Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-09-21
Fort Yates indian Fair was Greatest
Event Of It's Kind ln the west
Interesting account written by Tribune's staff correspondent

If TT. Yates.
This was their nrst fair. The Oh
ect was TO give the Indians a celebra.
ion unsurpassed which was accomplish
I'd very successfully. II was also the
.esire OF the promoters 10 place be-
ore them the choicest products OF
her soil and range, thus demonstrate
.ng their progress and al the same
line encouraging them 10 put forth
reater efforts in the industrial! line.
The Integrity OF the association
S,ands above ~reproach. even 10 the
,maIlest item, for the character OF
he men At the head Of II prevailed
n every feature OF the occasion. The
rounds lie ON the fat about a quar-
err Of a mile from the fort premises.
Ind are comprised OF several thous-
md acres. They are beautifully 10
atet. the Typographical formation is
Zeal and Is surrounded by hills. The
plat forms a perfect arena IN one 81
santic natural a~mpitheatre. Gear
around this fiat were stationed the
ents aud tepees OF the Indians. These
we're in all sizes. styles and condi.
ions. numbering upwards of 5000.
some were bare and sQiaiid, while
hose OF the more advanced class
were provided with robes, blankets,
etc, contained .sheet-iron stoves and
we're KEEP, in neat style. At nearly
every tent. strips of beef swung on
A line and was dried in the sun. while
before the tent was the camp-iire.
The women do all the work. cary the
wood. cut 1t and do the ~housework.'
The only occupation of the buck is TO
eat, smoke and visit,
The Agricultural Building. =
Near the entrance 10 the grounds
IS the agricultural building. which is
,bou. 2ixe0. To the surprise OF many
his was not large enough by half to
accommodate the exhibits brought 10
il, The exhibits OF vegetables and
grains were surprising, for il is not
generally understood that the Indian
$ much of an agriculturis;, but this
exhibit proved him quite an apt stu
dent.
There was a good display Of needle
work and bead work. showing q very
favorable progress or the part of the
girls.
The Livestock.
Back a short distance from the ag-
s~icul,ural building are the livestock
sheds which are probably 200 feet in
!ensth. They e filed with very
aice horses and some poultry, though
he cattle exhibits were rather slim.
The Race Track.
A fine standard half-mile race track
has been provided and promises to be
quite fast when worked down. 1t is
fenced and provided with a good
;udge's stand. vaudeville platform
and . screened grand.staad which will
accommodate about 1000. A baseball
diamond is directly in front OF the
grand stand and is an excellent field,
SideShows, Etc.
In an opening near the grand stand
were the amusement places, such as
the me@ry,go-round, the snake woman,
the animal show. the Jap wheel OF
Fortune, the bowery, sale booths,
l !uUSu Sttuus, anu sum.
Entertainment.
The spectacular features of each
| days program were the dress occas'
ions of the Indians, AID consisted OF
| dances, parades and other exercises.
| Their head.gear generally consisted OF
feathers or horns , and some times
were made up Of animal hides with
the scalp hanging we'll down over the
face. This latter is used in hunting
| either game or the enemy. al II gives
the wearer a chance to approach more
easily unnoticed. The single plain
eagle feather in the hair indicates
that the wearer has killed an enemy.
Any other color in the feather. OF
any other kind OF feather strips it. Of
Significance. In fact the eagle feathei
is held as sacred TO this mark of dis
tiRction and mo attempt to assume
the honor is ever made
A red horse-tail suspended from the
| waist-lile and in the rear indicates
that the wearer has had his horse
shot from under him in battle. Cfias'
ing Bear and Oliver Looking Elk wear
| this insignia. As the various dances
progress, numerous members OF the
party may be seen indulging in what
| appears to be childish acts. For JIM
stance here is one with a gun search
ing for the enemy; over there Is an
other with bow and arrow looking for
game while still another carries a
small whip and pretends TO be whip
ping his horse into battle. All these
"didoes,' as they might be termed,
lhaye a significance and r INDUCED
in in the various dances.
OF the many noted character who
| participated in these dances, might
be mentioned the following:
Parading in a green costume, tall
straight and digaifed vas Smells a
Bear, at one time a u. s. scout. One
spring, many years ago, some horses
were stolen from the government and
taken on the ice across the river,
Then the river broke up and became
so very dangerous that to cross i,
was conceded to be impossible. Smells
a Bear crossed the ice at this critical
time and captured the horse thieves.
How he rossed no eIe has ever learn
ed. and so difficult was the feat per.
formed by this brave, and so daring
was his act, that he is honored by
Indian and whites alike, The Indians
declare he was gifted with superaa-
tural powers. Smells a Bear has
never given his secret TO anyone; he
simply plays the game and seems to
enjoy the distinction.