August 4, 1898

A Whitehead torpedo, 15 feet long, will be on display in the GovernmentBuilding.

The minature RR will be double tracked and extended to the TransportationBuilding... New equipment for a second minature train ordered from Detroit,St. Louis (cars) and Schenectady, N.Y. (engine). It is expected to beready next week.

Indians enjoy trip to Old Plantation... campare snake dance to buck &wing. Negroes and Indians develop profound friendship. Mr. Millicon incharge of Old Plantation.

The stench from improperly flushed sewers around the Government Buildingis almost unbearable. Expo officials blame city and city officials blameExpo. Unless it is given proper attention it will cause a wide berthto be gives to the area.

Indian Day

Inaugurating the Features of the Great Indian
Congress.

Early in the history of the Exposition it was proposed by President Wattlesthat an Indian Congress of the principal tribes of North American Indiansshould be one of the distinctive features of the exposition. That as all ofthe Transmississippi territory had, but a comparatively few years past, beenoccupied by these Indian tribes, and that as they were fast disappearing andtheir modes of life and customs were gradually changing with the onward marchof civilization, it would perhaps be the last time that the primitive life ofthese tribes could ever be successfully illustrated. As many eastern peoplehad never seen Indians in their semi-savage state, it was argued that thisIndian Congress would be a great drawing feature that would bring many easternpeople to visit the Exposition.

A bill was introduced in Congress authorizing the assemblage of these Indiantribes and providing an appropriation of $40,000 to defray the expenses. Muchdelay was experienced in the passage of this measure and finally ManagerRosewater was prevailed upon to go to Washington and lend his efforts to thoseof Congressman Mercer and Senators Allen and Thurston in securing the desiredlegislation. When the bill was finally passed it was too late to assemble theIndians for the opening of the exposition and before the encampment wascomplete on the exposition grounds the first of August had passed. On the dayset for the grand parade of Indian tribes which should mark the opening of theIndian Congress, there was encamped on the north tract of the expositiongrounds a goodly number of the following tribes:

Chippewas, Rosebud, Lower Brule, Cheyennes, Sisertons, Flandreau, StandingRock, Crow, Creek, Sioux, Sacs, Foxes, Assiniboines, Omahas, Winnebagos,Blackfeet, Arapahoes, Jicarilla, Apaches, Nez Perces, Comanches, Wichitas,Bannocks, Pueblos, Osages, Iroquois and Poncas. The Indians were in charge ofCaptain Mercer. The morning was spent in arranging their camps and in raisingthe flag, which was accompanied with much ceremony and wild cheering. In theafternoon the parade was formed and marched through the Midway over the NorthViaduct and down the Bluff Tract to the Horticultural Building, countermarchingback to the Grand Plaza. Several bands formed a part of the parade and theIndians were dressed in the fantastic manner indigenous to their respectivetribes. After the parade and a short rest, the afternoon was spent in weirddances, horse racing and other Indian amusements. The day was a great successin point of attendance and from this, the opening day of the Indian Congress,until the close of the exposition, the Indians proved a great attraction.