Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1901-07-18
INDIAN WAR AND OMAHA DANCE

LtlSb SIu[1II1 b(1lNSE
Last Monday several hundred Sioux
Indians came down from the reserva-
ton north Of town. There we're more
of them than had at any previous time
been here and as the loug train of wag-
ons and riders appeared it was thought
by several of our t~ownspeopie that
they were here for mischief making.
A large number of women living in
town were very much alarmed. Two
tainted from fright as the news spread
and a demonstration was made by the
redskins to take the town, nearly a
hundred of them riding up Main street
in a gallop. War paiLt and feathers
bedecked them in a hidcous name
and with the wild Indian war whoop
swinging their guns, revolvers, hat
chefs and war clubs, being reinforced
by Indians riding in simultaneously
from all the side streets and alleys I'M
til there was an ANXIOUS look on many
a pale face.
Indians swarmed our streets and it
is thought that there were more Ind
ians in town than white people. FL
nally a small band of Indians came
riding in a more quiet n carry
ing the U. S. flag but the hldeous
shrieks, yells, and wal whoops con-
tinuing were never more fully portray
ed in language than was heard upon
this occasion by our citizens, striking
terror to many q faint heart and re-
calling all the vague pictures of the his
torical Indian wars and massacres in
the early days. 1t was indeed a grand
spectacle of what has happened in days
gone by and some of u people
who remember circumstances
attended by more serious consequences
than this splendid demonstration
could not help but revert their mem
cries to the times when solemn real
ity compelled the pale faces to hide
away, be carried along with the band of
warriors OF be scalped with the scalp
ing knife.
In the evening a dance was held on
Main street and many of our citizens
contributed money and provisions for
their comfort which was divided care
fully under the supervision of two noted
chiefs, Two Strike and Turning Bear.
During the night everything was
peaceful and quiet around their camps
and next morning about half past
eight o'clock a war dance was common
ced in which a sham battle was one of
the feat ures. Some of our Oldest citiz-
ems say that it IA the biggest Indian
day that Valentine had ever known
and never before had they seen such
hldeous war painted faces and quaint
Indian garb. Some of our prominent
men estimated hat from 1900 to 1900
Indi ans were here and of all sizes from
the brawny buck and squaw to the in
FAINT babes carried in a shawl or blank
ct on the lck of a squaw. There
were also many old gray haired Indians
20 or 80 years of age who took part in
the dance. In the afternoon a large
number went down to Fort Niobrara
and there entertained the handful OF
u. S. soldiers which would only have
been a small jobif scalping had been
their mission. Two beaYes were DO
mated to the Indians when made them
4 suitable breakfast but the many
mouths to feed made shares in the beef
small.
Hundreds of Indians camped in the
outskirts of town last night and the
war Xhoop like distant coyote yelps
made the night air hideous to n less
with Indian ways. Looking
upon this demonstration in a light
manner. it is a grand review
and picturesque of the native Amer
leans. a sight that none who witness
ed will Ger forget,