The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-15

pockets of orvie Company To say that every person
who encountered this combined representative of John
Wesley and the Indian Commission and who had an OPP
portunity TO hear him express himself voted him as
being
FROM SANE,
n only to express tho actual truth Your correspondent
had an opportunity to become somewhat acquainted
with this character and Is concerning the mental
dition OF the party referred TO- with wide stretch OF
charity 70 say that he is at the least eccentric The
mildest term have heard applied to him was that he
q monomaniac the subject of religion He could
not be termed close follower of Tynda as regards the
prayer test for the that he believes and publicly
declared that there wrongs evils connected
with the Indian Bureau which could not at once and
eectuay be eradicatcd by prayer To prove his faith
In prayer
FOLLOWING INCIDENT
is quoted, and may be relied upon as correct He had
made inquiries concerning the agency at Stemany
Rock, located sixty miles south Of this town.
Upon being Informed Of some misconduct Of the present
agent at that place. including drunkenness the rev.
erend gentleman replied that he would not hearken TO
charges against any AGENT at the time, II it
thought practicable he would 60 down 10 tho agency
and pray Ben Butler would spell it with with the
agent Far be II from me to be numbered among the
scoers religion but the idea of applying the prayer
test TO Indian agent seems to promise about as
good results effort 10 prevent third term by the
use of the Kelly motor From conversation with the
Rev. Matchett formed this opinion Of hm:-He is a
simple minded man, who would not knowingly do a
wrong act; religious enthusiast whose guileessness
use mild term is such that he is unfit 10
evil in Its modified form, let alone the concentrated
cussedness OF member of the Indian Ring What the
Indian Commissioner hoped to accomplish In the way OF
good results by sending this unsophistcated inexper
ncedi cahl inaan old maj IN
at discretion among the haunts banditu Of the Upper
Missouri is beyond the ability Of any fellow TO find out
While here the reverend inspector concluded to visit
Fort Lincoln the opposite side Of the river and while
there to
HOLD DIVINE
for the benefit Of the few Indian scouts employed by tho
military authorities at that post Accordingly having
obtained the necessary permission he assembled the
untutored sons the forest and began his service AS
he could not the Indian tongue and his
gregation could not understand English, It
sary to call in the assistance of the interpreter
'Srel them" said Commissioner Smiths vicar ito
como closer to me and kneel down"
This, boing interpreted to them, was obeyed in 81
lence being considered, no doubt, an experimental
movement in military tactics The remaining portion
of the service proved extremely brief
'Now, then" pointing strapptng big buck of the
Rec tribe task my young brother there with the red
cloth about his loins If he loves Jesus"
To the horror and confusion Of Commissioner Smiths
matchless Matchett the young brother with the red
cloth about his lons replied, in pure unauthorized
Rec,
"Nsnngaou a7uizniga ena,ght teh''-which,
being distilled into English reached the OF the Com
missioners disciple in the following unmistakable
terms:-
''Who in hell Is Jesus Pr
Then and there ended the service which could hardly
be termed divine. No further effort was made to
Chrstanize tho assembled representatives Of tho red
men Full of hope and loud IN his promises of the
great work he was to accomplish thanks to that wise
discernment and foresight the part of 'Edward p
Smith, Commissioner"
MArCuKss PILGRIM
began his progress toward that Mecca OF Indian agents
Fort Peck-and departed in the steamer Key West for
the upper Missouri. He stated he would be absent
year or more; but in this Matchett proposes
and the Indian agent dsposes (no reference to annui
tes) Upon his arrival Fort Peck the Rev. Mr.. Mat
chett called upon the agent and exhibited his creden-
tals in the form of the letter quoted above Whatdd
the agent thereupon proceed do after reading Com
missioner Smiths letter, which to an in
PRODUCTION of Mr. Machett to the 'agents and employees
of the bureau?" Did he welcome the vcegerent Of
Commissioner Smith and extend to the latter offers of
cordial cooperation, might BIO expected? He did
nothing of the kind, but in few short and expressive
sentences he conducted the Rev. Mr.. Matchett from
the doors OF the agency to the steamboat lying but
few yards distant pointed to the gangplank leading TO
the steamerthe latter being about to return to this
pont-and without any unnecessary remarks to tho
narrowness of the way the small number that
ceeds in finding it, plainly told Mr. Matchless Matchett
to transfer from Port Peck the aforesaid all
that was mortal of Commissioner Smiths inspector,
and TO insure despatch in the execution Of this
order the reverend gentleman-innocent Of having
violated any rule or aw-was told by the
agent that If he did not leave the agency
instantly and set foot within its limits again he
would be locked up in one of the agency buildings
Whereupon the reverend gentleman took his departure
on the steamer and came to this place. whore he
awaiting the action and instructions of the Indian
Bureau at Washington, to whom no has reported the
foregoing facts
The foregoing is recital of Mr.. Matchetts treatment
at Fort Peck by the Indian agent at that place,
lated your correspondent by the reverend gentleman
himself What action the Commissioner of Indian AZ
fairs win tako concerning the open and utter disregard
paid his letter of introduction wen of instruc
ons to 'agents and employees of this bureau'
to DO seen.
To show your readers better than any language ofmno
can the absurdty Of sending man like Matchctt
FOOLS ERnAND
to visit Indian agencies, append exact copy, with
out changing the photography composition, OF what
this guiieless old believes to DO treaty The only
Indians he in regard to this treaty FIVE bum
mers coffee boilers at Fort Peck Tho old man
hibs this treaty every he meets evidence
OF tho good work no accomplished under the auspices Of
the Indian Bureau.
Tho following Is exact copy Of this famous treaty
originally drawn up by the Rev. John W. Mat
chett and signed by him, representing Edward Smith,
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs and by One Strike
Alone, representing himself
TREATY
FoRT PECK, July 90 1878
John ". Machctt Indian Delegate to Montana in the
inlres of Peace TO the Sioux Nation and will notify my
Government at once of the young Mons talk that they
will 80 to Sitting Bulls camp for Payment and Frenship
for 70 30 aboute settling our Troubles for all future time
JOHN W. MATCHETT
Indian DELEGATE to
M frnrn