried
with pomp and ceremony, the pony being
shot over the grave, that he might rejoin
his rider in the happy hunting ground.
This is very poetical and il is true that
such ceremonies were sometimes observed,
but so anxious does the historian often be
come to make his report interesting that he
sometimes almost forgets to adhere strictly
to fact in his otherwise legitimate desire to
entertain.
The case of the burial of the old and
famed Chief Blackbird of the Omaha tribe
presents very striking Illustration, and
as the recent discussion as to the wherea-
. bouts of his grave has recalled him to the
memory of Nebraskans al least. the truth
regarding his death and burial has been
brought to light. While the old chief has
many descendants living on the Omaha
Reservation today, very few of them have
any actual knowledge regarding the man
ner Of his death and burial. Dr. Susan
Picotte, highly educated half breed Oma-
ha woman, has taken great interest in pre-
serving the family traditions, as well as
the Indian folklore and mythology, and it
is to her that the writer is indebted for the
information regarding Blackbird's death
and burial.
Great Aunt was my own grandmOther's
half-sister," " said Dr.. Picotte. and accord
ing to the Indian custom we calleI her
grandmother also. She made her home
with the La Flesche-my father's-famiIy
until her death, February -, 1895.
Her Omaha name was Me-me-ta-ea
and she died at the age of 1O5 or more
Years. Villagemaker, Blackbird's son, was
her father, and she was present at the
death and burial of the old chief whom she
remembered perfectly, being then about
nine or ten years old. as ii was in 1900 or
tbereabouts that he died The Indian
method of reckoning time being so different
from ours, ii is exceedingly difficult to give
exact dates but when l read glowing de-
scription OF the gathering of Inc tribe at
Blackbird's funeral and of the great cere-
monies attending II, she shook her head
and informed me that it was all wrong;
that only two or three families were rep
resented at the burial. she often pointed
out the spot where he lay on the nigh
bluff, said TO be the highest point on the
Nebraska side OF the Missouri between
Sioux City and Omaha"
Dr. Picotte very graciously consented 10
accompany the writer 10 the exact spot
which Me ga had so often pointed
out.
The bluff rises almost directly from the
water and commands a view of the river
the surrounding country and the Iowa
bluffs for many miles. e-''
The main band of Omahas had cambed at
a place about eighty rods TO the left Of the
hill Smallpox was ravisaing the tribe.
and although the poor Indians knew moth
ing Of the germ theory, they scattered their
tepees all along the river for miles, hoping
thereby to avoid the visitation 0f the
Wa-kan-dahs displeasure.
Blackbird and few OF the members of
his immediate family campei at the foot
Of the bluff. He was fearful from the very
first thaI he would fall victim 20 the di
CHA tunga big pimples). Dr.. picOtte thus
ingeniously describes the wicked and dom
ineering old chief: He was not very good
man. He ruled his people through fear,
The story Irving tells in Astoria Of his
getting possession of some poison-prOb-
ably arsenic-from some early traders OF
adventures. and of his Issuing dinner in
yiJations to his enemies whose deaths he
would prophesy-al correctly-is a
tale I have been familiar with from my
earliest recollection. Great Aunt used to
tell il to us. The story Of how he mur-
deTed his wife a very beautiful woman
through jealousy is another romantic and
terrible narrative Of hers; so when the
fear of smallpox and its usual result came
upon him, Blackbird became very uneasy.
He feared death and sought 10 ward it of.
but he maintained his desire to rule to the
last, telling the family who always lived
in deadly fear OF him that he would con-
tinue 10 watch their actions, even if he
were called from their physical sight
.EillagomakeT 100. was i'll in camp near
the old Omaha mission Of today. Every
day swift messengers went back and forth
10 bring news of the condition OF the chief
CT of the son, TO ask about the welfare OF
one or the other.
The Craftsmanship was hereditary and
must remain in the Mum thiui-ka ga gha
clan and the ambitious father could not
bear the thought that it might go 10 an
other family .'VHlagemaker must not die,
he repeated over and over. But Village
maker and his father, as well as many
others of the tribe, passed away during
hat awful pesJilence.
1T vas with feelings OF fear rather than
OF sorrow that The family prepared the
body OF the once imperious chief for burial.
They could scarcely realize that the mani
mate form would silently submit to their
every wish that il could not raise threat
enlng hand, that those FEATURES could not
express a look Of disapprovsl And at morn
they wrapped the form in its robes OF deer
skin. fearfulIy tied it 10 its place on the
rude hearse of long poles fastened 10 the
sides OF he cherished spotted pony, and
started up the steep incline to carry out
the last order Of the chief whose living
orders il would have meant death to dis
obey and whose last expressed wish they
dare not disregard. Bury me high, he
had said. high on the bluff above us, on
the highest point that l may see the
steamboats, which the palefaces say viii
come up the river in great numbers. Place
me- on the highest point that ! may see all;
that he Blacllbird may stil rule. And at
rightfa1 a fire was buill to lighr the spirit
on its long journey, and thus for foul
nights, according to the ancient Omaha Gus
tom.
The hill on which he lies is known as
Blackbird hill and is about mile east
Of Fire Chiefs lodge, where the annual