Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-12-12
Correspondence Of the Times.
GREAT SUFFERING AMONG THE $40

Correspondence Of the Times.
MEssRs. NEwsoN MITCHELL & Co.-In my last
promised to say something about the sufferings
of the Dakotas, csused by the non-ful6lment on
the part of the U. s., of the treaties of 1851, in
which they ceded all their best hunting grounds.
l will now proceed to mention q few of these.
In the treaty of Traverse des Sioux, $4,000
worth of goods, and provisions were promised to
the Wahpeton, and Sisseton bands of Sioux,
yearly for so years. Through negligence some
where, these goods and provisions for the year
1853, were not brought on in that year. In con-
sequence of this, and of the money which was due
in July, not being paid till about the first of No
vember these Indians, after subsisting for several
weeks on little more than half rations, were
sent away from Red Wood, in the beginning of
the winter, poorly clothed, and many of them
without any food. At least 1000 of them had to
travel more than 100 miles, over bleak prairie
to their planting places, and still further to any
country where they could subsist on game. 1t
was truly distressing to see them as they passed
here, all suffering from both cold and hunger,
and some of them frost-bitten.
Last winter it was known to many that the
small pox was prevailing on the lower part of the
Minnesota River, and as it was stated in some Of
the papers published in st. Paul, that some bands
of Chippeways had been almost entirely cut off
by it, and two physicians were receiving pay for
attending on the Sioux, measures should have
been taken to have these vaccinated. How far
was this the case in regard to the Lower Sioux,
have not learned. l was told that DR.. Mann
came to the neghborhood of Henderson to vac
cinate those who were encamped there last win
ter. Most of the observation-disclosures has been
vaccinated six or eight years ago, and perhaps he
did for them all that was his duty to do. The
disease however, was not arrested, and in the
month Of May, the Dakotas camped at Traverse
des Sioux, were suffering from it. Still no at
tempt was made to vaccinate the Wahpetsn and
Sisseton generally, though DR.. Richie did vac
cinate few at Red Wood. But the small pox
had been pow-wow-ing over some suffering from
it in that neighborhood, in July, or the early
part of August, went to Lac qui Parle, distance
of 60 miles, and soon after was taken down with
it, and communicated the disease to the family
in which he stopped. From this family it spread
to others, and some children had died of it before
the nature of the disease was known. 1t was not
very fatal there, because most of those residing
there, except small children, had been vaccinated
ty traders, and missionaries and as soon as it
could be done after the nature of the disease was
known, the Rev. Mr.. Riggs procured vaccine
virus and vaccinated the others. Some eight or
ten of those belonging to that neighborhood died
of the small pox before they passed this place In
September, on their way to Red Wood. Most OF
the Upper Sisseton, and many of the Wahpeton,
were vaccinated here on their way down in Sep
tembcr, and they suffered from the small pox
less than could have been expected, One entire
family affected with it, perished near Red Wood.
1t consisted Of FIVE or six persons, most OF whom
are supposed to have died of starvation. They
had no food when taken down with it, nor the
means of procuring any, and those who knew their
sad case, could give them none without starving
themselves. Not less than twenty of the Upper
Sioux have died this summer, whose lives might
have been saved by timely vaccination. This
may seem a small matter to some, but these poor
Indians feel the loss of kindred not less keenly,
than we do ourselves. ..
In August, deputation of these Indians went
to inquire of his Excellency, Governor German,
at what time their annuities, due in July, would
be ready for them. When they returned they re-
ported that they found his Excellency at Traverse
des Sioux, and that he told them, that in twenty
five days from the time he saw them, every thing
would be ready for them at Red Wood. Now it
may we'll be doubted whether his Excellency told
them so but there is no reason to doubt that the
interpreter told them that he said so, and they
fully believe it. These twenty-five days expired
about the 10th of September, and from the time
the delegation returned, the people were busy
gathering their corn, and digging their potatoes
before they were done growing, in order to get
ready to 60 for their annuities. About the lst of
September, Major Murphy, their agent was here,
and told some of them that they had not better
20 to Red Wood, till he sent for them, as he
knew Notwithstanding what they thought the Gov
ernor had told them, that their goods would not
all be at Red Wood for a month.
But it was natural for them to believe the Gov
ernor, as he is the greater man. A short article
which appeared in your paper about that time in
which you stated that you were informed by one
of the contractors for transporting the Indian
supplies, that thirty tons of those belonging to
the Sioux, were already at Red Wood, and the re-
mainder would all be there shortly, seemed to
confirm what they thought the Governor told
them. Before the 25th Of September, 300 fam
lies, containing more than 1000 souls, had asem-
bled near Red Wood, where not particle of
goods or provisions had been delivered for them
by the contractors more than month subse
quently, as was told by one of the employees of
the government, in whose yeracity full confidence
may be had.
Some days after the arrival of the great body
of these Upper Sioux at Red Wood, they heard
of the arrival of part of their provisions, at q
point on the river about or 10 miles below that
by land and on going thither they received a
small supply. From that time till their money
was paid them, not less than six weeks, rrovi-
sions were dealt out to them at the same place,
nearly 10 miles from their encampment, about
once week, in quantities as well expressed by
one of those engaged in distributing it, barely
sufficient to keep life in them. But as it was i'm
possible to make a distribution among so many
perfectly equable, while all starved till they be-
came lean, the Sioux say that many starved to
death, and many of the survivors are certainly
in great danger of doing 50. On arriving here