The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-24
The Sentinel. in common with many otheI


papers, has said good deal about the viii
famous policy which has been adopted to-
wards the Indians, and the still more vii
famous manner in which that policy has
been carried out, but nothing published by
the press of the country. has equsled in
startling facts and bitter denunica-
ton the official report of the commanding
officer OF the department of the
Missouri, forwarded to Washington
by General Sheridan in May. The
bases of the report which is made by Gen.
John Pope, are the reports OF his subordin-
ates Lieut.. Kyle, OF the 18th infantry, sta
toned at Fort Sill. Lieut.. Col. Neill, of the
9th cavslsry, stationed at Fort Riley, and
Lieut.. r. n. Pratt, stationed at Fort
Leavenworth. Lieut.. Kyle, detail
| ing the condition of things at
the Wachita agency, says, under date
of April 9th that, nearly two thousand
Pawnees, who were temporarily at that
place. were in a starving condition. One
poor sauaw was so weak that she dropped
| by the roadside, and the Indians were con-
tent to pick up out of the sand and eat
corn that had been left there by the horses.
The Indians at that reservation had
had nothing issued to them since
January, and had worked hard and
faithfully during the spring with
scarcely good square meal a day." In the
meantime the contractors were taking their
time about delivering the -four which should
have been furnished. If the Indians took
to the prairie Lieut.. Kyle intimates
very pointedly that they would not be to
blame, considering the treatment they
have received. White men, he says, would
have given up in disgust long
ago. Lieut.. Col. Neill, who was in command
at the Cheyenne agency up to the 10Th OF
last April, says, under date of May Z, that
the friendly Arapahoes and Cheyennes at
that place shave been poorly and irregulariy
{ fed. with insufficient rstions of a
very inferior character, and espe-
scially the beef, which was simply
Outrageous, and cost the Indian
department only sl64 per 100 pounds"
The ration issued is too small to prevent
hunger. and vet, such as it is, it comes only
at uncertain intervals. He adds that the
causes of failure to supply the agency have
been exposed to the interior department and
remedies suggested, but to no purpose, and
after giving instances in which blankets
promised had not come until
the winter was over, he concludes:
"This CRYING shame should no longer be
allowed to continue, and 1 trust and nope
for the honor of our country that this Ill
treatment of the Indians may be stopped"
| n of
I'D the history Of affairs at the Kiows, Com
manche and Wichita agencies in this fashion:
Aside from the beef rations not one-haI OF
the meager allowance fixed by the table OF
Indian supplies have been issued, and repeat
in substance what stated in my form er le .
that the beef has been of a character so bad mat
during the winter months 1t was geneIaiIy en-
tirely unfit for issue. never saw poorer
two AGENCIES this winter. The quality
the sugar and coffee issued to these Indians
Is simply wrefened io ana the n sSveTnment pays
the price of good quality In loll.aan INN M
quantity Of what was reppreeMH NJ ~ Tatum. ther
agent. / talked with Mr.. Tatum about II at the
time. and learned that he had tried, ana louno
that bread ut to eat could not be made rom IL,
Il and on that account would not receive II nom
the contractor, nor at ALL except unaet orueis
from his chief, and not then without protest.
The Indians threw the stuff away and kept
the sacks. Lieut.. Pratt concludes with the
declaration: ST believe thorough and hon.
est investigation by parties familiar with
frontier work will show a state of things
, lar worse than have represented" Gen.
eral Pope, proceeding on the informa-
ton of these officers, makes an
indignant appeal for some sor'
OF reform. The excuses OF the
interior department in regard 10 the bad
, condition of the roads, he disposes OF III
few brief and pithy sentences, and he can
not disbelieve the testimony OF his own
officers in regard to the quality of the ra-
, tons dealt out. His scathing rebuke OF De-
, lsno's department is worth quoting in full
send forward these reports, having no dout
whatever of their truth, in order that the au-
thorities in Washington may know the facts and
take Immediate measures to protect the honor
and good faith OF the government and save
: these unfortunate Indians from wrong anu