The Parker post., 1916-06-03
NOTED INDIAN
CHIEF DIES
MANiTABA, FOR FIFTY YEARS
CHIEF OF MOHAvE TRIBE AND
FRIEND OF THE WHITES. GOES
TO HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS.

II
his home down on the reservation
| Wednesday afternoon about four
O'Clock, a victim of tuberculosis. from
which malady he had been sufferer
for over year. His death had been
expected for several days and mem
bers OF the tribe at Needles and
other places up and down the river
had been apprised of the fact. so
large numbers of Indians from the
outside were present when the end
came.
The remains, shrouded in an Amer
lean flag, were placed upon a bier
beneath a brush canopy surmounted
with an American flag at half-mast,
where on Thursday forenoon they
were viewed by the children of the
Indian school who repaired to the
spot under the direction of their
teachers, and held a short service
consisting in the offering of prayers
| and the singing of hymns. In the
place with all the weird ceremonies
peculiar to the traditions of the
tribe and the remains were cremated
upon an open fire, which is the Mo
have's method of disposing of their
dead, These rites, which beggar de-
scription, commenced about two p.
M. The remains having been remov-
ed to the spot where the cremation
was to take place, the rituaHstic
work duly enacted, and, amid pro-
tracted lamentations, elderly mem
bers Of the tribe in turn eulogized
the memory Of their departed chief
About five o'clock the body was plac-
ed upon the funeral pyre, consisting
of over cord of dry wood draped
with silk handkerchiefs, and the
match applied AS the flames en-
veloped the pyre the lamentations
grew louder and more prolonged
while costly gifts were cast into the
flames with reckless abandon by
friends as tokens of esteem for the
departed. Many of the more Jealous
ones even tore the greater portion of
their best wearing apparel from their
persons and cast, it upon the fire.
All the personal effects of the deceas-
ed of whatsoever kind were also
consigned to the flames
1t was the expressed wishes of
the chief as Ithe end drew nigh, that
all the whites should attend his
funeral so as a result nearly every
one in Parker was present and a
number of the business places in
town were closed for a part of the
day
Chief Manitaba was an Indian of
more than ordinary intelligence and
was greatly beloved by his people
Although untutored, he was far from
being narrow or reactfonary in his
views, ever favoring a policy of
peaceful industry for his people and
amicable relations with the whites,
and in late years advocating the dis
posal of the surplus lands of the
reservation to bona fide white set
tiers for the benefit of the Indians
and the ultimate creation thereby of
a home market for the sale OF In
dian products, to the mutual benefit
of both races.
The chief could talk the English
language fairly well and at confer
ence at one time of all the Indian
chiefs with the head of the depart
ment at Washington, Manitaba had
the proud distinction of being the
only Indian chief at the conference
who did not require the assistance of
an interpreter.
The federal government, in 1871,
during President Grants administra-
tion, in recognition of Manitaba's
wise policy and commendable traits,
presented him with a silver medal
duly inscribed and bearing the legend,
Peace on earth, good will toward
men," This token he cherished very
highly and always carried it ON his
person up to the time of his death.
He was man about IS years of age
and was chief of the tribe for over
80 years. A widow and a large fam
ly OF grown sons and daughters sur
vive him.
The prospective successor in line
-or the chieftainship is said to be
his oldest son, Harold Wade,
thrifty, well-educated Mohave, who
has for many years acted as secre-
5ary to the chief in his dealings with
the whites.