A REVIEW...SORT OF
* " - * J
RANDOLPH UMBERGER'S
by Brace Barton
CA1NELL LOCKLEAX
DORA CHA VIS
ROBERT BRYANT
V/S* ? v x. IX
LEE WIGGINS
These fow have performed
hi "Strike at the Wind!" (face
it* inceptiea hi 1976.
? They arei raiaii LocUear,
alao doablee.ee the Irrepree
?Me "Beee Strang,Den
Che vie, "Aaat Mary,") Lea
Wlgglee, "JUaai McNrir"j
maker "
A Review aaa Sari el
"Strike at the Wind!", the
popular outdoor musical dra
ma, completes its seventh
season Saturday night, and it
has to be one of the moat
exciting and fulfilling seasons
yet.
I play a small part (I have
seven lines and then I am
drug off stage and shot
summarily) in the drama, but
I have enjoyed it tremen
dously. I have made many
new friends with the cast
members and production
people. My role is "Aflefa
Lowiy," or "Pa" as most of
the cast refer to me mwwit haa
beep a wonderful experience,
and 1 hope 1 have been an
adequate "Pa Lowry." Lord
knows I have tried.
"Strike at the Windl" ie a
unique happening, Whiten
play Whites, Blacks play
Blacks and Indians (day In
dians. It makes for good
characterisation, one simply
has to act out his life's
experience to be believable.
"Strike at fee Windl' Is
fortunate to have a strong
that stand the scrutiny at the
The director this year h
Chet Jordan, a PSU professor
of theatre. Stage manager is
Sherry l?vy, the cataiyst who
holds things together back
stage.
And of coarse, Carnell
Lock tear, the peripatetic
general manager, doubles, as
h? has since the drama began
in 1976, as the lovable and
inepress&le "Boss Strong."
He has a gift for comedy that
is intrinsic and not learned
from books. His strong coun
ter part is Robert Bryant,
"Shoemaker John," a rich
baritone and a wonderful
actor. Those who have seen
the show affirm that "Strike
at the Wind!" would lack
something without the crowd
pleasing antics of Carnell
Loddear and Robert Bryant.
'?f
RHODA AND
"HENRJf BEAR"
Henry Berry Cowrie and
Melton Lowery, who plays his
famous great, great, great
grandfather, are almost one
and the same. Melton plays
"Henry Bear" like I always
imagined he should be play
ed. His characterization is
sensitive and moving. Ruby
Hammonds, who plays "Rho
ds" is quite effective as the
head strong bride of a head '
strong man.
THE LEADER AND
THE BOY
Derek Low cry is the Leader
and precocious Mark Oxen
dine is the Boy. They are the
transition between the spoken
and the unspoken. They take
the audience, hand in hand,
through the plot, the story
line. Derek Low cry is a visual
delight, in his Indian regalia,
and he speaks with pride of
"our hero, Heittfy Berry Low
rie." He is poetry in motion.
One line in particular seems
to set the stage, makes the
drama unfolding before us,
understandable. "There are
the people," he says, with a
sweep of his hand, "but
where is the reason." That
line makes sense out of the
paranoia of the Civil War era
in winch the drama is set.
THE LOWRIE FAMILY
As noted, I play "Henry
Bear's" father. I attempt to
do it as haughtily as possible.
I see Allen Lowrie as a proud
man about to be destroyed by
the madness about him.
Magdaline Lowiy is bril
liant as "Momma Cumbo,"
and Dora Chavis will be a
tough act to follow as "Aunt
Mary."
Tony Clark, Corbin Ed dings
and Frankie Hunt are all great
as Young Allep, Wesley and
William Lowrie respectively.
