The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-07-07
Train Of Events From : Dneer
Days to the Present
WAS PRETTY SPECTACLE
Successful Affairin Which About
Eight Hundred People
Took Part

Again the past lived, again were the
bluffs of Sibley Mound the scenes of a
historic incident in the history OF
Minnesota, and at least fifteen thou
sand people witnessed the faithful por-
trayal of the chief events in the annals
of this section of Minnesota. MAN.
kato's Historical Pageant and Fourth
of July celebration has in day be-
come another matter of history, long
to be held in pleasant memory by thou
sands of people, and great credit is
due to the promoters and the Man
kato citizens who took prominent parts
in it's production. The day opened un-
favorably, and no doubt many hun
dreds of people were detained at home
by the bad rain storm. But by noon the
heavens cleared, and the sun shone
down on Independence Day and on
Mankato which never looked so beau
tiful as in her holiday garb, and the
freshness of the picturesque scenery
after a summer storm. Bands began
playing, people thronged the streets,
the circus parade added to the busy
scene, and the crowd began surging
in the direction of Sibley park, where
the pageant was to be staged.
Crowds in The Park.
Good natured crowds thrOnged
through the park, over the bluffs, and
through the lower valley, not deferred
by the heat of the day from their de-,
sire to "have good time," and see
everything that was to be seen on this
glorious Fourth of July. The huge
grandstand and boxes, capable OF seat
ing four thousand people. -Werer soon
filled to capacity, and maHy had to be
turned away. People then took TO the
side hills, and sat on the slopes by the
hundreds in places where they did not
interfere with the actors. The band
concert started at three o'clock, and
shortly afterward the opening scene
of the pageant was given.
The wooded bluffs afforded an ideal
background, against which Indian te-
PEGS, an old log house, an old church,
and other properties showed OF to
good advantage The acts were carried
out with a realism and effectiveness
which wildly pictured the stirring
days of old, and made history repeat
itself for the pleasure Of the multitude,
with no i'll effects or genuine tragedies
to mar the happiness of anyone.
The First Episode.
The first episode was presented by
the Clio and Art History clubs, and
revealed the early Indians who in
habited the Minnesota valley about
the year 100, and their reception OF
the earliest French traders. LeSueur
and his party of voyagers, miners and
trappers. The quiet Indian village
was shown, with the women busy at
their tasks, and the children at play.
The braves came home from the
hunt, bringing trophies OF their
skill, and engaged in hunting dance.
The makeup was perfect, and the
acting was so real that many strang-
ers in the city imagined that band
of genuine warriors had been import
ed to take these parts. The Indian
women and children, although better
looking and neater than any original
Indian would have dared to be, per-
formed their tasks and played their
games like "real ones.D The quiet
Indian village became suddenly alert
Continued on Page Three.