USA > Pennsylvania > Warren County > Warren > Warren centennial : an account of the celebration at Warren, Pennsylvania July 2d, 3d, and 4th in commeration of the first century after the laying out of the town of Warren > Part 5
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CHIEF O'BAIL'S TALK.
Brothers : To-day my duty is to speak before you in behalf of my people and friends. We all be- lieve, while we meet here to-day, both Indians and
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whites, in only one Creator, who made the world. The Great Spirit is supposed to furnish all good things. We ought to feel thankful for the great blessings we get from the earth, and also for the blessings we receive from our guides, the sun and the moon, and also that the Great Spirit has created rain in the clouds to pour on the earth and bring from it sup- plies. For all this we ought to be thank- ful to our Creator in heaven. For this I speak at this meet- ing. I am going to say. in behalf of the Indians, that they are SOLOMON O' BAN .. part of the Commonwealth of the State of Pennsyl- vania. It seems that the State of Pennsylvania and the Government of the United States treat the In- dians fairly and justly. We also understand that they act for the justice of all. This is all I have to say in behalf of my Indians.
PRESIDENT STONE'S REPLY.
In reply to Chief O'Bail, Mr. Stone spoke sub- stantially as follows, through the interpreter :
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Chieftain, Children of Cornplanter and People of the Iroquois Nation : We join with you in homage to the Great Spirit, the omniscient power, that sends us the sunshine and the rain and controls all our ways. We know you were the first inhabitants of these valleys and hunted over these hills. You have been restricted in your hunting-grounds, but have been benefited by the opening to you of a higher mode of living and a better knowledge of the Great Spirit, the Father of all. We are glad to meet you here to-day, and we welcome you as friends. The children and people of Cornplanter must be always our friends. We honor his memory. We know he was brave and true. He was honest and without deceit. For more than a hundred harvests we have smoked the pipe of peace with his people. We have grown strong and many as the leaves of the forest. The thirteen fires have become forty-four. In our own town many lodges now stand where one hundred years ago there were none. Our young men rejoice to be strong, and our old men tarry long from the happy hunting-grounds. We have lighted our fires. We have brought from our lodges many curious things. We have made ready to rejoice and be happy. In this rejoicing we ask the Iroquois Nation to join us. We bid you a cordial welcome to our celebration, our Centennial festival. We want you to enjoy yourselves and be happy now and at all times, and to remember that the white men are your friends. I have done.
The Indians then joined the procession, and the
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several departments of the Exhibition were visited in turn, the officers being received by the committee in charge, and the Exhibition was formally declared open by the President.
THE QUILTING-PARTY.
A very large crowd was gathered to witness the sights of the afternoon, almost blocking the streets on the Exhibition grounds.
THE QUILTING- PARTY.
At one o'clock a curious spectacle attracted the attention of the many persons lining the streets of the town. This was a wagon-load of ladies who seemed to have suddenly stepped out of some ancient picture to dazzle the eyes of the fin de siecle beholder by the striking costumes of a century ago.
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Verily, Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Mounted on horseback and clad in gorgeous raiment, Mrs. Myron Waters rode in advance, carrying in her arms the baby, the pet of the quilting-party. To the accompaniment of " Wait for the Wagon" and other popular songs this brill- iant company were wending their way towards the fair grounds. The large, pleasant building, kindly loaned by the Methodist ladies, was where they were to participate in ye old-time quilting-bee-a genuine representation of our grandmothers' method of combining work and pleasure in the old-fashioned way. The whitewashed walls were adorned with pictures-genuine antiques-such as the "Tree of Life " and " The Farmer's Pets." Strings of dried apples and bunches of corn hung from the ceiling, while wreaths of asparagus festooned the ancient mirrors, and two old clocks marked the time, as they had so faithfully done for one hundred years and more. The old powder-horn and musket were in evidence-dread reminders that they were once a necessary protection from the ruthless maraudings of the savage red man. The furniture was through- out in keeping with the central idea -- quaint and antique. With almost infinite variety of detail, the general effect was harmonious and complete-so true to the original as to bring tears to the eyes of many a tender-hearted visitor, who lived over again in memory the days of long ago. The central por- tion of the building was devoted to the famous quilt. Stretched upon a frame, itself a relic of bygone days, it formed the centre of a bevy of workers
QUILTING-PARTY SEATED.
