The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-02
INDIANS WHO HOLD
A COUNTY FAIR
Had BY Grows On The Little
Big Horn
INVITATIONS SENT OUT
Might Be Called National Affair of the
Redskins-Some of the Amuse-
ments Provided and the
Exhibits.
rom the Minneapolis Journal.

From the Minneapolis Journal
The annual fair of the Crow Indians
held on the Crow agency on the line Of
the Burlington, about seventy miles
southeast of Billings, is the most unique
of it's kind: probably the only fair IN
the entire United States conducted en-
tirely by Indians, without assistance OIL
supervision of any kind whatsoever from
the whites.
| Indian policemen uphold the solemnltS
of the law, Indian judges inspect the ex-
hibits in the agricultural hall, where only
the Indians are allowed to compete foi
the prizes; Indian chiefs conduct the
races, and when the shades of evening
| fall, thousands 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 pageantry are enacted the weiro
and thrilling customs of the past.
This annual fair of the Crows might al
| most be called a national event for the
redskin race. Invitations are sent to
every reservation in the western United
States.
| Here and there among the thousands
assembled may be distinguished the bent
forms and scanned faces of the lew
among the warriors who In the early set
Element of the country resisted with gun
and arrow the advance of civilization. A
mere remnant, awaiting the can 10 the
happy hunting grounds.
The Grow Indians are progressive and
wealthy and are we'll fitted to act as
hosts OF this famous Indian gathering.
Their herds of horses and flocks or Sheep
are numerous: their wigWams stand pre-
eminent in size and comfort As their
guests come the Sioux Indians, famed IN
Song and story the renegade Crees from
lower Canada: a full thousand OF the
wyoming Cheyennes, the least tanned and
poorest of the government proteges; the
well known Flatheads from northern Mon
tana: hundreds of the eros Nentres OF
South Dakota, and other tribes and rem
nants of tribes from longer distances.
Site Is Good.
The site of the Indian camp seems es-
pecially adapted to their purpose. The
Little Big Horn river swings In almost a
complete circle to form a peninsula whose
neck is but hundred feet In width and
whose diameter is about half mile Here,
amid the brush and trees, hundreds OF
Indian tepees are planted.
Between three ana lOul lHOd9ohN -
dams gather for the fair and its attend
ant festivities. OF the 1900 Crow Indians
there is not a family who absent them
selves on this occasion.
The wigwam of Chief Lone Bear stands
out among the habitations of the Crows,
and an eagle twenty feet high, is de-
picted on the side, with It's pinions en-
circlng the entire tepee. Chief Lone Crow
died three years ago, but his son and
aged widow still uphold the family pres
tige.
Second only to the chiefs stands the
wigwam of Harry Wolfe. famous medi-
cine man of the Crows, with the pipe of
peace to be seen on its side and large
green moon above it; his aged squaw
in a dress deliberately decorated with elks'
teeth guards it's sanctity.
Another interesting character at the TAR
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 we'll his
secret, IL the report be true, and he dis
plays more interest in rounding up his
| band of racing horses than in the pale
face visitors
Children are numerous at the encamp-
| ment and hundreds of comely Indian
maidens, draped in galy eolored blankecs
| like their elders, with their jet black hail
plastered 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 bu
a few years ago were thorough savages
should of themselves produce and arrange
a display so elaborate not only reflects
great credit upon the Indian agent Ii
charge, Maj S. G. Reynolds, but also il
an interest argument in favor of the
ultimate civilization rather than extinction
of the American Indian race.
First Attempt a Failure.
The first year the display was an alb
solute failure. The second year, how.
ever, the results of the good work OF
/ those in charge began to appear. The
collection of agricultural results, toteo
| many miles by the Indians, while small
made an excellent beginning. This veal
| the exhibits fill two large buildings. In
one is the display of live stock, which
| includes all kinds of domestic animals
Caretakers appointed by the Indians keeI
| everything IN excellent shape. and thu
ground around the buildings is marked
by well trod paths that show the active
| interest taken by the red men in thi.
direction.
Agricultural hall, new building erected
this year Tor the purpose, is literally COY
cred. roof and walls, with displays o.
grain and grasses arranged by the In
dams themselves. Large booths running
the full length of the building are filleC
| with the Indian exhibits, and these con
tain many surprises to the upsophisti
Gated.
Here one picks up a fancy dolly, which
the card attached says was embroidered
by Loretta Pretty Eagle. and near by II
an excellent piece of darnng, the worl
of Susanna She Sits Down Spotted: {
pretty sofa pillow is the work of Elmer
intiania He Does 1t. and Josephine Pref
ty Medicine has contributed a neat baby
| dress.
Little Lizzie Flathead Woman, aged 10
gets first prize on bread with a loai
| that would be a credit to any house
keeper, and Allie White Arm Just as
young, is an excellent rug maker. Thu
| layer cake contributed by Lizzie Bull
| Horse would win any masculine heart.
| The men, too, have not been behind II
their contributions; the ninety-six pound
| pumpkin of Rides a Pretty Horse would
| take a prize at any fair. Among ths
more prominent exhibitors whose dis
| play attracts notice are the big CHIEF
warriors Takes the Gun and Bird Wei
| Known.
| Have Horse Races.