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| The Grand Opera House (Ryerson-Burnham Archives The place where in 1912 The Wizard of Oz would be seen for the first time |
Come
with us now as we resume the continuing saga of the Lakota Sioux at Fort
Sheridan in 1891. Two installments in
the unfolding story have already been laid out.
You may find them here and here.
On
this day, March 1, back in 1891 Lieutenant Maxwell, the same guy who picked up
the job of transporting the Native Americans to two separate social events in
Evanston on February 14, accompanied the
party to the Grand Opera House on Clark Street in Chicago where the contingent
enjoyed entertainment given by Cleveland’s minstrels.
The
party included Kicking Bear, Coming Grant, Knows His Horse’s Voice, White
Beaver, One Bull, Horn Eagle, Run Along Side Of, Sorrel Horse and Hard to
Hit. The Tribune reported, “Interpreter
John Shandreau sat with the Indians to translate Luke Schoolcraft’s and Hughey
Dougherty’s jokes. General Miles with
his aide, Capt. Maus, sat humbly in the dress-circle while the conquered reds
had plush easy chairs and silk curtains in private boxes.” [Chicago Tribune, March 1, 1891]
The
show was evidently a hit. One performer
emerged in silk tights and sang in a high soprano voice, after which “the
curtain rose and the black faces of the end-men were disclosed.” At the sight Hard to Hit turned to One Bull and said, “Buffaloes,” thinking that a portion of the Ninth Cavalry, the “Flying
North” had been ordered from its station near Pine Ridge to sing and dance in
its late enemies’ honor.
Chicago in 1891 must have been quite a town, right? The City Council is passing the ordinance that will allow a new Art Institute to be built on the lakefront. The tallest building in the world to be constructed on load bearing walls is being finished on Jackson Boulevard. And a couple blocks away, survivors of Pine Ridge sit with their military guards, watching men with faces smeared with burnt cork sing in falsetto voices.
You can't make this stuff up.
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