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whose taste and skill were making it an object of admiration to the aesthetic as well as to the more practical beholder. The blocks of pink and white calico were tastefully combined in the album pattern. The centre of each block contained the name of one of the committee, while the central block bore the inscription :
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Upon its completion the quilt was sold at auction, Mr. George N. Parmlee kindly acting as auctioneer. The highest bidder was Mr. F. H. Rockwell, in whose family this souvenir will always be highly prized. The ladies, in their quaint costumes, grouped about the quilting-frame, made a most attractive picture. Near by were two spinning-wheels, at which Miss Susan T. Daggett and Mrs. Charlotte Waters pre- sided-spinning endless rolls of wool, to the infinite enjoyment of the crowds of spectators who thronged the building. At another wheel Mrs. Lucinda Lacy was busily engaged in spinning flax into thread- such as our grandmothers were accustomed to weave
into firm linen cloth. In the background stood a high four-post bedstead-the property of the Dun- ham family-tastefully draped; and its coverlet, so curious and beautiful, was the work of Mrs. Rachel Weatherby, over fifty years ago. A quaint old table and chest of drawers were covered with fine embroid- ered and linen pieces, the handiwork of Mrs. Stur-
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geon and Mrs. Summerton in their youthful days. Our music-loving friends rejoiced in the presence of an old melodeon and a violin, the first ever brought into Warren county. Both of the instruments re- tained much of their pristine richness of tone, and furnished pleasing accompaniment to the good old songs which delighted the ears of the audience at almost any hour of the day. "The Old Oaken Bucket," " Auld Lang Syne," and "Aunt Dinah's Quilting-Party " were most inspiring, sung by the ladies with animation and amid such appropriate surroundings. At six o'clock tea was served, the front of the building forming the dining-room. The table fairly groaned beneath the weight of the many good things prepared by the ladies. If variety is the spice of life, surely the flavor was well supplied, for the bill of fare was rich and varied, consisting of everything which our ancestors enjoyed, besides an occasional modern innovation, all served upon china a century old. Pleasure was added to the repast by the presence of the husbands of the ladies. Long and pleasantly will the Quilting-Party be remem- bered by those who had it in charge. With patience and energy, not unmixed with true enjoyment. the ladies worked together in perfect harmony for sev- eral weeks, and to their energy and efficiency is due the success of the undertaking.
The following are the names of the ladies partici- pating : Mrs. F. H. Rockwell, Chairman ; Mrs. E. W. Parshall, Mrs. D. I. Ball, Mrs. L. B. Hoffman, Miss Susan T. Daggett, Miss Jennie Merrill, Mrs. N. C. Allen, Mrs. F. Henry, Mrs. J. M. Bemis, Mrs.
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Myron Waters, Mrs. U. G. Mease, Mrs. O. C. Allen, Mrs. I. S. Alden, Mrs. A. Gerould, Mrs. W. A. Pierce, Mrs. L. D. Galligan, Mrs. O. W. Beaty, Mrs. Jennie Brecht, Mrs. Wm. A. Talbott, Mrs. Richard B. Stewart, Mrs. A. D. Wood, Mrs. S. W. Waters, Mrs. J. P. King, Mrs. Theo. Messner, Mrs. W. F. Henry, Mrs Rachel Weatherby, Mrs. Sarah Ann Sturgeon, Mrs. Diadama H. White, Mrs. Clarissa Gilbert.
For Tuesday the Indian village on the grounds proved to be the centre of attraction, not only from the fact that the afternoon amusement opened at that point, but as it was the general point of interest, and the people were anxious to observe how the primitive savage conducted his domestic affairs before the advance of civilization compelled such radical changes in his manner of living. At 2 P.M. the program opened with a war-dance on the platform erected in the Indian village, participated in by a score of dusky bucks, who were attired in the his- toric raiment of deerskin so commonly attributed to the aborigines. To the weird music of tom-toms, etc., with an accompaniment of shrill yells, the stal- wart braves of the fast disappearing Six Nations gave a most thrilling illustration of their prelimina- ries for war.
