National Republican., 1875-06-10
AN AWFUL SCANDAL.
School Girls and School Boys Intsrmingling-
The Chastity Of Indian School Children.

The Chastity Of Indian School Children.
(From the Sioux City Journal.)
The trouble at the Winnebsgo Indian Agency,
alluded to in the Journal Of the 14th inst. and OF
which our contemporary the Times, had a long
and sensational account in its last ISSUE assum-
ing rather serious phrase, as we learn from the
agent Of the Reservation, Taylor Bradley, who
was in the city Sunday evening, and gave our re-
porter a statement of the situation.
Under Instructions from Superintendent Bar
clay White Of Omaha, who has general supervl-
sion the agencies controlled by the Society
Of Friends,
A REFoRMAToRY SCHOOL
was established at the Winnebago Agency IN
October last. The aim has been to gather into
this school the young Of both sexes, ranging in
age from ten to eighteen years, and by isoIatIng
them from the heathenish homes of their parents,
made an earnest effort to cviliEe them by not
only giving them the rudiments of an education,
but well by instructing the girls in housekeep-
ing, sewing, cooking, ETC., and the boys in agri-
culture and a general knowledge of business.
In making up the school great care was taken in
selecting the better class of children; and here a
difficulty not before realized to its full extent
confronted the agent. Upon inquiring into tAe
record of the girls, 1t was ascertained that there
was hardly one Of fourteen years Of age and over
but that was a common prostitute; aud that, too
with the knowledge and approval Of the parents.
Making the best Eelectiens possible, twenty-six
girls and twenty-five boys were gathered into
the school, and every effort made to humanIEe
their degraded natures. Coming there dirty
ragged, lousy and diseased, they were cleaned
clothed and carefully cared for, and the treat
ment they received was such that hardly without
exception they Trofess desire to remain. Only
one real diflcuIty stared the managers Of the
school in the face and that was lsxity of morals
on the part Of the older girls. These sexes were
carefully isolated, and all communication between
their respective apartments barred In q manner
which seemed to defy access from one apartment
to the other on the part of pupils. But all the
cunning Of their race was brought to bear to cir
cumvent the teachers. Locks were picked, lat
ticss broke down, and nearly every night there
would be
MINeLISG OF THE SEXES
in the sleeping roooms, 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 q high
hand, and amer he had dragged two young Indians
from beneath the bed occupied by two girls, Mr.,
CLARK, the superintendent Of the school, did make
an examination Of the persons Of the girls, as has
been charged. This action Is not approved by Mr..
Bradley, who knew nothing Of It until the next
utI, anu Lu0 bIALoLuouL OI Ln0 1tmeS LQAL IL WAS
done by his order 10 not correct. However, he
does not believe that Mr. Clark was actuated by
any improper motive in doing what he did, but
that his hasty and Ill advised action was the work
Of msment when he was lsboring under strong
excitement, induced by the scandslous situation
which confronted him. Mr.. CLARK is 0 man Of
middle age, married, Is Q brother-in-laW OF Mr..
Bradley, and has always enjoyed . reputation
above reproach. While his course in this partic-
,nla Knoko hn - aT
still there Is reason to believe that he meant no
harm. -.. -rE .... r.....
Mr.. Bradley says that :he degradation which
exists among the Winnebsgoes is
HKART-sIcKRNING,
and that female virtue 10 something almost
wholly unknown. He thinks the treatment Of
the girls by Mr.. CLARK 70 simply made pretext
of by disafected Indians TO cause trouble, as they
have no such ideas of decency as would lead them
to naturally revolt at the examination they were
subjected to.
One cause Of trouble at the agency is the en-
forcement Of recent order which cuts of the an
nuity Of such Indians as Will not work, and this
class, Indignant Of being deprived of their accus-
toned gratuities, is full Of wrath, and ready to
seize the first opportunity create disturbance
For himself, Mr.. Bradley says he courts the
fullest investigation, and proposes to keep Mr
CLARK in his place and keep the girls where they
cides what action shall be taken In the premises.
In the meantime, the Indians have been work.
ing themselves into q state of great excitement,
and named yesterday as q time when they would
make an --.H.'
ATTACK UPON THE SCHOOL
and take the girls out by force, If they should not
be peaceably given up.
Mr.. Bradley's visit to the city Sunday evening
was for the purpose Of telegraphing for q small
force Of military to be sent to tbs agency to pre-
serve order. He returned home the same night,
with the understanding that portion of the cav
airy company now in camp at Yankton would be
sent to his assistance. The whites at the agency
are few in numbers and in this crisis the agent
deems It important that his authority be msin-
tanned at all hazards for should the reds get the
advantage now there is no telling what the re-
suit might be. Lieutenant Gibson, with sixteen
men of Company II, Seventh cavalry, in response
to orders from st. Paul, came down by the Da-
kots Southern yesterday, and proceeded in the
afternoon for the agency.