The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-07-08
INDIANS CELEBRATE THE
FOURTH IN THEIR OWN STYLE
Cattlemen Entertain Seven Hundred Guests Not
able Speeches by Indian Orators. Advise
People to Work and Save Products

The Indian barbecue held at the
Ferry butte on the Fourth of July
was probably the most notable and
the most bounteous feast ever spread
for the tribes of the Shoshone and
Bannock reservation since the day
when they assembled at McCammon
forty years ago to sign the treaty of
final peace.
Climax to the Sun Dance
This feast of last Friday was given
on the day following the closing of
the sun dance that lasted from Mon
day till Thursday. 1t was given by
ten of the .cattlemen of the reserva-
tion as an expression Of esteem for
their fellow tribesmen, and some
700 of the people of the local tribes
responded to the invitation, besides
forty or fifty Utes from Utah and
Nevada.
Men Who Entertained
The men who joined forces to
give the feast were Johnny Ballards,
son of former chief Billiards., who
died year ago; Archie Jimmie, the
Indian who surprised the liberty loan
committee one day by handing them
$1,000 in cash as his quota of the
first issue of bonds to lick the
kaiser; former chief and counselor,
Billey George; Thomas Mozeweu;
A.alph Dixey, Jimmy Seqqits, Thomas
Cosgrove, Charles Diggi, Willie Hol-
brook and T. Pokibro.
What Feast Consisted of
The feast consisted of seven fat
two-year old steers, a wagon load of
bread, dOughnuts and crackers, many
crates. of canned peaches, pears and
grapes, watermelons, coffee and
yamba stew, and great quantities. of
peanuts. Several private refresh
ment stands dispensed ice cream and
cold drinks, cakes and water melons
where visitors could temper their
appetites to suit their tastes while
waiting for the main event in the
banquet tent, and fine swimming
holes in he Blackfoot river few
hundred feet away thru the grove,
furnished sport for the boys in other
wise dull moments.
Scene by the River
The scene of the feast was in a
bend of the river just below what
is known as the Smith ford, nine
miles below the town of Blackfoot
by the short route, and as the edi-
torial party approached the crossing
to see if it afforded too deep a bath
for jitney, chunck of boy made
footprints on the sands of time,
hiking for his clothes which lay by
the ford. He was clad in his birth
day suit, and seeing the party on the
bank of the stream, he hurried for
his clothes.
A Peaceful Encampment
Desiring to get picture of the
as they appeared in the
sun, the party drove to the
edge of the bluff overlooking the
woodlands between the bluffs and the
river, and sat in silence taking in
the restful scene. Scattered about
among the willows and cottonwoods,
were scores of lodges .and tents,
covered wagons and sunshades made
of canvas. Ponies were grazing or
sleeping or resting in the grateful
shade among the bushes. Parties
and groups were moving about at
leisure, horsemen moved here and
there with that easy grace suggestive
of the harmony of movement that
makes horse and rider seem as if
they might be one. Here and there
was car that cranks before start
ing, (you know the name) and in
other places were luxurious five and
cars that purr at the
touch, and move off.
As Nature Made Them
Groups of men and women,
score or more in place, seemed to
be engaging in games, and youths
and maidens promenaded in their
Sunday best. A matron passed here
and there in fine array, with her
popoooO upPCAuOu llOn
straps, and curls Of blue-gray smoke
from sheltered places be-
spoke the coming feast.
Scenes of Long Ago
Students Of history, who have re-
GREETED their tardy birth and their in
ability to view the hunting scenes
and peaceful encampments of
century ago as described by Washing
on in Astoria" and by Captain
records of buffalo and |
)ther hunts on Ft. Hall bottoms of |
eighty years ago when Bannock |
,raves delivered orations by the
amp fires saw in this a. reproduc-
ion Of those early scenes SO true and
natural it swept away regrets and
eft thankfulness in their place.
Descending into the bottoms by the
'0adway, visitors observed that
many tents and shades were occupied
~ sleepers resting from the sun
lance, and rings of people seated
,n0n fho 0rOuuI uoro p1o viuo xrvJ,o%