New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-23
THE INDIAN FRAUDS.
RED CLOUD AGENCY INSPECTED AND TESTI-
MONY TAKEN.

RED CLOUD AGENCY lNSPECIED AMI lEoll-
MONY TAKEN.
Quality OF THE SUPPLIES ISSUED THIS YEAR
STARVATION OF THE INDIANS LAST WINTER
METHOD OF WEIGHING CATTIE-1HE AGENTS
CHARACTER.
IrRox A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.
RED CLOUD AGENCY, Aug. 1O.-Early yesterday
morning the weekly distribution Of provisions to the
Indians began at the agency. Whatever lack OF
punctuality they may manifest on other OCCASIONS
the Indians make some effort TO be present on the
day appointed for the apportionment OF their
rations The Arapahoes were the first on the
ground. They were dirty, motley set and soon
made their presence known by their chattering.
With all their dirt, however. they presented
a rather picturesque appearance, their tawdry
bright, and grotesque costumes lending some
animation to the otherwise dead-looking prairie
They assembled IN groups around the warehouse
Of the agency, and as soon as the doors of the
waitingroom were thrown open flocked to the coun-
ter for their supplies. The women were the most
eager and were first at the counter, and soon IN
noisy gosspy clamor filed the building, each re-
cpient of rations bearing ticket indicating the
rations to which he she was entitled, and clerks
within the warehouse supplied the articles needed
After receiving their allotments, they proceeded
ont of doors and, squattng on the ground discussed
the quality Of their provisions and the object OF the
Commissioners who walked among them, inspecting
their supplies Some of the older men, who were
the representatives of families, having re-
ceived allotinents for all under their care with
Quart measures were seen dividing their corn and
coffee and with their knives cutting into long strips
pieces of the bacon which had been furnished. On
this occasion the provisions served were sugar. corn
coffee bacon. and tobacco. l examined the sup
Plies and found the brown sugar fair; the corn was
clear and bright and perfect in form. The coffee
was Rio and although a small berry appeared to be
clean and rs rule was perfectly formed. The bacon
was very fat and certainly looked wholesome.
The tobacco was in pings and very bad The In
,lians sand that they did not like it, No flour was
issued.
INSPECTION OF SUPPLIES.
After the supplies in the hands of the Indians had
been inspected the tour of investigation of the ware
house was made with DR.. Savile the agent as guide
Samples Of the supply Of coffee. taken at random
from the bags piled up in tiers. showed small clean
Rio berry of fair quality. The corn looked good
and wholesome but the tobacco was bad and unfit
for smoking The agent called attention to six bags
Of coffee which he had rejected because they had
become wet and mouldy. In addition he COM
planed that although the contracts for coffee called
for gunny-bags. il was generally sent in burlaps'"
an inferior quality Of bagging which did not wear
40 well. The warehouse had evidently been pre-
pared for inspection but as far as could be ascer-
tanned the goods were / have described them.
Leaving this building the Commissioners proceeded
10 the dwelling Of Agent Saville. where he showed
some of the samples retained from last years supply
The sugar was of an inferior kind, unin-
viting in color. The sample of -four
had been wet, but enough of it re-
NAMED dry TO show that il was of a very low
grade dark in color, and not likely to make good
bread. The coffee largely made up OF
an impcrfectly broken berry, and had cOnsid-
cradle foreign matter mixed with 1t. The
agent was asked for an explanation of the absence
of flour He said that the flour had run out some
two weeks ago. since which time they had not issued
any because none had been received at the agency.
Tho Indians now receive their rations in seven
DAYS instead Of once in ten days. They do not like
the change for variety of reasons. One old warrior
said in reply to the inquiries on the subject
that their ten days ratiOns only lasted
seven The Indians were afraid that If they
took their ratOns once O week they would
only receive enough for four days, and they
therefore did not want their three days OF short
rations TO come any oftener than they could help.
In addition, many of the people lived many miles
from the agency, and it was too great task for
them to come every week.
After the Arapahoes had received their rations a
large number of the Sioux also appeared and re-
ceived their alotmente. The Sioux are much bet
ter appearing tribe than the Arapahoes, and their
bright costumes occasionally embellished with large
red white and blue advertising umbrella certainly
looked very well. After witnessing the diStri-
button of the provisions the Commissioners
again assembled for the purpose of taking
testimony. Several witnesses called, and nearly
all testified to the lack of supplies last Novem
her, the complaint of the Indians about the quantity
and quality of the food furnished to Them the eating
OF the brand u. S. /. d. into the blankets and the
hostility of portion of the Indians to Dr. Saville
whom they called "thief" and "rascal" for
stealing their rations The following is report of
the important testimony taken.