The New York herald., 1872-09-23
the AMERICAN ''REDS. :"
Preparations for the Grand
Council on the Plains.
The Ride to, the Council Grounds and
the, Scenes By the Way.
The, Contempt Of the Indians for
the Commission and the Way
They Are Armed.
a Red Mans Opinion Of Eve and the Be.
witching Effect Of PiOus
White Mans Prayers.
''The Bear Of the Plains and His
Friends Who Will Not Join
in tho Council.
What Will Be the Result of
the Gathering?
THE QUAKER POLICY A FAILURE.
Little Phil Hheridan's Remedy for Indian
0utrages the Only Eficacious One.
1.-THE Bear" Of the Plains and His
Friends Who Will Not Join
in tho Council.
What Will Be the Result of
the Gathering?
THE QUAKER POLICY A FAILURE.
Little Phil sheridan's Remedy for Indian
0utrages the Only Eficacious One.

Outrages the Only Ehicacious One.
The KI0WAS, APACHtS AND C0MANcHES.
COUNCIL GROUNDS KEEPER ssns CREE, 2 sd1aT"}
The Special Commission to the Indians Of the
and the Southern Plains, OF which I
wrote you on the Goth ultimo, remained at Fort
Hill seven days collecting data for report and
preparing for the grand council OF the tribes ad-
vertised far and near by hurrying scouts and In
dian runners, to take place on this historic spot
on the first day Of the young moon. Professor
Parish, the Senior Commissioner, was down with
fever, aud consequently all the labor Of prepara-
ton fell to the lot OF his associate Captain Alvord
1t was originally intended, as informed you, to
have the Council near Fort Cobb but this site was
nnally selected in Difference, l presume, to
the wishes Of some of the chiefs, who
did not like to be too far away from
the source Of good things-the Wichita
Agency. All the reports received from the scouts
and runners sent out among the tribes indicated
shat there would be large attendance. Represen-
tatives from the Kiowas and Qua-ha-pas the tribes
the Commission was most anxious to meet, were at
Sill negotiating for q ransom for the captives in
their possession, and these promised most faith
fully that Lone Wolf, Kicking Bird and the other
distinguished statesmen Of the Staked Plains would
be early at the Council. SO far then the prospects
TOR big powwow, If nothing else were encourag-
Ing. We could have taken our departure from the
fort on Saturday, the a1st Of August, but it
was considered best to await the recovery
Of Professor Parish. We waited until,
the Tuesday morning following, and then,
seeing that there was no immediate prospect of O
favorable change In the condition of the unfortu-
tunate Commissioner, left the fort and struck the
northern trail, lanklng Medicine Bluff. The expe-
nition consisted OF Commissioner Alvord. Buffalo
Captain Interpreter jones', Stillwell, the famous
scout; Mr. Charles H. Wilbur, Of Syracuse, N. Y.
tw0 Texans, on the lookout for stolen horses and
lhe HERALD commissioner, all mounted and
armed Lieutenant Hunt, Of the Tenth cavalry
and twelve troopers, cooks and drivers and two
wagons and an ambulance. The sun was pouring
hown his fercest rays as we moved out on the
prairie and struck the sandy track, miscaed
road, and when we halted at noon to imbbe
draught OF muddy, bracksh water at gu lily we
began to realize the
DELIGHTS OF PRAIRIE TRAVELLING
But we considered ourselves fortunate that the
creeks and gullies were nearly dry, though the
water was abominable; for had 1t rained during
down 1'all Of heap"-the creeks would have been
ampassable for trains, ana, as is frequently the
for weeks. thirty days. vigil on the banks Of q
muddy stream, waiting for the rushing water to
II was agreed before we % started from the fort
that we would camp for the night at Cache Creek,
fifteen miles distant and accordingly we spread
our blankets and c0rralled our horses there,
attending. at the. first sign Of dawn to begin
the second part Of the journey and complete the
The night was clear and cool, but few remained
awake to enjoy its beauties. was never more In:
different to '.the music Of the murmIring brooks"
wolves howled theoretically all night the smell OF
our toasted pork inspiring them to unusual efforts;
chorus, but the coored soldiers on picket were the
only human audience Of the concert. We were up
and about before day snufred out the stars, and
when the sun began 70 show his bright fingers on
the edge OF the grassy horizon we were mounted
gully, and under the shade Of mighty oak lunched
on the best we had. Then over an unbroken
level Of prairie to rolling ground, and bottoms
over insignificant creeks and fresh trails, we gal,
loped or walked our horses as the humor seized u.s.
brackisn, appeared before us. Pausne a few
minutes TO water the animals, we pressed on and
THE WICHITA AGENCY
IN time to partake OF a good dinner, provided by
ilend Richards, the agent There were quite
WitchItas, Deawares and others~al Of course
mounted. II was ration day, and all the en-
ployes Of the agency were busy mnlstering 70 the
wants OF the ever-hungry. indolent but magnificent
the COUNCIL % srounds Six %ss s tef HeFS
very many Of % Them arm armed % with the bes, repeating
carbines. Not q few paused TO look and laugh az
our little escort. Some warriors tapped their
weapons significantly and exchanged grins with
the colored troopers. One party OF humorous
braves stopped Interpreter Jones and recalled to
ms reconection recent incident ofmuch interest
very vigorous efrort on their part 70 possess
themselves OF Jones' scalp. And just here was dis
PEELED one OF mymost cherished CONVICTIONS concern.
Ing the Indian character. The braves laughed loudly
at their own exquisite drollery. Jones noticing
nf "a nj lka fha Ind. -
Cooper's novels.
"fhese iellows,r he said, ''arc very fond Of fun
thing Of the stole in them. I'm give you an in.
stance or two. When ] commenced this business I
was very enthusiastic In the work OF improving
EvANoELrzNo THE INDIAN
] believed then that the wild Indians could be
handled Knife), and tried to interest him In the
story Of the Creation. told him all about the
al the story SAID Se Eve
Comanche squaw she'd got pole and run that
snake make out Of the Eden reservation right away
But hope the attempt was made by others with
discover yourself with what result In 1850 or 1870
TOT OF Peace Commissioners came here and
Erand pow-wow was held with the Kiowas and
Comanches: William E. Dodge insisted on praying
$or them. ne Old 50, holding his hands up above
bis head; ] had 70 interpret the prayer as best
q bit-they worship the sun when they worship at
al. The council was long time in session, and
some Of the young men died OF eating greep corn
and water melons too abundantly. That Skinner
ehe Kiowas and Comsnches wept on the warpath,
killing, burning and robbing right and left. When
khe next council was held there IL always
council, hand-shaking, vows OF peace,
ell the damage they want 10 and the grass Is poor
Tor the ponies) the Indians gave as Q reason why
khey went on the warpath that William =. Dodge
pad blown on their young men-that Is, DC.
Eitched them, SO that they dled, and they, the
Hiowas and Comanches, had TO take revengeD
THE COUNCIL GROUNDS.
Inc place selected for the council was good one
~ some respects. There was plenty Of shade from