The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-07-27
An Early Day Fourth.

! the Sioux chief in Miller last "eeh'
brings back memories OF the early
DAYS when a celebration was not
complete without an Indian contln-
gent, White Ghost and his family
were on their way for visit at SIS
seton. The old chiefs long black
hair is freely streaked with silver,
and his kindly face shows the marks
of age. This is the first time we rec
ollect of his visiting Miller since he
attended our 4th OF July celebr alton
in 1886 with about 700 ofhis people.
That was in the early days OF settle
ment in Hand County, when peo-
pie fresh from eastern states were
not very familiar with the American
Indian, and not few whites we're
really scared at the large number OF
redskins who came to help us cele-
brate the nations birthday. And it
was decided surprise to the town
of Miller, after their invitation for a
few Indians to come from FIT. Thomp-
son, to see on July Sd, u wagon train
about a mile long, slowly vending
its way oyer the hills south of town.
Injuns of all kinds and ages came
trooping into town, but they were
entirely peaceable-only curious.
The bucks would pass up and down
the business street, so into stores,
look around curiously ateverything,
and utter their gutteral How, how"
Their squaws, many of them with
pappoose slung over their shoulders
in shawl, would go snooping
about dwellings,. picking up almost
anything supposed to be thrown
away, peeping in doors and wind Ows,
and often laughing at the evident
fright OF women and children.
One of the amusing Incidents of the
arrival of White Ghost and his tribe,
was the scare occassioned to some
of our friends in neighboring town,
who sent kilograms to the outside
world" that Miller was being at
tackled by Indians.
Those were the days of Judge b. f.
Payne's prominence in Miller, and
he took II great interest in entertain
inc the old Sioux Chief White Ghost.
The 18th of July parade of that
year was an interesting sight, head
ed by the Miller band, with White
Ghost riding in carriage and wear
ing plug hat. A large number OF
his braves, dressed in wal paint and
Il sublime indifference for what folks
would think, rode through the
streets, occasionally curdling the
blood OF timid people by their un-
earthly war whoop.
Another attraction was the wild
war dance Of the bucks in the street,
and the circular dance of the squaws,
accompanied by their weird chant.
These circles of injuns representing
their native characteristics was pho
tOgraphed, and one of the pictures
still hangs in the PRESS office. 1t
does not, however, show some of the
squaw dances where the laughing
red maidens surrounded several lead
ing citizens and forced them to ioin
in their dance.
At least one little Sioux can point
with pride to the cele bration at Mil
leI in | $50, as he dates his existence
from that dav.
Fourth OF July's have come and
gone for thirteen years, but perhaps
none of them at Miller contained 80
much interest, nor drew such a large
crowd OF people, who for the first
time saw large band of American
Indians in their native condition,
and witnessed their peculiar ii not
very esthetic methods Of butchering
and dividing up cattle. All the nov
city and romance OF this early-day
visit OF aboriginies has long since
died out, as not year has passed
since, without visit from numerous
small bands as they migrate with
the seasons back and forth from one
reserve to the other.
They are quiet, inoffensive peo-
pie, quarrel with no one, pay for
What tlnV rpt ca m N q few ln We naar