This was followed in close order by the game of lacrosse between the twelves from the respective reservations of Cattaraugus and Cornplanter. This game was decidedly new to the spectators, many of whom had never been fortunate enough to witness this Canadian Indian game. There are 12 players on each side. The goals are similar to those of foot-
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ball, being distant from each other about 100 yards, though the posts are but 8 feet apart and about 6 feet in height. To secure a score, the ball (a rubber one about the size of those used in tennis) must be forced between these posts. Two men are desig- nated as starters, one for each side, who begin the play from the centre. Fielders to the number of ten on each side are lined up, facing each other in lines reaching to each goal, the players six feet apart, and one back-stop, or goal-protector, for each team. The ball is put in play in the centre, and then there is a wild scramble with the long-handled buck - thong rackets, somewhat like tennis rackets, but of much larger proportions. The men of the Cattaraugus team seemed to be the best, and some of their inter- ference and plays were very adroit, and made foot- ball players who saw the contest curious. It required but 30 minutes for the Cattaraugus men to vanquish their opponents, the score being 3 to o.
While the lacrosse game was being finished, the "old boys'" base-ball game began. This was a con- test at the base-ball played when our fathers were boys, and now known as "patchings," that name being derived from the fact that a base-runner can be put out by being struck with the ball. Among the players noted was A. J. Hazeltine, President of the Warren Savings Bank, and his gyrations in an attempt to avoid being "patched " while running bases were very amusing to the crowd watching the game. Others prominent in the game were M. B. Dunham, a well-known lumberman and bank di- rector; E. T. Hazeltine, famous for his connection
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for many years with the Piso manufactory ; Charles Chase, an old-time lumberman and an intimate friend of the late Hon. L. F. Watson ; Sidney A. Wetmore, another gentleman who acquired wealth in the palmy days when lumbering was the principal vocation of the citizens of Warren county ; A. Carroll, commonly known as " Dad ;" Robert Henderson, a contractor and builder ; John M. Davidson, a contracting mason ; P. J. Trushel, an East Side groceryman ; Dr. John A. Kummer, Pastor of the first M. E. Church, who was the pitcher for one side, and was immediately dubbed "Southpaw Kummer," owing to the fact that he pitched left-handed.
The complete list of participants in the ball games on July 3d is appended :
Charles Chase, Captain ; Walter Marsh, William Fogles, Al. Samuelson, J. J. Eckles, J. M. Davidson, A. Carroll, T. H. Brown.
N. P. Curtis, Captain ; E. T. Hazeltine, Robert Henderson, S. A. Wetmore, Rev. Dr. Kummer, G. R. Starr, F. E. Foster, A. J. Hazeltine.
But the most interesting feature of the day's pro- gram was the attack upon the block-house. A party of members of the Grand Army, veterans in real war, dressed in the costume of our grandfathers, were peacefully hoeing in the field, but with guns prudently lying near, when they were attacked by a party of redskins, dressed in feathers and war-paint, under Chief Gar-no-gwah (alias Charles D. Cran- dall, of the Indian Committee), and retreated, firing, into the block-house, where they prepared to defend their lives to the bitter end. Another party of red-
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skins under Chief Big Horse (alias D. Gardner) now made a fiery attack from another direction, and soon the defenders' ammunition was exhausted and they were unable to make further resistance. The Indians now swarmed about the block-house and vainly tried to force an entrance, but the stout door withstood all their efforts. Failing to batter it down they resorted to the old Indian expedient, and with yells and whoops they set fire to the logs and danced around the house in savage excitement. At this point the scene was very realistic and exciting. The party was composed of real Indians, some of whom had been soldiers, and all were familiar with the traditions of savage life. The war-whoops were thrilling, and many spectators, not being aware that the leaders were white men, feared that the un- accustomed excitement might carry the red men into actual deeds of violence. Just at this critical point, when the block-house seemed doomed, there was a sound of many feet on the dry grass, a quick, short word of command, and Company I, under Captain F. E. Windsor and Lieutenant D. F. A. Wheel- ock, appeared, and by a series of beautiful evolu- tions drove the Indians off and extinguished the flames.
When the smoke of the battle had cleared away, and Company I had retired in soldierly fashion, the spectators turned their attention to the exhibitions in the various buildings. The Indians gave exhibitions at intervals on the platform in the Indian village, and the Indian Committee were kept busy introducing visitors to Chief O'Bail and Deerfoot, and showing
INDIANS PREPARING TO ATTACK BLOCK-HOUSE.
كود
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them through the camp, which was always a strong attraction.
EXCHANGE OF GREETINGS.
