The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-09-23
THE INDIAN s.
The Capital Sentence of Santanta
and Big Tree COMMITTED.
bad Policy Of the Governors Lenioncy-The Tex
ans Exasperatsd Against the Indiaus-Mis-
management Of the General Government
The Hardships of the United States
Military on the Frontier

WACO. Texas. Sept. Q. 1871.
BY permission OF Post Commandant Latimer,
your correspondent In company with Majors wisner
anC Webb OF the Fourth cavalry, and Colonel Chip-
man Eleventh iniantry, visited on the 3lst ultlmo
tho convcs Indian chiefs, Satanta ana Big Tree
who are confined at Fort Richardson, where they
were placed after sentence, by order OF Judge
Seward, as the jail at JacKsboro was considered
insecure, and 1t was feared that some OF the many
bands OF warriors In the vicinity might attempt TO
rescue them.
That part OF the gusrd house in which Satanic
and Big Tree are held is strongly constructed of
stone and divided cells OF about ten by four and
half feet, which are lighted and ventilated by
strongly barred windows, three feet square, and
Kratings placed the doors. Two Of these cells are
occupied by soldiers who are awaiting transporta-
tion TO the Louisiana Penentary, the Diners by the
chiefs. Their cell doors having been thrown open
ny the sergeant OF the guard they were ordered to
come out which, after adjusting their blan-
kets they did. The first to make his APP
pearancc was Satanic, the elder OF the two
who saluted all present with 'Haw," and o
short grunt very much unlike anything we had ever
heard. Big Tree came next, but, unlike his com.
paniOn, did not speak a word, but busted himself
toying with the long chains which depended from
his ears. Perceving that your reporter was not Of
the military order, Satana, nOdding to one OF the
officers, said, ''Amego,n and was answered In the
Affirmative This gave hope that they might be In
duced 10 converse, but alter putting repeated inter-
rOgatOres In the Spanish language not another sy-
liable could be extracted IRON them. The prisoners
appear In fine condition, though both, We are 10
formed, are somewhat thinner than at the time Of
their arrest They eat regularly and there Is nothing
In their appearance to ndlcae that their health has
infa fhatt noip
sentence bad been committed TO imprisonment Tor
satisfaction. but Big Tree as at the trial, declared
his preference for death, even by hanging and
pointed TO Tue mancles on his wrists and ankles,
II to say death Was more desirable than lie with
them.
Thinking 1t might be possible to induce them to
speak In their own diaet secured he services OF
an Interpreter. aud on the I'll inst. paid them an
other VISIT wi.cn, how ever was as barren OF result
Is the INST one, and almost III DESPAIR we were
forced TO abandon The idea OF interviewing the
AS the sherIir OF Jack county Is charged with en-
bezzemcnt and suspect ded. during Investigation OF
the charge, lion once, there ~ no officer LII the
county TO receive the convicts from tue military and
convey Them 10 the STATE Prison ut Huntsvlile A
gentleman calling himself deputy sheriff made an
Informal requslt4on for the prisoners the COM
Mandant OF the post, that Queer refused to COM
ply with II until the deputy had furnished proof that
ne wasa duly qualified onlcer Vi the county, which
ut the lime ol our departure IrOln Fort Richardson
he mad not done.
All the frontier people condemn the action Of Gov.
ernor Davis IN cOinuutng tue sentence OF death,
anu assert that, Instead vi II having better moral
ercct on the hostile lrluea, as Inc Governor ex.
afraid ~ hang Them and that soon the two cliics
VIII oe set III liberty and returned TO their people,
This view oil the case Is rational enough, since 1t II
well Known iact thai cIeinency towards Indians Is
never repaid Dy gratitude and tends only TO make
them more daring IN their robberles and more cruel
Experience mas taught that force alone can con.
troll the indian, and wherever he KNOWS that power
lies and VIII he used. he Is be ION his best
behavior" the unanimous O.lnon OF all Old IRON
tiermen is that II the army were placed on pro-
Der footing anu lhe control Of Indian affairs vested In
the war Department. peace would be secured and
maintained, the country settled, Improved, and Its
vast resources. mineral and agricultural. speedily
developed. AS matters now stand, the army, even
under The leadership OF such energetic and thorough
soldiers as General Mckenzie, Is alaost pOwerless
Tor good. The Indians actually laugh at II, ana
openly boast, MS did Sxtanta and Big Tree at Fort
SILL OF their ncndish cruelty and gigantic ROB berries.