THE LOWRIE GANG is
lovable and poignant, every
one of them. Besides "Boss
Strong" and "Shoemaker
John" already mentioned,
Bill Ray shines brightly as
"Steve Lowrie." Ray has
grown tremendously this
year. Other members of the
gang are Kenny Hunt, Frank
Carter, Joe McMillian, and
Michael Deeseand Stephen
Lowery. Accolades to all I
AND THE REST OF THEM
Frank Creasy, in my esti
mation, is the best Sheriff
Reuben King in the seven
year history of the drama.
Jolly King is played by Lisa
Taylor. She attacks the role.
And she sings mightily. As 1
see it, Dofly King has the
hardest lines in the show.
When Lisa Taylor emotes
"What kind of people are
you?" we all feel a little
ashamed of ourselves.
Victoria Ozendine is an
absolute darling as the
daughter of the Kings, and 1
like Steve Swint's charac
terization as Hector McCord,
a White Robesonian with a
conscience.
Janet Graham has contin
ued to improve nightly as
"Polly Ozendine." That's the
mark of a good actor, die
ability to ezpand in a role,
grow nighdy. "John Saun
ders" is played well by
Mehrin Kennedy.
Hugh McGreggor is played
to perfection by Frank Har
rison. The dark beard, the
mean guy who knows, deep
within himself, that conser
vatism, not die Yankees, will
prevail in the end.
Ben Jacobs plays "Dona
hoe McQueen," the meanest
"half breed 1 have saw," as
one of the home guard ez
claims,- Jacobs laughs evily.
Colonel J. Brantley Harris
is created this season by
Rocky Brisson. Rocky loves to
swagger and create havoc
wherever he goes. It's a
compliment to Rocky that the
audience usually applauds
when he bites the dirt.
And Danny Wilson
is "Rod McMillian"?a weak
kneed fellow that audiences
love to hate.
One of my favorite charac
terizations is "Lina McNair"
as created by Lee Wiggins,
one of a number of cast
members who have been with
the show sincd it? banning. "
She's a consummate actress
and "Strike at the Wind!" is
fortunate to have her.
"Reverend Sinclair," who
smacks of condescension, is
played with vim and vigor by
David Payne. If I gave an
acting award on technical
ability Payne might be the
recepient.
And Richard Rundus, Ran
dy Pait, Steve Fletcher, Ste
phen McGirt, NeU Weber and
all the rest of them make us a
motley homo guard. And
Edith Ward and Stephen
Lowry, Charlie Locklear, Jr.,
Andrew Hunt, and the rest of
the marvelous cast make
"Strike at the Wind!" better
for their presence.
Scuffletown citizens are
Martha Chavis, Teresa Car
ter, Twyla Jacobs, twins:
Amelia and Amira Locklear,
Edwina Chambers, Norma
Low cry, Carolyn Oxendine,
Vinita Oxendine, Karen Re
vels, Christopher Locklear,
and Cochise Clark. They give
"Strike at the Wind!" its
essence, its beauty and its
life.
' I'm sure I left someone out,
but not by design. Every
single person in "Strike at the
Wind!" was crucial to its
successful season, and <
"Strike at the Wind!" would
not be as good without any '
single person mentioned, or
not mentioned.
The cast became friends.
That makes it all worthwhile.
Long Live "Strike at the
Wind!"
"WHAT IN FAGIDID HAPPEN
... ?
TO HENRY BERRY LOWRIE?'
. ' '< . ?. ? 1 ' -? V v *
wncn OKI noppto to ntofy Mrry lowrit r in# vov#i go.
Drowned white fishing... a report. March 1872. Escaped to
Mexico... Clarence Lawrey. Brother Tom WHted him . The
Robesonian.Dec. 1071. Shot by brother Stephen ... The
Robesonian, Feb. 1872 Accidentally shot himself while
cleaning gun... New York Herald March 7.1072. Escaped
North CatoNna by disguising himself... Wilmington Dally
Journal Mar. 10,1872 Escaped by 'arranging his funeral"
Accordtog to the story Henry Berry Lowrte rnocto a dummy
out of strew He fired the shot and Tom to*d everyone he
Lllbw^ I, lr-,.w\j r?nni?i? ? i . .Ik , ILA r nWI?? ??-_-U- (.nt, _
kHieo nimseiT ocxKlentcNfy in# comn was man# mro a
mm! m ? r~ a i"S lak AAk_ax Am m ? . > AS . n M- ?lj ?tjt
con ona no oscopoo ?n Tm# ooncnoss to onomoc srofro M,
Dr. Earl Lowry In Raleigh News and Observer, May9.1937.
