The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-14
Bis111a rclk Indian Heroine
4 Story Of Sacajawea, BIRD Woman Who Showed
Lewis and CLARK Expedition Way to the Pacific.

interest to every citizen of the state:
Not one of the thousands Of visitors
to the Lewis and Clark exposition but
pause to gaze on the statue of a young
Indian woman. It has q charm all.its
own among the many sculptured fig-
ures and groups that adorn the fair
grounds. One feels that there is a
story to account for the lightness and
grace and eager attitude. It is like
that of bird, just ready to spring
into the air from q swaying bush,, and
begin a long flight to an unforgotten
home. The heavy fringed deerskin
robe and moccasins do not cumber
those 1.-the movements, the pappooEe
ons her back is not a burden. If you
were to name her, now after the In
dian fashion Of selling upon the most
salient trait of character and apply
ing the descriptive epithet, what would
you call her? Bird Woman" Yes,
that was her name, Sacajawea-Bird
Woman. Nor will you be surprised
to. learn that It YVES her little feet
that fitted as IL winged across the
plains of the west and over the great
divide, showing the explorers Lewis
and Clark the way to the Pacific.
The explorers saw her first, this
Bird Woman, to whose wisdom, pa
thence and fidelity they were to owe,
SO largely, the success of their ex-
petition. in a village of the Mandan
Indians on the spot where Bismarck,
N. D., stands. They had finished the
first stage Of their journey, starting
from st. Louis in May, 1904; and arriy-
ing at this point 1000 miles up the
Missouri river in October. Here they
decided to make their winter camp,
where there was plenty of game and
the protection Of a friendly.
Among tho indians and white fur
trappers who gathered on the banks
of the river to greet the party of ex-
plorers. voyagers and soldiers with
their laden boats, strange flag and
mysterious scientific instruments, was
one Charbonneau, a French Canadian,
and his young Indian wife with her
tiny brown pappoose. She was DIFF
ferent from the Indian women of the
plains more erect, more slenderly
built, quicker of movement. And she
sang about her work in her skin lodge.
laughed with her French husband and
romped with her baby. In truth she
was a bird in cage, but still merry
hearted.
Five years before, with other maid
ems Of the Snake river tribe of Sho-
shones, she bad been captured by~a
band of Sioux and carried to the laid
Of the Dakotas as q slave. A chiefs
daughter, Ut uncommon graces of
mind and person, M. Charbonneau had
purchased her for wife, giving all
his little store of skins and ponies for
her. And he had brought her to live
among the less savage Mandans,
where she soon won affection, and
vas looked ZION as superior woman.
NJ. Charbonneau appreciated his good
fortune I'm getting such q wife IN that
wild country, and he treated her with
a courtesy and affection to which In.
dian women were unused. White men
she trusted absolutely. for from the
one she knew, best she had had only
chivafry and comradeship.
The; longing for The. Rone Nest.
# Until these explorers arrived she
had no hope Of ever returning to visit
her own people. but. no soone .rdid she
learn that the party intended pushing
across the mountains to the Pacific
inathe spring than she had plan in
her small, wise head.
'The white men will need guide,
my husband, :" :" che said In, broken
French she had learned to speak.
.sWho 80 good a voyageur on the
plains as Charbonneau? Go now to
the fort they have built below the
mouth OF the Big Knife river and say
you will be guide" Il do not know
the mountains nor even the big river
to the Great fails. | know only the
plains ma petite.
But know the mountains. Have
I not hunted with my brothers? Did
not come by that path down to the
plants q captive. and note everything
on the way 90 | could climb back again
to my people I" J,
Bird Woman, you had not pap
.poose to carry them. There must be
some hostile tribes and dinicult roads
and scanty food. You and the baby
would perish, of the long march and
Hardship
. Look at me: I am q mountain wo-g
man, strong. light on my, feet and sure
footed 90 the big-horns; and the pa
po9se has q mountain mother. He is