Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-11-10


their removal and for announcing the
appointment of their successor. The after
noon previous, Agent White called be-
| fore him the Indians whom he bad
! selected as Chiefs of various bands, and
| inquired of them if they would accept
the position of Chiefs, to which they
| assented Notice was Immediately
! given that general council of the tribe
| would be held at 8 P. N. on the follow
! ing day.
About the appointed time they ASSN
! bled for the important occasion. The
Agent opened the council by reading a
letter from Superintendent Janney,
stating that both he and the Agent had
! decided to comply with the request of
| the young men of the tribe to remove
| the old chiefs and appoint others. He
| then stated that twelve Chiefs had been
chosen in lieu of the fourteen now at the
| head of the different bands,and request
| ed those whose names were called to
occupy seats facing the Agent. They
were then invested with their new dig
mites. Agent White read a series of
resolutions approving the change ofthe
| Chiefs ne had selected, and authori-
zng the increase of the police..force from
seven to twelve-each Chief appointing
policeman from his own band, subject
! to approval of the Agent, who was also
| to appoint a captain of police from
| among the.men selected. A vote was
then taken upon the above resolutions,
| and adopted without a dissenting voice.
Young Prophet, one OF the deposed
worthless, now rose, and in ashort speech
demanded $500 for each of the eX-Chiefs
as Il compensation for their past services.
The principal opposition, however, was
! l. oIe Of fl.a
deposed, who, in 3 flaming speech, de-
cIared his intention of removing from
the Reservation, taking with him as
| many of his friends as he could get, and
advising the Agent also to leave as soon
as he could. He refused to give up the
horses that had been given to him as
Chief. His manner was excited and
threatening. At the close of his speech
he passed out of the council room, noun
! ted pony, and giving the war whoop,
road off at full speed; but there were
few, if any, who followed him. In the
evening he was required to restore the
pony, and he sent an apology to the
Agent for the hasty manner in which
he had acted.
Several of the ex-Chiefs afterwards
spoke in the council, but none OF them
were disrespectful. Several of the In
dians also spoke in favor OF the new
| movement, and, although the council
WAS at one time in a state of eonsidera-
bic excitement, when it closed there
seemed to be much better feeling.
This account was received from AL eye
witness. ..-.. .... ... .'...-- --.-
On the following day the Indians
quietly resumed their accustomed oc-
cupations, and the change in the chiefs
is now, we believe, universally acqueisc-
ed inby the tribe There can be no doubt
but that the change will be productive
of great good in advancing their civ
ilization. - .-...
This reservation is located on the west
branch of the Missouri River, about
eighty miles north of Omaha city. 1t
is mostly rolling prairie-a rich, fer
tile soil; well adapted to the raising of
all Spring crops. This tribe purchased
their reservation of the Omaha tribe,
whose reservation bounds it on the
south. It contains 81 900 acres, and
supposed to be bout 5000 acr IS of wood
land, which is mostly cotton wood, burr
oak, and some black walnut. They are
obliged to depend generally on wells for
water, which, it is very remarkable,
may be left without walling up for years
and not cave in, even if dug to the depth
offorty feet. Neither are they compelled
to wall up their cellars. This may be
considered as one of the great convinc-
ing evidences of the care and wisdom
of our Heavenly Father il thus provid-
ing :or his dependent children.
The Agency buildings consist of an
Agency House, a house for the carpen-
ter, miller, blacksmith, engineer. school
teacher and farmer, steam Touring mill
and saw mill attached, blacksmith shop,
| L.
and log Jail, with out-buildings.
This tribe. per last census, numbered
.885-about 450 families; three schools,
238 scholars on the rolls; nineteen fami-
lies now living in houses. The lands
have been surveyed to the amount of
about three hundred ailotments. The
surveyor is engaged in completing the
survey Many OF them have chosen
their aIlotmenJs and the balance are
anxious to do the same" They express
themselves ready to move out and oceu-
| DIV them as soon as they can get help to-
build houses for themselves. ...,
| This tribe receives anannuity in mon
ey of S13 600, and SIS, 600 worth of goods,
| a weekly issue of $500 lbs. of beef and
| the same quantity OF flour. sl;s 81. 4
Also their stock and farming utensils
consist oftwenty-six yoke of oxen, one
ilib1 S'f'No tiiN @ itsi .
lot of young cattle, eight horses, twenty
eight double wagons, four Balls NOW
ers and reapers, and a fair assortment
of otner implements for the teams,
though they would use a much larger
amount If they had them. 90 t.D-a- 4
The farmer reports $50 acres sown in
wheat, 400 acres planted to corn By the
Agency hands, and about 400 acres
planted to corn, potatoes, &C., by the
indians, in patches. Each. family that
wishes it has patch. aud cultivates it
for its own use al the work of plant
ing and cuItivating is done by the IN
dians, Superintendent by q head farmer.
Agent White reports having received
eight boxes Of clothing from Friends Of
New York Yearly Meeting, their esti-
mated value being 81 ,437,s7. One box
from Friends of Philadelphia, contents
valued at GO. Cash from Friends OF
New York Yearly Meeting, $685., %. He
reports on hand $4,000, part of which.
he proposes to use for the purchase OF
good to supply some of the tribe who
are destitute and did not receive any of
the clothing sent them by Friends.