IkMMkA i - ?. 4 la t ? ? ? i i ? i j|.? in J M ? . i aaS I 1 ? Jn ? ?? rn
?no noma gucro mTOfTupxea a worship swee near
Rowland to Inquire ? anyone hod seen Henry Berry. The
preacher asked Ns organist who nodded negatively
After the guard left, the organist turned out to be Henry In
I ? I X
ORIGINS of the LUMBEE INDIANS?
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While mod Indian tribes have an established position In American htaftofy.tw Lumbee Indians
do not. They are virtually unknown, and Ihe immediate question become* who are Ihe Lumbees
axi where did they come from? The answer Is complex. They are Ihe largest body of Indtamead
of the Mississippi River. And yet, despite their numbers and achlevements.theLumboes remain a
visible - invisible people.
While confusion and mystery surround their origins, the Lumbeet are unquestionably of Indian
blood and outlook. Though conclusive proof has not yet been offered, many historians believe
them to be descendants of the Hatteras Indians of coastal North Carolina and Sir Waller
Raleigh's famous "Lost Colon/' of 1587; others believe them to be descendants of Ihe Eastern
Sioux tribes located in the North Caroltnaarea. Many Lumbees and some scholars believe the
people to be descendants both of John While's "Lost Colon/' and the Eastern Sioux,
amalgamation having occurred over a long period of time.
Since the "Lost Colon/' theory is the one most accepted by most Lumbee people, it demands
more thorough examination. John White, an adventurer - artist, was chosed to head Walter
Raleigh's second colony to the New World in 1587. The colony arrived off Hatteras. July 22,1587,
and proceeded to Roanoke Island. In August of that year, finding that their supplies were
inadequate for the coming winter, the settlers prevailed upon White to return to England for
additional settlers and supplies, leaving his colony behind. Before While's departure, he
discussed with the colony the possibility of moving inland. White reached England in November,
1587, a time when his country was threatened by Spain. Other problems arose and itwas not until
August, 1590, that White findlly returned to Roanoke Island. The noted North Carolina historian,
Hugh Lefler, says: He (White) found the place overgrown with grass and weeds, and about the
only traces of the settlers were a few pieces of broken armor and the word CROATOAN carved on
a tree and the letter* CRO on another tree, but with no cross, a sign to be used to indicate that the
settlers were in distress. The colony thus passed out of history, but not from the field of historical
speculation." 1
North Carolina and Virginia historians of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries
believed that a remnant of the colony survived. For example, in 1709 John Lawson, North
Carolina's first historian, wrote of the "Lost Colon/': "A farther confirmation of this we have from
the Hatteras (Croatoan) Indians who lived on Roanoke Island, or much frequented it. These tell us
that several of their ancestors were white people and could talk in a book as we do; the truth of
which is confirmed by gray eyes being frequently amongst these Indians and ho others. They
value themselves for their affinity to the English and are ready to do them all friendly offices. It is
probable that the treachery of the natives, for we may reasonably suppose that the English were
forced to cohabit with them for relief and conservation; and that in process of time they
conformed themselves to the manners of their Indian relations ..."
Clifton Oxendine, professor emeritus of history at Pembroke State University, states: "In 1730
Scotchmen began to arrive in what is now Robeson County. The universal tradition among the
descentants of these first White settlers is that their ancestors found an Indian settlement on the
Lumber (Lumbee) River. They were living in houses, speaking English, tilling the soil in a rude
manner, and practicing in rather imperfect ways some of the arts practiced by the civilized
people of Europe." While the seventeenth century provides little historical knowledge about the
Lumbee people, the eighteenth sheds more light.
