And it went over! Medicine Lodge is mighty proud of his or her town just now, and believe us, they have a right to express their pride.
And there is no deficit! That is not the least important thing about the whole affair. It has paid its way and will leave a surplus in the treasury of about $2,000.00 or possibly a little more, according to the best figures and estimates that can be made at this time.
And not only did it pay its way in money, but it has paid us right here at home in creating in our minds the certainty that when we all work together we can do anything, and that there is no joy equal to a perfect co-operation, such as shown in the production of this celebration and pageant. Medicine Lodge is known now from coast to coast for the big daily papers have been most liberal in their comments and praise, and the Associated Press has carried columns concerning the event.
It certainly went over! People came back the second day and some even the third day and it seemed the crowd grew with each day. They came from far and near. Thousands of automobiles jammed the highways leading to Medicine Lodge, each car carrying its cargo of humanity, all bent on seeing the pageant, and the soldiers and the Indians. Estimates vary about the number of people present each day, but it is fairly safe to say that on Wednesday there were probably 5,000 present, on Thursday 12,000 and on Friday 10,000. Never has Medicine Lodge.
It was no small undertaking to procure the proper costumes for the several hundred actors in the pageant, and to Mrs. Riley MacGregor fell the task of seeing that all the school children had their dresses and that those dresses were taken care of day by day. The costumes for the men in the pageant were secured at Kansas City, while those in the covered wagon scene made their own costumes, both women and men.
The musical portion of the pageant was under the direction of Mrs. B. Fitzgerald, leader of the orchestra, and H. A. Rankin, director of the band. These musicians practiced faithfully for weeks preceding the staging of the pageant, and consequently when the time came for them to go through their scores they were certainly ready. The music was all that could be desired and everyone who had a part in it surely deserves all praise. The 13th Cavalry band also lent their help during the celebration, both at the pageant grounds and on the streets in numerous concerts.
The soldiers in the troop of cavalry which came from Fort Riley were ready and willing at all times to do everything in their power to make the celebration a success. They did everything they were asked to do, and the boys conducted themselves in a gentlemanly manner during their stay in this city. The Executive committee certainly is under obligations to these troopers and frankly admits that without them the pageant and celebration would not have been the success it was.
Jefferson Long had charge of the Indian Village, and the way it was handled brought many words of praise from the thousands who visited it. Mr. Long entered into the spirit of the occasion and saw that everything was as it should be.
The Indians who came, about 225 of them under the general supervision of Mr. Thoburn, secretary of the Oklahoma State Historical Society. Of course we will admit that without the Indians the Celebration and the Pageant would have been a mighty dull affair, but with their colorful blankets and their war bonnets the Celebration was placed on a sure footing from the very start. The Indians were certainly fine, not a bit of trouble with them, for they were all ladies and gentleman, all as anxious to make the celebration a success as we folks here in Medicine Lodge. They did their parts in the pageant fine, and the entire town of Medicine Lodge.
The government, in its mysterious ways, saw fit to send the cavalrymen here in trucks. That made it necessary for the local committee to secure mounts for them. They did. The soldiers rode as fine looking horses as one could want, and the horses responded in such a manner that all the visitors thought they were regular army horses. The old settlers scene, the Indian attack and the rescue by the soldiers, was of course the outstanding scene of the entire pageant. But how on earth could it have been done without the help of the farmers? It would have been hard for any other place in the entire country to and have secured enough saddled horses as were used in the pageant.
And there was Chick Axline's singing. That man has a voice that is a delight and brought amazed wonder to the faces of the thousands who lined the stadium bowl. Axline could make many a stage performer green with envy, if he should decide to match his voice with the singers who are appearing on the American stage today.
And speaking of voices - Riley MacGregor is blessed with a voice that has a carrying quality that enabled every person to hear the lines of the prologue and the interludes and the announcements. Riley surely did "speak up" and say his pieces. And Dr. Gilbert read the lines of "Ten-Bear's" speech in a way and a costume that made everyone there believe he was a real honest-to-john Indian.
The writer finds it impossible to find words to give an adequate description of the pageant itself. The big dailies of the country had their star reporters here, and they frankly admitted that the spectacle was marvelous and expressed their amazement over the fact that the entire expense had been borne by the local citizens. The pageant was great, it was fine, it was acted out by folks who appeared natural in their roles, who were not afraid to do their bit when ten thousand pairs of eyes focused upon them. And the memory of the affair will live long in the annuals of Medicine Lodge, we folks are fully agreed that the leading spirit in the entire affair was Jack Best, who served as president of the association. It was Jack Best to whom everyone went with their problems and burdens. And he was able to smooth over the rough spots, straighten things out and replace frowns and scowls with smiles and cheerful words. Jack Best has done more for Medicine Lodge and Barber county when things were entirely different than they are today.
It went over, folks, it went over! And, thanks to the finance committee, headed by J. F. Groom, it has paid its way, and there is money in the treasury, and even if it hadn't paid, the expense had been underwritten, anyway.
We put it over! Signing of Indian Treaty to be Celebrated in 1927, The Western Star, June 25, 1926. Ten Bears, Comanche Chief, Made an Eloquent Address At The Medicine Lodge Peace Council
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council", New York Daily Tribune Report
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council": A Graphic Description of Famous Peace Council By An Eye Witness, Gov. A. A. Taylor of Tenn.
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927.The Medicine Lodge Peace Council Location:
Sworn Statement of I-See-O
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council" by George Bent
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927."The Medicine Lodge Peace Council": Some More Interesting Articles Telling About Famous Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Council
Barber County Index, September 29, 1927.Governor Paulen's Address Regarding the Medicine Lodge Peace Council
Barber County Index, October 20, 1927.Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Treaty Pageant
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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!