New-York tribune., 1874-12-22

reservations, and hence the Indians would have no
evident right to obstruct the explorations Inc
XVIth section Of the treaty Of 1863 with tho sioux
would make their permission necessary, II st'ic'y
interpreted: but this treaty has become III
part q dead letter. being for instance, not
enforced south of White River, while by Its pro-
visions it extends to Platte River, which Is further
to the southward. Unfortunately the b0nc-icid Jay
north of the White River. Prof. Marsh was ahx,o's
to have q willing assent from the Indians; u hs,h
with them wis no part of His programme. Shortly
after the arrival of the party at the Agency H'a
Cloud himself put N an appearance and was wei
comcd to dinner He ~ still the TALL straight, IN
tcllrctual-looking cliofiain that he wa5 when hc
visited our seaboari ctics temperate in his haoS'
and preserving his native dignity. 1t is certain.
however, thai he has lost no inconsidcrabc part OF
the influence over his tribe, especially amoag the
young warriors tha6 he possessed when he was
their leader in battle. AZ no cannot talk English,
all conversation with him had to take place through
the medium of an interpreter. Tho proposed cX-
petition was only partially discussed at the dinner
table. and Red Clouds sentiments in respect to IL
were judged not to be unfriendly.
ABAD TIME FOR THE BONE HUNTERS.
But there wclc many circumstances making the
time .;;;,u,n;;;,,. Th. alI.ir Of the naGstah was
recent: il occurred before Prof Marsh left Cheyenne.
and Occasioncd there many mis.ivingS aS 10 Ills
nrosoects in fact there was for while alarm as
to the possible fate OF the Agency. The occurrence
was described at the time in q telegram to IIiE
TRIBUNE; it may here be briefly recapitnlated. An
attempt was made to raise flagstaff and hoist the
United States flag at The Rel Cloud Agency, as Is
always done at military posts i'll the West inns
aroused tho aninOsity of Indians encampci In the
vicinity; they cut down the fagstaffand made prep
arations to fro the "fort"-a wooden structure
occupied by the Indian Agent He sent to the post
for aid. Lieut.. Crawford was dispatched with about
thirty men, The rc,olutc bearing of this small force
held tho Indians for while in check, and by
energetic persuasion on tho part of Red Cloud,
Sitting Bull and other chiefs they were induced to
rcn1uish their design. Great credit is due to
Lieut. Crawford for his Courageous attitude on this
occasion, as the odds against him in case of battle
fearful.
The general danger was greatly increased az this
time by the presence in the neighbOrh0od OF an eX-
traorlinary number of Indians, gathered to obtain
their annuites. Their numbers did not probably
fall short of 1900. They were encamped within
radius of ten miles around tho Agency There were
about 1900 of Red Clouds band, the Ogalallas; tho
Cut-OT band under Little Wound, the Arrapahoes
under their chief Friday, of whom there are
romantic stories told which there is not space for
here. Besides these there were about 5000 Northern
Indians, of the wilder tribes Minneconjous Uncpa-
pas. and Sansarcs, who boast that they have never
eaten white mans bread; who fought Gen. Custer
in the Yellowstone expedition. These Indians re-
fused to be registered, having superstition about
being counted. Tho orders from Washington for
badc the issre of annnies to any except those who
were registered. Chrycnnes werc there, snlky be-
cause they had been ordered further south. The
fr, fro, hpir fpht
the battle on Powder River with Lieut.. Bates.
Outlaws, rcncgalcs and bad Indians swcllcd
tho numbers that surrounded the Agency,
and made the ncighborhood unfllet, not to say dam
gerOus An incident will illustrate tho real temper
of the class that claim to be good Indians. Within
gunsh0t of the Agency tcamstcr, whom PrOf.
Marsh had noticed few minutes before buSly
engaged in cooking his supper was lndlscreet
enough to leave his rife few steps away. young
Indian brave pas ed Prof Marsh on horseback and
seeing him well armed. gave him respectful saluta-
ton. Not 30 with the tcamstcr; the weakness OF
lis position was apprChcnded by the brave at
glance. In less time than it takes to tell 1t, the
Indian rode between the teamster and his lie. and
snatcng up the latter made off, pointing pistol
backward in defiance. The despoilcd tcamster ran
IN to the Agency, and was very free in the use OF
"cuss words = bnt it was the general opinion that
he might be considered fortunate in having while
he lost his gun, preserved his hair.
THE FIRST COUNCIL-GOLD AND BONES.
In short tho whole vicinity was alive with In
dans their families, and their ponies; they had
with them their entire possessions, and ther odgcs
diversified the landscape in every direction. 1t was
impossbc to move even o few PAGES without en-
countering Indians Indians everywhere. The Agent
at the post recommended that u guard should bc
selected from these warriors to accompany the eX-
pedition and very soon assembled a council of lead
ing chiefs to discuss the matter. AS soon as they
were brought together, it became evident that thcy
mstrusted the intentions of the bone-huntcrs, as
stated by the Agent. Instead of waiting some mo-
mcnts as they usually do after the object of coun
ell has been stated. White TAIL one of the principal
chiefs sprang at once to his feet and haraugued the
audience rccountng previous grievances and de-
clared that the proposed bone-sceking was merely
ruse to begin digging for gold and invading the
Black Hills region. His speech evidently
conveyed the sentiments of the other
chiefs; they listened intcntly. giving vent to
applause and sympathy with cultural CALCULATIONS
Of "How! HOww But speech from Prof Marsh
through the medium of an interpreter, promising
that their Just complaints should be heard at Wash
ington, stating specifically the objects of the expe-
dtion and holding out the prospect Of pay for In
dian services in bOnehuntiug turned the scale at
once. Consent was obtained for the expedition to
proceed. but coupled with an agreement to take
selected guard of young warriors. The nominal
object of this guard to bo protection against
Northern Indians who were encamped across the
White River; the real intent was to keep watch on
the proceedings of tho bono-hunters. Sitting Bull,
one of the most influential chieftains, was to select
the guard, and himself to go at their head. Prof.
Marsh was to let Sitting Bull know when be was
ready to move forward.
MAP OF TIE REGION OF FOSSIL DISCOVERIES.
IT. q u.Hs