The New York herald., 1870-06-08
Ice Cream at Washington and scalps on
the Plains.

Ice Cream at Washington and scalps on
the Plains.
The renowned uncivilized chiefs of the
Sioux Indians. Spotted Tail and Red Cloud
the former Of whom, for some reason known
to the etiquette of the savage tribes, has had
precedence on all public occasions during
their visit to Washington-were most cordially
received at the White House on Monday even
ing by the Great Father and Great Mother,
President and Mrs. Grant. Grand was the
ceremonial indeed. The elegance and the fop-
perry OF the foreign legations combined most
appropriately with the gravity Of our Cabinet
Ministers to make the occasion astonishing for
the red men, and, taken in connection with
the multitudes of gas jets In the chandeliers
which probably reminded the braves Of the
stars by which they guide their ponies when
they are tracking white settlement at night
must have impressed them with the idea that
it is good to be at peace with the white man
while they are In Washington, whatever stti-
tude they may assume when they reach the
free air Of the prairies. But Of all the beau
ties of this festive scene there was nothing
which SO captivated the savages as the ice
cream and strawberries. Silent before, they
became absolutely gossipy-a wonderful
thing for an Indian-when their palates, accus-
toned to rough buffalo meat with an 0cca-
sional tender fox or slice of white wolf or lank
Indian dog, were tickled with the luscious
berries and the cooling cream. Just at this
juncture, no doubt, they could have been per-
suaded to sign any treaty presented to them.
1t was precisely upon this soothing occasion
that the sweet, persuasive tones of Secretary
Cox would have worked like charm, and
would have made all these dangerous crea-
lures be good boys in future.
But the occasion was allowed to 60 by,
and it was not until yesterday that Red Cloud
and his chiefs met Secretary Cox and the
members of the Peace Commission in solemn
council at the Interior Department. The
Secretary told them that their Great Father
wanted them to live on their reservations and
be peaceable, and clothing and provisions
would be given them; but he would not give
them guns and bullets until they showed that
they were willing to live in peace. To this
Red Cloud made speech worthy Of Red
Jacket He said he did not want to fight but
that he must have Fort Fetterman removed
and no more roads made in his country. As
for the reservation on the Missouri, he did not
want it, His land was north of the Platte.
He had two big mountains there; and white
LoI IN nh soh ho
wanted removed. AS to the Great Father
being good and kind he couldn't see 1t. He
Cred Cloud was good and kind to white
people. The soldiers who were sent to him
by the President had no sense and no heart.
He had not received so much as brass ring
for the land occupied by the Pacific Rail-
road. This speech was warmly applauded
by the Indian braves present. At the con-
clusion of the council both Red Cloud and
Spotted Tail with consistent impudence asked
for the pardon of John Richard, the half
breed, who killed soldier in Fort Fetter-
man, and who, with exaggerated assurance,
was present at the council as Red Clouds
interpreter. The council adjourned finally
after hearing complaints from the other
chiefs, and the whole matter is to be re-
ported to the President.
Meantime, while the Strawberries and cream
were being enjoyed at the White House in the
presence of General Grant and all the notables
Of the capital, and Red Cloud and his braves
were thus bullying the peacemakers, there
came along the wires from the West the tidings
l>o:~
slaughtered by the Indians at Bear Creek
station, only forty miles from Fort Dodge. one
of our garrisoned posts on the Arkansas river.
The despatch reads 3
Thirty five Indians came TO the station, which was
guarded by Sergeant Murray and four men of the
Third infantry, who represented themselves as Ara
paioes. After cooking and eating some time in a
friendly manner all but seven left. Those remain
ing then shot two OF Murray's men and severely
Sixty mules belonging TO Mr.. Trainy trader at
Camp Supply, were run off and one herder was
killed. Two or three other men were also killed at
different places
Unhappily these are just the kind Of reports
which reach lis from the Plains almost every
day-soldiers shot down by detail in their de-
fences, the cattle of the farmers run off by the
savages, herdsmen murdered, teamsters cut
down and scalped beside their teams, women
and children massacred or carried off to the
filthy lodges of their captors. These are the
everyday stories from the Plains, from which
we are disposed to think that dose of Phil
Sheridan would be more wholesome medicine
for the savages than ice cream and straw
berries
THE NEW RAILROAD WAR.-Commodor
Vanderbilt and Colonel Fisk are again at war,
and from indications it would seem that these
doughty commanders intend to wage the con-
test to the bitter end. The rumpus grows out
of refusal on the part of the Commodore to
accept ticket coupons, according TO previous
arrangement, from the Erie Railway Company