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1914 — White Eagle, Chief of the Ponca Tribe, died suddenly on Feb. 5.
He was the oldest living member of his tribe. There was some
disagreement about his age, but most thought he was at least 100 years
old. He had been chief as early as 1880, and had relinquished his duties
to his eldest son, Horse Chief Eagle, in 1907.
White Eagle was very well respected by Indians and whites alike. His
obituary mentions that he was an ideal Indian chief in appearance
"...tall, straight as an arrow, he bore himself with the dignity and
reserve which becomes high position and seldom spoke except in his own
language."
Jackie McFarlin Laird joined the 101 Ranch Wild West Show as a trick
rider and roper. Jackie worked with four horses, but her favorite was
Alice, who would kneel, pray or lie down at Jackie's direction.
The most dangerous trick she performed, known as "tailback," involved
sliding off the backside of the horse and being dragged around the
arena. Jackie also appeared in one of the favorite acts of the show, the
"Indian Raid" act. She was the one who was seated in the covered wagon
when the Indians set fire to it.
The 101 Ranch Wild West Show performed at Madison Square Garden in New
York City; then the Miller Brothers traveling road show went to Europe,
where they performed in Berlin and Paris before going to London. In
August, Zack Miller received word that the English were confiscating the
show animals and vehicles, due to the start of World War I.
The Millers quickly closed the show, sold their horses to the British
government for war purposes, disposed of their equipment, and returned
to Ponca City.
Virginia and E.W. Marland moved from the Arcade Hotel to a home on North
Sixth Street while they waited for their new home on Grand Avenue to be
constructed. George and Lydie Roberts, Virginia's niece and nephew from
Pennsylvania, had earlier come to Ponca City to live with the Marlands.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for a permanent state capital building in
Oklahoma City took place on July 20, with Governor Lee Cruce making the
first dig. The firm of Solomon Layton and S. Wemyss Smith were chosen to
design the building. Layton, recognized as the capitol's visionary lead
architect, designed his plans in the Greco-Roman, or neoclassical
architectural style.
He positioned eight winged lions atop the building's roof as symbols of
the continual struggle of regal dignity and victory. Corinthian columns
surround the building, and 34 massive steps stretch across the south
span of the building, taking visitors to the second story entrance.
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