Warren county was at one time a part of Lycom- ing county. That county celebrated the centennial of its organization on the same three days of the Warren celebration. Some recognition of this fact seemed proper, and accordingly, early in the after- noon of July 2d, the following telegram was sent :
" PRESIDENT OF THE LYCOMING CENTENNIAL ASSO- CIATION, Williamsport, Pa. :
"The Borough of Warren, commencing to-day her Centennial celebration, sends filial greetings to the mother county of Lycoming, and hopes full suc- cess will crown her celebration, and that abundant prosperity may be her portion during the coming century.
"CHARLES W. STONE,
" President of Warren Centennial Association."
To which the following reply was received :
"HON. CHARLES W. STONE, Warren, Pa. :
" The mother of Warren reciprocates the kindly sentiments of her child, and wishes her continued prosperity and happiness.
" H. C. PARSONS,
"Vice-President Lycoming Centennial Association."
REPORT OF THE INDIAN COMMITTEE.
At a meeting of the First Division of the Centen- nial Committee, held in the Library for the purpose
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of deciding upon a program of attractions appro- priate to the period dating from 1795 to 1861, it was suggested by C. D. Crandall that an Indian village, composed of Indians of the Cornplanter tribe, could be made an interesting feature, and upon the suggestion President Stone appointed W. H. Allen, W. A. Talbott and C. D. Crandall a com- mittee to visit the reservation, interest the Indians in the celebration, and secure their aid in making the project a success.
The committee first visited the Cornplanter reser- vation, fifteen miles above Warren, on the Allegheny river, where they met Alfred Halftown, Marsh Pierce, and other representative Indians. The In- dians seemed interested in the project, and another meeting was arranged to take place a week later, at which time Myron Silverheels, of Red House, James Pierce, of Quaker Bridge, and others from Onoville, Salamanca and Cold Springs, were present. At that meeting an arrangement was made to bring to Warren about two hundred men, women and children, composing the best war-dancers, lacrosse players, runners and basket-makers. It was agreed that as many as possible were to be dressed in old- time native costume. Betsy Bennett was given the contract for making forty-two tepees; the tepees were made of muslin painted with yellow ochre and oil, which gave them a skin or hide color, and at the same time made them thoroughly water-proof. Each tepee was made large enough to accommodate six or seven persons. Indians were also hired to cut the necessary poles, seven being required for
THE
INDIAN COMMITTEE.
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each tepee, and they were delivered at Warren the Friday previous to the celebration, at which time the village was erected under the leadership and direction of Alfred and Jefford Halftown. The Cornplanter Band, composed of twelve members, were without uniforms; the committee purchased buckskin cloth, which was tanned with oak bark, giving it a true skin appearance. The suits were made by the Indians themselves, showing artistic skill and workmanship.
While visiting the reservation and in conversation with Myron Silverheels, who held an important posi- tion at the Chicago World's Fair Indian village, the committee learned that the best war-dancers and lacrosse players lived on the Cattaraugus reserva- tion, in the pagan settlement of Newtown. Wishing also to secure the presence of Solomon O'Bail, the grandson of Cornplanter, who at one time lived on what is known as the Cornplanter reservation, and also Deerfoot, the noted Indian runner, whose ten mile record had never been beaten, the committee decided to visit the Cattaraugus reservation. They not only secured the above attractions, but also arranged with Logan, the orator of the Seneca Nation, to appear as one of the speech-makers on July 4th. President Frank P. Patterson was one of the number present at this meeting, which suggested that the President of the Nation and the Indian Council be invited as a body to visit Warren during the three days' celebration as special guests of the borough council and officials. The invitation was given and accepted, and the attendance of Logan's
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Seneca Nation Band was also secured. This band was correctly costumed in old Indian attire and attracted considerable attention.
Prof. Lay's Indian Band of eighteen pieces, one of the finest bands in Western New York, was also engaged. Those who attended the celebration will remember with pleasure the fine music produced by that band.
On their arrival home the committee conferred with President Stone, who was somewhat apprehen- sive as to the success of their undertaking, the matter of expense entering largely into his objec- tions ; but with the promise that expense would be kept at the lowest possible figure, he at last ap- proved of what seemed a gigantic and foolish undertaking for so small a town as Warren. The committee next conferred with the railroad officials. making necessary and satisfactory arrangements for a special train to Warren over the W. N. Y. & P. Railroad, and for the transportation of camp equip- ment, such as blankets, cooking utensils, Indian relics, and other baggage. A similar arrangement was also made with the D. A. V. & P. Railroad for transportation of the Cattaraugus Indians from Lawtons, N. Y., on the line of the Buffalo and South- Western road.
