The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-03

have been lost has been Mrs Sperry's person
since the fire. II is strange that the flames we're not
extingushed The houses we're or heavy logs and the
roofs covered with thick layers OF earth The In
dams declare that Sperry and his friends did
attempt to stop tho Gre. Most OF the whites
did no. come out until the flames
under fun Roadway. The wind blew from
the southwest, but tho nre swept both ways,
until the vest south and sides OF the block were
in ashes
was one of confusion and grandeur. A terrific how
was set up by tho Indians They rushed into tho
flames In frantic way, and some were severely burned
They say that they brought out most OF the goods
which we're saved In the diagram It will be seen that
the Mushroom and the soreroom adjoin There was
cookstove in this washroom the skyght, and 10
Is claimed by sperry that tho FIRE caught from the
stoveppe or the ash barrel which stood the stove.
None Of the whites seem to know much about It, as
the flames were well under way when Courtenay met
the cook. | think that the cook knows good deal
about il, after he lon the agency he told several
persons Bismarck that
srERRY BURNED THE BUILDINGS
Now, most OF these around the agencies keep
squaws. Moore the cook not regular squaw
man. but he intimate with them in a quiet way.
Two OF them, Corn Silk and Black Calf were employed
in the kitchen ana Mushroom, which next to the
cooks bedroom, shown in tho map. 1t seems that
after finishing their days work they fingered for their
friend Moore General Custer has an intelligent and
trustworthy interpreter who has been in the country for
many years merchant and trader and is perfectly
familiar with the Indian language He formerly
printer in the Office Of the St. Louis Repub-
Hcdn He and others who have lived at
Fort Bcrthold told me about these squaws
and the statement they had to make. So suddenly in
terviewed them-each separately. Ono I found
lage That / had seen the other neither knew
that coming at ALL They both told the same
story and the most careful examination did not
alter IT, When had gathered my facts l took Thorn to
Mr. Courtenay and asked him what no thought OF
them. He reminded Of his duties In the absence Of
the agent and said that certainly would be proper
for him to take Sides but he admitted that there was
something mysterious about the fire from the begin
ming
THE soUAws STATEMENTS
Corn Silk said that she and the other woman had
been working for the agency i've years. She washed
clothes and dishes and chopped wood After supper on
the night Of the fire. she washed the dishes and at
eleven O'Clock the Mushroom waiting for the
cook to come. The other woman who had been wash
ing all day (he fire. occurred Monday nght was with
her II was late, and sho said she wanted tho cook
como and lock up, so that she could go home Sud-
denly the COOK opened the door and said the house
fire. She rushed out and light in Sperry's
room. kerosene lamp had been burning there
all the evening Now part OF the lamp was
in spcrrys hand 1t had been exploded,
and the flames running up the partition to the
roof Mrs. sperry standing by. Both were little
way from the burning wall 1t was after this that
Courtenay came and met the cook running out with q
little dish of water. According to Mr.. Courtenay he
pretended that he had just arisen from his bed
Black Calf said that she had been washing clothes
during the day The other woman Corn Silk, was with
her They were waiting for the cook. 1t late.
Suddenly he in from the yard and SAID that there
was fire. She out with the other woman and saw
a blaze in Sperry's through the window. Sperry
and his wife were there. The lamp which had been
burning tho table in his hand exploded and the
fire was shooting up toward the roof
DAMAGING STATEMENTS
That lady should be willing witness to such acs
seems Incredible could scarcely believe IL until other
facts were developed. man who knows more about
the inside workings Of the agency than any other per-
son except the agent and other eye witness
to the following acts They show how easily frauds
may be committed even when there is a military in
spector to check goods and compare them with bills OF
ladng Last fall before the annuities were issued and
before Colonel Huston had come inspect them Sperry
sold lot Of the calicoes TO the Indians They were
stored in the granary Spery and his wife brought
squaws at the rate of six yards for dollar.
This continued until Sperry heard that Colonel Huston
was coming to inspect On the following night the agent
and his wife went to Raymond's and got
enough of Raymonds calico to mako up the defaca-
tion which was between twenty and thirty full pieces
They carried the goods their and several
trips This sadly intorleres with Mr.. sperrys declara-
ton at the beginning Of his reform that he adver-
tise Tor his supplies.
AGENCY BUILDINGS
After making map Of the agency buildings as they
existed before the fire. submitted it to the carpenter
Mr. Courlenay and to several Others and revised it
until they pronounced it The fire occurred on
Monday On Friday, four days afterward, the Nelly
Peck put her cargo ashore Mr. and Mrs Spcrry's
trunks already packed and they left once for the
East, Soon after this order issued by the In
dian Department to the effect that If any agent left his
without permission from Washington tho
act would be considered a tender OF his resignation
In few weeks, the 9Th of January Mr spcrry who
had returned again went East but was against ex
pcit instructions from the department he travelled
under name on the hotel registers he APP
pcared S. B. Lyman and think his letters from tho
agency bore that address Instead of dschargng him
as no threatened, brother Smith forgave him and re.
ceived him with open arms.
NEW BuILpNGs
Arrangements quietly made for putting up new
buildings Raymond did not get the contract He had
all the glory that he could manage for the season. Tho
steamboat business and the Indian -four which he was
selling were fully as profitable building contract IL
he had nothing TO do with the would divert
suspicion and furnish the public with additional proof
that there was no partnership between them But
some good friend Of the red man must have this con-
tract To give Sl5 900 speculation to an outside nde
would DO madness. SO it turned over to NJ T. Clark
the Minnesota contractor and partner Of the notorious
Wilder OF st. Paul. warm bosom friend Of the Rev
E. r. Smith. The contract really let for $4,000
but II was enlarged to the neighborhood OF $4,000
The friendship and perfect understanding that exists
between the agents and various members or tho
Ring havo long been subject Of surprise to
the ordinary people Of the world Notwithstanding they