The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-13
BIRD NECKLACE SAW BRAVE CUSTER FALL Aged Sioux Chief Was Lieuten- ant Under Sitting Bull A PICTURESQUE CAREER Eahty-two Years Old and Decorated by President Arthur for Sig
 nal Bravery. He Is Now
 in Melodrama.
A PICTURESQUE CAREER

Battle-scarred and with eyes that look far back through the mists of the past. Bird Necklace a Sioux chieftain who fought under Sitting Bull and saw the massacre of Custer, is appearing at the Bijou theatre this week in Young Buff falo. the King of the Wild West"
 Bird Necklace was once as daring and as pltiless as any Sioux who ever gal loped over the plains, combating the advance of the whites with fearlessness and gallantry that won the admiration of their foes, but today he is a patriarchal old man who looks down on life from the eminence of S2 years and answers with a friendly clasp of the hand and com prehensive grunt the salutation of his white visitors.
 Bird Necklace has had d career that equals the widest dreams of the small boy saturated with blood and thunder tales and longing for adventure in wild west that is now, alas, a thing of the past The old fellow was sub-chief un- der Sitting Bull during much of that famous warriors struggles against the soldiers of Uncle Sam and he was in the battle of the Little Big Horn river, July 26 1876 He saw the massacre of Custer and many another bloody scene in those days and his body bears the scars that he received in battle on the plains, both against the troops and with them, for Bird Necklace went over to the side of the government and distinguished himself for bravery.
 Suspended by cord around his neck the chief wears a gold medal, nearly as large as a saucer, which was presented 10 him for signal bravery as a runner l for Uncle Sam and a bearer of dispatches. This medal bears on one side the bust of President Chester A. Arthur, by whom it was presented to Bird Necklace, and the date, 1881. On the obverse side are the figures of an Indian and a white man with their hands clasped and the ] inscription, Peace in raised letters of l gold This huge medal Is not only valu- 1 able for the honor which it denotes, but for it's intrinsic worth in dollars and cents. Bird Necklace is justly proud of the ornament and wears it about his neck when he appears on the stage
 The old chief is accompanied on his travels by his wife, who bears the pie turesque and poetic name, Moonbeam. | They have been married 59 years and have four children living and three grand children. All are Christians and attend school. The home of Bird Necklace is d; 1 Pine Ridge, South Dakota, where he re- sides when not on the road. He made | his first public appearance at the Buffalo exposition Later he appeared at the St. Louis show After that he drifted into melodrama, where he is q striking figure. He makes no pretense of being an actor, but he and his companions, 10 or 12 in number lend wonderful realism to the show with their brilliant costumes and painted faces.
 Bird Necklace is highly respected d, | his home in South Dakota and while he cant speak English. he takes a lively | interest in all matters concerning his people Sere and stolid after so many stirring adventures and after facing death unnumbered times. Bird Necklace is an interesting relic of people who have already lost many of the character sties that made them heroic.