Realizing that the Commissary Department should be in the hands of men more familiar with that line of work than the members of the committee, they secured the assistance of Messrs. P. H. Fehlman and Jerome L. Cogswell in the capacity of Commis- saries. Commissary tickets were issued to the In-
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dians on their arrival at Warren, and each morning they appeared at the commissary headquarters and received their allowance for the day, which was lib- eral and the best that the market afforded-fresh meats, vegetables, and watermelon, the favorite fruit of the Indian, unless it was " bologna," which seemed to be appreciated more than anything offered. A milk-wagon visited the village twice a day, and ice was furnished to those who desired it.
Everything was in readiness in the camp on the afternoon of July Ist, and that evening all the In- dians arrived. At about eight o'clock bonfires were burning in front of nearly every tepee and the vil- lage was all activity. Supper had been served by nine o'clock, at which hour a detail from Company I. 16th Regiment, arrived on the grounds and took charge of the village until daybreak. The next morning the village was divided into four sections ; four Indians were sworn in as deputy-marshals and patrolled their respective sections.
From the moment the grounds opened the Indian village became the centre of attraction. After the several speeches had been made and the program of the opening exercises at the grand stand carried out, the members of the different committees and visitors, headed by President Stone, marched to the Indian village. There they were received by Messrs. Allen, Talbott and Crandall, and presented to Chief Solomon O'Bail. Speeches of welcome and good- feeling were made by both President Stone and O'Bail, after which the Indians joined with the parade, and, in turn, visited the different attractions
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on the grounds. The Indian part of the program was then commenced. Running races and games peculiar to the Indian nation followed in quick suc- cession, to the enjoyment of the thousands of visit- ors who were present, some of whom had never before seen an Indian or become familiar with their sports and pastimes. In the afternoon an attack by the Indians on the block-house defended by the farmers was a realistic presentation. This part of the program was also carried out on the second day. Three famous lacrosse teams, representing Cold Spring, Cornplanter and Cattaraugus, at dif- ferent times during the Exhibition gave evidence of their skill in that national game, the Cattaraugus proving to be the strongest team.
On the Fourth of July, the last day of the Cele- bration, the entire village marched in the parade.
This division was headed by the Indian Commit- tee, followed by four carriages containing President Patterson and members of the Indian Council, Chief Solomon O'Bail, Deerfoot, and two other chiefs. Behind the carriages marched the men, women and children of the nation, some in lacrosse uniform, others in fantastic Indian costume, with head-gear of war-bonnet and peculiar Indian ornaments ; the women and children, in bright-colored dresses, pre- senting a never-to-be-forgotten picture. After the parade the procession marched to the Exhibition grounds, and were followed by the visitors, and during the ceremonies at the grand stand Logan, the famous Indian orator, interested and surprised the thousands present with his eloquence and origi-
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nality. His speech was one of the best of the day.
President Stone then announced that the Indian Council, wishing to show their appreciation of the manner in which they and their people had been treated by the citizens of Warren, desired to adopt into the nation the three gentlemen who composed the Indian Committee. The Indians who had charge of the adoption ceremonies formed on the speaker's stand, and first conferred the honor on W. H. Allen, adopting him into the Bear clan, and giving him the name of Sa-go-gaah-soh, meaning " Brother to all ;" then C. D. Crandall into the Wolf clan, named Gar-no-gwah, meaning "Running oil ;" then W. A. Talbott into the Hawk clan, named Skan-dyo-gwa-di, meaning " above the multitude." This honor is one that the Indians seldom confer, and few white men are members of the Indian nation. These adoptions are recorded in the books of the nation, and the names given to the adopted children are those of chiefs who have lived in the past and have been noted for some particular virtue.
The balance of the afternoon and evening was devoted to war-dances, green-corn dances and the famous squaw-dance, several running races and a hotly-contested game between the Cattaraugus and Cold Spring lacrosse teams.
The entire village broke camp on the morning of July 5th, and were escorted to their several trains. It is a matter of congratulation that during the four nights and three days that these Indians, numbering nearly three hundred, were the guests of Warren,
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