Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-21
THE INDIAN COUNCIL TODAY.
An Official Talk with the Crows
what they Ask of their q reat Faith 9 r


partment to-day, between the Secretary of the
Interior, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs
and Mr.. Felix X. BTunOt, chairman OF tn
board of Indian commissioners on the part o.
the government, and Iron Bull, Black Foot
Thin Belly, Old Dog, Long Horse, Bear Wolf.
a. the great North American general AMI
leader of war parties,) Bear in the Water and
Old CrOw-all of them principal chiefs of the
Crow Indians. Several months ago Mr.. Brunot
concluded an agreement with the Crows, bv
which they agreed to Cede TO the government
their present reservation, containing 6,J10, OfO
acres of mineral and farming lands, south aud
west Of The Yellowstone, taking in exchange A
new reservation, containing about 2,25O ,OU0
acTts, south of the Missouri river ana east OF
Fort Benton, in Montana, called judith BASIN
ON the day before the council the agent OF the
Crows (Mr. +. ID. Pease) was removed. TINS
did not meet with the appreciation of the Crows,
with whom Mr.. PeaSe is popular, and they
asked to he allowed TO visit Washington to con
fer with their Great Father, not only in relation
to this matter, but also in reference to certain
promises which they claim were made them nv
Gen. Sherman in 1868. Although the Crows
have kept the peace for many years, several OF
their chiefs have Tor long time had under con-
sideratiOn proposition to consolidate with hos
tile Sioux, and 1T has required the exercise of
much care to prevent them from carrying out
the design. Under the circumstances, there
fore, ii was deemed best by the government TO
have a full understanding with the Crows, The
latter tribe numbers between 800 and 4 400
sSuIs, anu muster ABOUT ,4uO WarrI0rs,
THE "Pow-wow."
The council was fixed for II O'Clock, but was
delayed until p. m on account of the non-ar-
rival of MIR. Brunot. It took place in the room
OF Gen. COwen, assistant Secretary of the In
terror. Secretary DelanO was not present, be-
ing obliged to attend a meeting of the Cabinet
at the White House. The chiefs were gorgeous
in their red paint, feathers, horse hair fringes
and beads, and each one carried a fan or long
brush, resembling a duster,) made of light
brown feathers. All of them wore pOnderGus
brass earrings. one Of them wore a black
cambria turban, and several had their heads
ornamented with feathers. All of them wore
red or blue blankets or buffalo skins
Mr.. BrunOt introduced TO Iron Bull and the
other chiefs, Commissioner Smith and General
Cowen, explaining at the same time their rela -
tive rank as regards their ''GTeat Father" A.
they were introduced the chiefs came forward
ana shook hands, every one calculating Howl
After the Introduction had been cOncl uded
Mr.. Brunei SAID these chiefs are the men he
talked with in reference 10 the cesSiOn OF their
reservation. These Crows are, with one eXcep-
ton, the first which have ever been to Washing
ION. One came hare several wears ago hat
killed himself. The Crows suspected foul play,
and ever since have been
SUSPICIOUS CT WASHINGTON
Commissioner Smith said he was glad TO meet
so large delegation. He was highly gratfied
with the news from the late council, and he was
glad they had come on to zee us and TO say what
they had to say. The Crows differ from many
other Indians he had to deal with "rbere are
very few Indians" said Commissioner Smith
''Of whom it can be said that they have alway,
been friendly to the whites, and we are very
glad that we can say that and to welcome
them.o
Blackfoot commenced his reply by saving
"hOwH' He followed it by remarking: az have
come TO see my Great Father, aud il is pretty
warm in here. Laughter Here he conferred
with Iron Bull and others.
"When | was up to the mission / saw nv
boy there, and he is brave, and killed heap OF
his enemies"
Mr.. BrunOt.-'T like his boy to be brave. but
he must also be good and 20 to school"
Here BlackfOot wanted the interpreter to ask
II they could take q smoke.
THE PIPE OF PEACE.
An affirmative reply was given by General
Cowen, and Iron Bull filled his long calumet.
Mr.. BrunOt then said Blackfoot had piven
him his coat to send to the Great Father and
ne had expressed 1t, but 1t had not yet reached
the Gre at Father.
Here BlackfoOt said the Crows once sent a
great many buffalo robes to the Great Father
and had never heard from them.
No one seemed TO know anything about the
robes, but Mr.. Brunot said they had probably
never reached their destination.
BlackfOot then said when he moved to Muscle
Shell the Sioux killed his horses and mules and
he thought that was not good.
Here Iron Bull lighted his pipe, and after
taking a Whit passed it to his companions on
the left. BlackfOOt then said, al want to have
smoke with you before talk" He had heard
ms Great Father smoked good deal, and so
the smoke would not go in their eyes. Here
Black!oot arose with the pipe and passed IL sue
cessively TO Mr.. BrunOt, COmmi ssiOner Smith,
Gen. Whittlesey, and Gen. Cowen, each Of whom
took pull at it. Blackfcot then sat down and
smoked for few minutes in silence. He then
said they wanted to smoke because they wanted
10 tell the truth. Here he passed the calumet
10 his brother chiefs on the lsft. 1t came back
TO the interpreter and again
SWUNG AROUND THE CIRCLE,
he chiefs meanwhile maintaining a dignifed
silence. After 1t had passed around several
times and the room had become blue with smoke,
Blackfoot arose and shook hands with Mr.. Bru-
not and others, looking each person straight in
the face for few seconds.
BLACKFOoT's GRAFTON.
He then said:-''I have come 10 see my Great
10 see the Great Father have bloody hands but
have not. want to be friendly. We are two
different people; one is W bite ana the other red.
had q talk with the Great Father at Laramie
The Great Father nut his hand Over me and said
he wanted to be friendly with the Crows. The
Great II ther told me If we would do what he
told us, we would have butfaloes for forty
years. If we were peaceable. with the
whites for forty years, then he 1.-THE
Great Father) would give US buffalo for
forty years more. The Great Father said so
four times, and will never forget it, for have
It in my heart. The Great Father said if every
thing don go right let him know and he would
think about 1T. The Great Father told us not
70 steal any horses and we hav'nt
done it, The whites steal horses and put them
in the markets, and they have colts, and the
Grows have said nothing about it. The Sioux
wanted to give us 800 or 400 head of mules to
join them, but we did not take them. All my
people here (potntiRg to the other chiefs) want
TO shake hands friendly with the whites. Bad
whites Killed antelopes and put poison IN them
10 kill wolves. They also killed my horses aud
put poison in them, but l have said nothing
abousit. have given them pants and coats.
IKE my country and my people. On this side
the Yellowstone, in my country, the whites have
taken gold out of our mountains Then
Great Father Brunot came among US, and I
said, Yes" / have sold my country. 1 hayo
said Yes to the sale. All the young warriors
SAID fes." Our new reserve is not large; you
can get on horse and you soon ride around
II; you have given me q country in which
mere is no wood, no water, and no grass; moth
ing but rocks, and my people can't raise any
corn TO eat. Major Pease don't drink any
whisky; drink no whisky. Major Pease treats
US wen, and give us plenty to eat. All the
crows want to keep Major Pease, and that's
why they made treaty with Mr.. Brunot.
AZ the close of our report Blackfoot still had
the moor, and the prospect was that he would
taik Tor several hours, unless he was cut off by
can TOT the previous question, or by some
other parliamentary tactics. The Secretary of
tne interior expected to take part in the coun-
Gil on his return from the Cabinet meeting.
pv~u