The Lumbees were never a nomadic group; once they seWectoMhe bonk* olWieiambeeRWer,
they held their lands in common by right of possession and this continued until the coming at
white man to Robeson County around 1730.
A number of the Indians of Robeson County served in the Continental Army during the
Revolutionary War and received pensions for their services. They also fought in the War of 1612.
But when the Civil War came it was different; the North Carolina Constitution, amended in 1635,
spelled doom to the Lumbee people. The period after 1830 saw North Carolina become
increasingly a closed society, and under its revised constitution all people not of white blood
were disfranchised and denied the privilege to vote or carry weapons.
During the Civil War, Indians from Robeson County were conscripted for labor camps at Fort
Fisher and other places on the North Carolina coast. They were mostly engaged in building
batteries and making salt. There were Indians in Robeson County who refused to serve In labor
camps but were willing to serve in the Confederate Army if given an opportunity. Unfortunately,
their refusal caused the Home Guard, to watch the Indians with suspicion. Allen Lowrie soon
found himself accused of having stolen goods on his farms. Also he was accused of housing
Union soldiers who had escaped from a Confederate prison camp near Florence, South
Carolina. Enmity between the whites and the Indians of Robeson County grew as the war years
passed, and the Confederacy came closer to defeat. The tension between the races finally *
exploded into violence following the execution of Alien Lowrie and his son William by the Home
Guard. This was the beginning of the Lowrie War. (For more information on the Lowrie War, 1864
1874, refer to the Henry Berry Lowrie Story.)
The period from 1875-1885 can be called a decade of despair. In 1685 under the able leader
ship of Hamilton McMillian, the North Carolina Legislature passed a bill that gave the Indians of
Robeson County separate schools and designated them as Croatan Indians. Two years later,
Croatan Normal opened her doors under the leadership of Rev. W. L. Moore. '
In 1985 the Rev. DJ. Lowry, a nephew of Henry Berry Lowrie, received the first diploma from
Croatap Normal School. In June, 1926, the first two-year normal doss was graduated, and the
normal school was given accreditation by the State Board of Education, in the early thirties
. college classes were initiated, and by 1938 three full years of college work were available. Then,
J J in 1939, a fourth year of college work was added, and in June, 1940, the first four year college
f degrees were conferred.
Like its people the school has had many names: Croatan Normal School. 1887; Indian Normal
School of Robeson County, 1911; Cherokee Indian Normal School, 1913; Pembroke Stale
College, 1949; and Pembroke State University, 1969.
During the last decade Lumbees have become actively involved in Indian movements
throughout the country. While there has been some national cooperation among Lumbees and
other tribes, there has also been some dissension within the lumbee communfly with the
emergence of the group who are known as Tuscororas.They believe thai Tuscaroras moved Into
the Robeson area during the period of the Tuscarora War, either to escape enslavement or to
avoid further hostilities, and in the process became a factor in the existing society. If this Is true
some of the Tuscaroras becamea part of the Lumbee setfiementashort time before the orrtvoloi
, the while settlers. N Js also possible some Tuscaroras settled In the area following their defeat hi
the war of 1711-1743, when fh*> power of the Tuscarora nation was broken. Dick Brown, a local
4 historian, says the number of Tuscaroras was probably small and their arrival In Robeson cams
bin | .1^ Am twvue WiL^k he^arlnn am a.LmU a! Hi m >11 ? ? m m mm . ifc ? ,
r too iore 10 nave mi^cn Doaring on me origin or me inavans already mere*
i here Is also another view of ffte Robeson County Indtans. They are hard wgrkevs and
expose m many other professional fields, though most have not r^^toRHH^^H
iooujt, LiinrDVvi CeogQyin^i us iney?vosoogee rOec
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