The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-25
INDIANS COUNTY FAIR.
LIVED BY THH CROWS on BANKS
or LITTLE BRO HORN.


-
mvftariens sent to Every Reservation In
inc United states and Representatives
O. Many Tribes VIII Take Part In
psnccs-Seme interesting Exhibits
The annual fair Of tho Grow Indians. held
ON the Grow agency on the line OF the Bur
lington, about seventy miles southeast OF
Bilinxs, IL tho most unique OF its kind,
probably the only fair In the entire United
States conducted entirely by Indians, with
out assistance or supervision OF any kind
whatsoever from the whites
Indian policeman uphold the solemnity
Of the law, Indian judges inspect the ex-
hibits In he agricultural hall, where only
the Indians are allowed TO compete for the
prizes; Indian chiefs conduct the races.
open to Indian horses with Indian riders,
and when the shades Of evening fall, thou
sands of spectators from among the whites
gather to watch the ancient rites and dances
given by the Indians themselves in huge
tents, where amid savage p~ageantry are
enacted the weird and thrilling customs Of
! the past.
I This annual fair Of the Crows might almost
be called q national event for the redskin
race, says the Minneapolis Journal. lnvi-
tations are sent to every reservation In the
western United States.
Here and there among tho thousands
assembled may be distinguished the bent
forms and scanned faces Of the few among
| the warriors who in the early settlement OF
the country resisted with gun and arrow
the advance Of civilization A mere rem
nant, awaiting the call to the happy hunting
grounds.
1 IT,. rro- Iod;oos ~ rrooro esivo and
wealthy and are well fitted to act as hosts
Of this famous Indian gathering. Their
herds OF horses and focks OF sheep are
numerous; their wigwams stand preeminent
in sine and comfort. As their guests come
the Sioux Indians. famed In song and story;
the renegade Crees from Lower Canada; q
full thousand Of the Wyoming Cheyennes.
the least tanned and poorest Of the Govern
ment proteges; the we'll known Flstheads
from northern Montana; hundreds OF the
Gros Ventures Of South Dakota, and other
tribes and OF tribes from longer
distances.
The site of the Indi an camp seems es-
pecially adapted TO their purpose. The
Little Big Horn River swings in almo SC a
! complete circle TO form a peninsula whose
neck Is but q hundred feet IN width and
amid the brush and trees, hundreds OF In
dian tepees are planted.
Between three and four thousand indian
gather for the fair and it's attendant f%estivi-
ties. OF the 1900 Crow Indians there il
not a family who absent themselves on
this occasion.
The wigwam of Chief Lone Bear stands
out among the habitations Of the Crows,
on the side, with It's pinions encircling the
entire tepee. Chief Lone Crow died three
years ago, but his son and aged widow
stil uphold the family, prestige;
wan Of Harry Wolfe, famous medicine
man of The Crows, with the pipe OF peace
to be seen on its sid and a large green
moon above it; his aged squaw in a dress
elaborately decorated with elks' teeth
Another interesting character at the fair
is Curley, popularity supposed TO be the
sole survivor among the Crows Of the band
that wiped out the Custer party, but his
expressionless face hides well his secret, II
the report be true, n he displays more
interest In rounding up his q Of racing
horses than In the p~aleface visitors
Children are numerous at the encamp-
msnt and hundreds nc OF cSmsly Indian sns sS.
their elders, with their Jet black hair plas-
tered around each side of their heads, play
hide and seek among the tepees.
A most interesting part OF the fair, how
ever, from the physiological standpoint,
is the agricultural and live stock display
of the Indians. That this people, who but
a few years ago were thorough savagee,
should of themselves produce and arrange
a display 30 elaborate not only reflect
great credit upon the Indian agent In charge.
Major 8. @. Reynolds, but also 10 an inter
esting argument in favor of the ultimate
civilization rather than extinction OF the
American Indian race
The first year the display was an alb
solute failure. The second year, however,
the results OF the good work OF those in
charge. began to appear. The collection
OF agricultural results, toted many miles
by the Indians. while small, made an en-
cellent beginning. This year the exhibits
I'LL two large buildings. In one is tn"
display of live stock, which includes all
kinds OF domestic animals, CaTetakers ap-
pointed by the Indians keep everything
in excellent shape. and the ground around
the buildings is marked by well trod' paths
that show the active interest taken 10y the
red men in This direction.
Agricultural Hall, a new building erected
this year for the purpose, il literally covered,
roof and walls, with displays of grain AMI
grasses arranged by the Indians them
selves. Large booths running the full length
of the building are filed with the indian
TO the unsophisticated
Here one picks up a fancy dolly. which
the card attached says was embroidered
by Loretta Pretty Eagle, and near by IL
Susanna She Sits Down Spotted, a pretty
sofa pillow is the work OF E~merintiania n"
Does II. and Josephine Pretty Medicinr
has contributed a neat baby dress.
Little Lizzie F1athead Woman, agei l3,
gets first prize on bread, 9th a loaf that
would be a credit TO any housekeeper, and
Allie White Arm, just as young, is an eX-
cellent rug maker. The layer cake con-
tributed by Lizzie Bull Horse would win
any masculine heart.
The men, too, have not been behind
in their contributions; the ninety-six pound
pumpkin OF Rides a Pretty Horse would
take a prize at any fair. Among the more
prominent exhibitors whose display attracts
notice are the big chief warriors Takes ths
Gun and Bird Well Known.
But while the raising OF agricultural
products IL a secular occupation of thu
Indians, the racing of horses is a religious
duty. No fixed contests in indian races,
no jockeying; they are real races from thu
drop OF the flag, with quirt and spur un.
mercifully applied fS0m start to finish. The
best horse always wins and win by a.
many lengths as he can possibly be made
TO, and he is entered in race after race a.
long as he is judged to ave any show.
At this wars fair Ann apaodxy I;AkIo animal