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Trenton's Massacre Canyon Pow-Wow
For many years, between 1923 and 1956 (except during World War II), the largest and most spectacular of the summer celebrations in Southwest Nebraska, boasting crowds of up to 10,000 visitors, was Trenton's Massacre Canyon Pow-Wow.
The celebration began in 1923, the 50th Anniversary of the Last Buffalo Hunt of the Pawnee Indians in 1873. This Buffalo Hunt turned into a Massacre of the Pawnees by hordes of Sioux Indians from the north -- the last great battle between Indian adversaries in North America. The site is commemorated by a large stone obelisk monument and museum, overlooking the canyons east of Trenton, on Hwy. 34.
The idea of a celebration observing this battle was advanced by two Trenton business men, W.D. "Billie" Otis, a furniture dealer, and A.L. Taylor, the editor of the Trenton Republican Leader.
The two men felt that the 50th Anniversary of the Massacre should be observed in some fashion, and Otis thought that bringing back Indians for the affair was a natural. For at least the next 25 years Billie Otis was the man in charge of getting the Indians to Trenton and looking after them while they were there.
The first Pow-Wow was held up town, and featured 14 Sioux Indians from the Pine Ridge Reservation, including Chiefs Spotted Wiesel, White Wolf, and Two Lance, survivors of the Massacre, as well as Capt. Lute North and J.H. Williamson, the only white man present at the battle that day in 1873. They spent a number of hours together during the festival reminiscing and smoking the peace pipe. Two thousand visitors enjoyed carnival attractions, ball games, a barbeque, and speeches by politicians, (including an observance of President Harding's death, which had occurred earlier that week).
That first celebration set the tone for future years, when festivals always included ball games, a carnival, food, impressive free entertainment acts, (with J.W. "Pop" Reutzel as the perennial M.C.) and Indians, always Indians. Year No. 2 brought Chief Iron Crow, the scout who had located the Pawnees at the historic battle, and Chief Jim Red Cloud, grandson of the famous Chief, Red Cloud.
At first only Sioux Indians attended the Pow-Wow, but in 1925 both members of the Sioux tribe and Pawnee tribe attended, including the Pawnee Chief Ruling Hisson, whose wife and two children were killed in the battle. Ruling Hisson was invited to smoke the peace pipe with the Sioux.
He refused initially, but he was finally persuaded; an historic act, which officially ended the battle -- after 52 years. Another historic first took place that day, when Billie Otis, A.L. Taylor, and J.W. Williamson were invited to witness the peace smoking ceremony. It was believed to be the first time white men had been present to witness two tribes of Indians smoking the peace pipe.
In 1925 the event was moved from downtown Trenton to the Pow-Wow grounds west of town where it continued to be held until 1951. In 1927 the Stelleges-Baker Post of the American Legion took over the management of the Pow-Wow, (with the exception of handling the Indians, a position Billie Otis kept to the last Pow-Wow).
As the Trenton Pow-Wow grew over the years and gained in popularity the entertainment presented evolved as well. One year former Boxing Champion, Joe Lewis was on hand to referee wrestling matches. Another year Monte Stratton, the one-legged Major league baseballer, whose life was made into a movie came to Trenton.
Baseball was always popular. Early games were played between Sioux players and area teams. One year the Skinners (father and sons, all from one family) played the team made up of Sioux "Warriors." Negro teams from Texas and Brooklyn played one year. Gradually, the baseball games that were played were more and more between area amateur or town teams.
Mock battles at the Pow-Wows were very popular, and quite spectacular. In 1927, 34 Indians from Mission Ridge, S.D. put on a mock battle, with whooping Redskins burning wagons, etc.
Afterwards, they demonstrated the Indian game of LaCrosse. The next day the Legion boys put on a huge fireworks display and reproduced the Battle of St. Mihiel (World War I), "everything included." Another year the Battle of Chateau Thierry (World War I) was depicted by a traveling company.
In 1941 "The Battle of London" was recreated to give folks an idea of what the British were facing. After the war, a company recreated a moving portrayal of the Battle of Iwo Jima. The year the company recreated "Custer's Last Stand," with daytime fireworks, was especially memorable, with "live" Indians dashing about amid the fireworks display.
Musical entertainment was always a part of the Pow-Wow celebrations. Indian songs and dances were a staple, of course, but the Trenton Band, the McCook Band, as well as other area bands appeared through the years. For a few years featured attractions were musical revues, "with pretty girls, teasing tunes, comedians, beautiful costumes and scenery."
Once, Gospel singers from Grand Island's KMMJ accompanied scenes of the "Passion Play." Other years the studio band from KMMJ, Lincoln's Varsity Serenaders, Dick Stagemeyer's Orchestra, as well as local and regional bands provided the music for dancing.
In 1939, the McCook Movie Co. made sound pictures of the Indian Dances at the Pow-Wow. That year a local boy, Hal Mollison brought his band, "The Band-Its" from Chicago to play for an open air dance. Jimmie Lynch and his Death Dodgers, direct from the New York World's Fair, performed spectacular auto stunts, were featured entertainers.
Daredevils of every sort were crowd favorites at the Pow-Wows. In 1925, Jack Payne, "The Ace of Daredevils" dived from a 125-foot tower into a tank covered with flaming gasoline. 1928 saw the Aeriel Bauers perform death defying stunts on a trapeze 50 feet above the ground. The Omaha World Herald was on hand in 1932 to cover the Pow-Wow with a feature story when lightning struck the high pole of Cliff Hayes, that year's feature daredevil performer. Cliff went on with his act as if nothing had unusual had happened. In 1934, 66-year old Mat Gay dived from a 90 foot tower into a tank of water filled with 4 inches of water.
One year the crowd was treated to a balloon ascension. When the balloon had reached its maximum height, one of the balloonists parachuted to earth, the first time that a parachute jump had been seen in Southwest Nebraska.
Over the years, the number of Indians attending the celebration varied from 14 to 36 or more. There were always new demonstrations of the Indian way of life, and often local Trenton men took part in the ceremonies.
These men were "adopted" into the Sioux tribe and were referred to as "brothers" of the Sioux. These men were always men who were active in putting on the Pow-Wow and had become friendly with the Indians.
After World War II, Trenton became a destination for the Flying Farmers organization, whose members flew in for breakfast during the Pow-Wow. At the 1948 Pow-Wow, airplane rides were offered for $1 by the Hoffman Flying Service.
Gambling was a perennial problem with the Pow-Wows. The organizers would have preferred that the gambling be outlawed, but it was popular with the public and a necessary evil in attracting a big-time carnival company. It was something the organizers felt they must "live with."
As long as the gambling was on the level there was not too much trouble, but this was not always the case and the sheriff was kept busy investigating complaints from customers who felt that they had been cheated.
For 28 years, Trenton hosted the Pow-Wow, all through the dust and Depression years, the flood of 1935, and the aftermath of World War II, and fires and tornadoes destroying the grandstand.
By 1956 the organizers and volunteers were worn out. With the completion of the Trenton Dam, the local population declined. The advent of TV in the area kept people at home. Crowds at the Pow Wows were in decline.
The celebrations had become too expensive for the people of Trenton to continue. Individuals attempted to carry on the annual return of the Indians with a reduced venue for a few more years, but alas, those efforts also ended, leaving the folks with nothing more than a flood of fond memories for a remarkable run of successful festivals, which entertained thousands, and prominently marked an historic event in Southwest Nebraska.