Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-15
T[ BY edward Black 9

We have heard ~of THE Gate
City" and The Windy City, and
various other cities; now we are
going to have few words about
The Tractor City" otherwise
known as Fremont, Dodge county,
Nebraska.
Sixty years ago Fremont, which
is today representative, up-to-
date western county seat, did not
have much in the way of culture
education or social life, but it did
have the Pawnee Indians, who
maintained a large social center
which was located about three miles
south of the town, along THE Platte
river. This aboriginal community
center was known as the Pawnee
village, with a population of 1,50C
Indians.
Life in those days was zone dern
thing after another" among the
white settlers. During October, 1856
the grand multi of the Pawnees
notified the whites that unless they
moved on within three days, dire
things would occur. James G..
Smith, one of the founders of the
town, called meeting of the whites,
who resolved to ask Acting Gov
ernor lizard at Omaha for reinforce
ments.
Mobiles Fighters.
The governor modified eight In
dian fighters. who rushed to Ere
mont with muskets. The total forces
Of Omahans and Fremonters mum
bered Is, but they marched and
countermarched, kindled bonhres
and thus practiced camouhage to
the extent OF awing the Pawnees
INTO the belief that formidable
force was moving against them. On
the third day the Pawnee chief sent
a brave with a flag of truce, ex-
planning that the Indians had re-
considered their decision to expel
the whites.
The Pawnees claimed joint own
ership OF lands with the Omahas
and were not placated when the lat
ter made settlement with the gov
eminent. These Indians took par
ticular exceptions to the whites cut
ring timber for their houses.
On another occasion, General
John NJ. Thayer of Omaha, who had
charge of the territorial brigade, was
notified that the Pawnees were en-
gagged in predatory acts along the
Elkhorn river, near Fremont. Rev
Mr.. Allis, who had worked among
the Pawnees as missionary, and
0. D. Richardson and John H
Allen of Omaha accompanied
Thayer in a wagon to the scene Of
disturbances. The wagon was
abundantly provisioned for the oc.
casion and the party arrived in due
time at the Pawnee village, where
Alls explained to the chief the sig
nihcance of the visit. The CHIEF
grunted and gave further evidence
of his pleasure by offering a pipe
Of peace to Thayer, who dared not
refuse the token of friendship.
| Sdll on WHltc rdtueI.
Thayer advised the chief that I'm.
less his braves abstained from plum
dering, the Great White Father at
| Washington would send soldiers
who had been trained in the art Of
shooting straight. While the chic
was pledging himself to future good
behavior, a party of his young
braves raided the Thayer wagon
which had been left in charge OIL
Allen. Three years after that event
the Pawnees went on a general raid.
ing excursion along the Platte river
Thayer raised a force of 1914 men
pursued the tribe and captured al
of them, when they yelled kane,
rad" in the Indian language.
The following is an extract from
an account of the Pawnees at Ere
mont 90 years ago: In the sum,
mer of 1859 the Pawnees started
on a grand hunt. When they were
near the mouth of Maple creek they
commenced, as the saying is, to cut
up high They stole much from the
farmers living along the road, ant
performed other antics. Wore
was sent back to Fremont Of theil
unwonted exhilaration, and the pop
ulation turned out enmasse to stor
the depredations. The old army
musket was the weapon of destruc
ton in the hands of the whites, be
they were not forced to resort to it
1t is probably lucky they did not
because those muskets were double
acting machines, killing the man be
fore and the man behind, ever,
time.
Feared the Pioneers.
The Pawnees stood much in aw'
of Fremont's pioneers. A lot o
the chiefs were watching the revol
yer practice of the whites. not Ions
after the first settlement of th
: town, and they were amazed to SCI
the facility and ease with which on
man shot FIVE or six times in rapi'
succession. Another source of fea
> happened to the Pawnees in thi
manner: The first Fourth OF Jul.
kwas celebrated by the pioneers il
|, a vigorous manner on the groun,
, where a booth had been erected
Among the grand affairs of the da,
was a military review OF the citi
zens. commanded by Gen. Georg
E w. Danes. There were 800 Paw
nees over to see the doings and the,
: were enjoying themselves yer,