The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-05-27
A Winnebago Indian Scandal.
tSioux City, La, Telegram, May II, to Chicago
Times.1

a Wt0Meb0I0 Indian Scandal.
[Sioux City, La, Telegram, May IA, to Chicago
Tfmes.1
The reds at Winnebago Agency are on
their ears. They charge CLARK, who has
charge Of the school there, with being too
familiar with the female scholars, and
want him removed. The Indian version
of the story is decidedly sensational, and
not very creditable to Clark. But we'll
informed gentleman, now here from the
agency, says the charge is untrue; that
the whole trouble grew out of the fact
that Clark suspected the young bucks of
committing the offense charged against
himself, and attempted to investigate the
matter, when the young Indians turned
the tables on Clark, and say they are
bound to have him got out of the way.
From the same Correspondent May II.
The troubles at the Winnebago Indian
agency. alluded to in q dispatch to the
Times of the 18th inst, are assuming q
rather serious phase, as learned from the
rgent Of the reservation, Taylor Bradley,
who was in the city last night. and gave
your reporter statement of the situa-
ton. Under instructions from Superin-
dent Barclay White, of Omaha, who has
general supervision of the seven agencies
controlled by the Society of Friends, a
Reformatory school was established at
the Winncbago agency in October last.
The aim has been to gather into the
school the young of both sexes, ranging
in age from 10 to Is years, and by isola-
ting them from the heatheniSh homes of
the parents, make an earnest effort to civ
ilize them by not only giving them
the rudiments of an education,
but as we'll by instruct
ing the girls in housekeeping, sewing,
cooking, etc., and the boys in agriculture
and general knowledge of business. In
making up the school great care was
taken in selecting the better class of
children, and here the difficulty, not be-
fore realized to its full extent, confronted
the agent. Upon inquiring into the re-
cord of the girls, it was ascertained that
there was hardly one of IA years of age
and over but was q common prosti-
tute, and that too with the knowledge
and approval of the parents. Making
the best selections possible 20 boys and
Is girls were gathered into the school,
and every endeavor was made to human
ize their degraded natures. Coming there
dirty, ragged, lousy, and diseased. they
were cleaned, clothed, and carefully
cared for, and the treatment they re-
ceived was such that, hardly without ex-
ception, they profess desire to remain.
Only one difficulty stared the managers
nf ~ ~ h. Ga and that
laxity of morals on the part of the older
girls. The sexes were carefully isolated
and Ill communication between their re-
spective apartments barred in a manner
which seemed to defy access from one
apartment to the other on the part of pu.
pills. But all the cunning of their race
was brought to bear to circumvent the
the teachers; locks were picked,
lattices broken down, and nearly
every night there would be a
Of the sexes in the sleeping
rooms, which was in the highest degree
repulsive to decency. The teachers could
not help knowing what was going on. and
though they made every exertion to check
the evil, they were thwarted on every
hand. Finally, one night, when matters
were being carried on with a high hand,
and after he had dragged two young In.
dams from beneath the bed occupied by
two girls, Mr.. Clark, the superintendent
of the school, did make an examination of
the person of tho girls.
AS has been before charged, this action
is net approved by Mr.. Bradley, who
knew nothing of it until next day. he
does not believe that Mr.. Clark was &C.
tuated by any improper motives in doing
what he did, but that his hasty and ill.,
advised action was the work Of moment
when he was laboring under strong ex-
element, induced by the scandalous stu
alton which confronted him. Mr.. Clark
is man Of middle age, married, and is .
brother.in-law of Mr.. Bradley, and has
always enjoyed reputation above
reproach. While his course in this par
ticular instance cannot be approved Of
in the least, still there is reason to be-
lieve that he meant no harm. Mr.. Brad
ley says that the degradation which ex-
lists among the Winnebagos is heart sick
ening, and that female virtue is some
thing almost wholly unknown. He
thinks the treatment Of the girls by Mr..
CLARK is simply made q pretext of BY dis
affected Indians to cause trouble, as they
have no such ideas Of decency as would
lead them to naturally revolt at the ex-
animation they were subjected to.
One cause Of trouble at the agency is
the enforcement of recent order which
cuts of the annuity Of such Indians Is
will not work and this class, indignant at
being deprived of their accustomed gra-
tuities, is full of wrath and ready to seize
the first opportunity to create . disturb
ance. For himself, Mr.. Bradley says, he
courts the fullest Investigation. and pro.
poses to keep Mr.. Clark IN his place. and
keep the girls where they are in the
school, until proper authority decides
what action shall Do taken in the prem
ises. In the meantime the Indians have
been working themselves into . state Of
great excitement and named yesterday
as the day when they would make IN 1t.
tack upon the school and take the girla
out BY force, if they should not Be- peace
ably given up.
Mr.. Bradley's visit to the city Sunday
night Was for the purpose Of telegfaphing