cessary Tor them, II followed by the army, to fly to
the Reservations where pursuit ends anu they are
SAFE Wnle II IS certain that the army could secure
quiet on The tronuer and check the evil doings
Of the traders Tor whose sUie Ueneht 1t would ap.
pear the present system OF Indian manage
proper standard Of efficiency, it is now
wholly unable TO do the one the other, because
over the trader 1t can exert no influence whatever,
and numerically u Is 100 stall to cope with the
numheress bands vi savage robbers. speaking Of
numbers reminds me that since the pay and clothing
per cent OF the troops at Fort Richardson have
deserted, and the onicers OF that garrison informed
Inc that such Is the dissatisfaction among the men
that 1t Is impossible yet an Old soldier 10 re-enls
But II - not alone the reduced pay which has
caused this disanecton. In addition to attending
TO actual military duty. the soldiers have " buId
their own quarters anu stables ana perform sundry
other tasks calling Tor considerable physical exer-
tlon wiiie they are more poorly fed than the IN
mates ii an alinsL otsc or prison. Indeed, such Is
the pAucy OF food ut the camps on the frontier that
oven the officers suffer almost Us badly the men,
ana one oil them Oli your reporter mat tho last pc.
tatOcs he had cost MIN 81 per bushcl. 1t follows,
Then that II the AMY Is TO be nard worked, poorly
red and meanly clad that deserIions VIII increase
and soon the frontier Will be lett wholly unprO-
tccted nom the hostile incurslons OF the Indians.
II any one doubts that large and well appointed
force Is needed on the frontier, trip TO JacHsboro
viii dispel H. Tor In numpcrless places along The
rOads Of Parker and Jack counties arc to bc seen
graves 10y the score vi the victims OF the corrupt
policy oil tile indian Bureau.
west OF Jacksboro. thriving Village called Shelton
xille, WIN population Oh nearly 2oo:
remains but the e-Uale cabiDs and pies VI rails
which mark the graves vi the people who once lived
there. But snelonvllie Is not the only place that
the Indians have stamped out; others might be
cited, and 10 show the general tendency Vi the
'pcacc Al any price policy, 1t IS only necessary TO
state that al the irontIer being deserted
ly tile whites. Jack county alone having. according
70 the census nearly one thousand less inhabitants
than In 1860.
Tnat the uERALDs readers NAV learn how bitterly
the frontier people hate the inuan, and how deer
mined they arc II POSSIBLE, TO punish Satanta and
LOOK place between your reporter and Mr.. J. 5.
Walker. the government nay contractor at Fort
Richardson, who vas fellow passenger from Jacks.
boro 10 WacO:-
REroRrER-Mr Walker, what Is your opinion OF
tho action OF the Governor IN committing the sen-
tencc OF those indians
Mr.. WALgRR--My opinion Is that the Governor
has made great mistake In not allowing the law TO
take It's course, and stUl greater one he THINKS
either OF The chiefs Will ever reach the Penitentiary
RgroRreR-wny do you think they VIII never
reach the renc .uaryY
Mr. WALKER Because the people are sworn not
to let them 70 there.
RKPogrgR-tlow can the people prevent their
QOingy They won't interfere with the authorities.
Mr.. WALKBK-Easily enough II they are started
under civil escort tile people VIII overp0wer 1t and
XIII the prisoners; II under military they Will BUSH
wnack them ans how IL Is their liked purpose TO take
the lives of those chefs.
RRpuRrgR-Mr. walker, do you know OF or believe
there ~ any organization among the Citizens 10
carry out tl2t purpOsef
Mr. WALkkR-l Know Of no organization that has
declared itself TO thai emu; but do Know ol party
OF twenty live men who started yesterday, As they
Baid to hunt Uut rs every one else knew To waylay
IL. tl4nxs l....l .An nT "a