The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-15
AFRICAN NATIVES
ARE NOW AT BUFFALO,
They Brought Their Chief and He
Brought Three Of His Fifty
five Wives.


REfUBLLc SPECIAL
Bunal n. Y. June 15.-There has arrived
here what Is perhaps as strange a crowd as
has ever passed through the hands Of the
officials OF Ellis Island. They are natives
people the African village, a Midway feat
ure Of the Pan-American Exposition.
Sixty-two Of them arrived on the French
line steamship La Lorraine. and about for
ty moro are expected by a later vessel. to
complete the colony. They are drawn from
Ashanti and Dahomey. from the Loango.
Gaboon and Senegal. from Quita and the
Congo. and the strange gathering OF saw
ages. speaking half a score OF different
dialects and languages. or their railway
Journey here from New York. sat on the
train In dull and stolid silence. as though
bewildered beyong speech by the wonders
they have seen since they sailed from AZ
RIGA. They seemed to take little notice of
what passed around them. hardly talking
even among themselves. Once their few
bundles and bags were stowed away under
the seats. they sat for the most part look
ing into vacancy.
The party included nine women and two
children. They were in charge Of Doctor
Xavier Pene Of the Societe GeographiQue
Of Paris. who has brought together and
shipped the entire ban Of 100. They own as
chief 10 Obendaga. a proud old negro. who
sat with three Of his wives apart from the
rest Of the group.
At home he has nfty-two moro wives
awaiting his return. for he is head Of the
Ogowe tribe. q small but fierce band which
has waeed war successfully on weaker
~neighbors. 10 Obendaga stands full six feet
high. and in the native costume which he
wears in the midway makes a picturesque.
II q savage. figure. His travelling Dress
was one which no King however great.
could wear with impunity. The Panama
hat was all right. but the long yellow coat.
cut something I'm the fashion OF a woman's
Newmarket, was grotesque. His trousers
boasted Of two complete legs. however.
from his fellows. Stretched across his am
Pile stomach where the buttonless vest
failed to meet was a leather chain. at the
end of which he displayed a watch.
The three wives. who formed a circle
around him wherever he went. were dressed
in a kim Of uniform. Each wore a gaudy
Ian coat that must once have belonged 10
a full-sixed man. The other women wore
cotton petticoats. Thin undershirts and
shawls.
The rank n file of the men showed a
finer sense Of contrast. Prince Albert coats
and golf trousers. sailor hats and taflless
shirts. But among ali alike there was a
tendency to do away with the cumbersome
amenities Of European dress az soon as
they were settled in the cars. Many Of the
men and women we're fattooed on arms and
legs. but the designs were crude and gave
no high idea Of the artistic qualities Of the
trfbesmen.
The COLONY Will remain IN Buffalo TIL
fall. when Xavier Pene will conduct the
party back to their homes.
METAL TRADES ELECTfON-The reg
ular semfannual election of local officers Of
the Metal Trades Council win be held to-
morrow afternoon at the headquarters OF
the orGAnixation. No. 10 Franklin aysnnA.