The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-20
A SHAMEFUL STORY.
INDIAN INDECENCY AND INDIGNA-
TION


TON.
SHOCKING IMMORTALITY AT THE wINNEBAGo
AGENcY-cHILDREN REARED TO PRosTIrU-
ZION WITH THEIR PARENTS CoNNIvANCE-
OFFClAL VERSION OF THE DIFFICULTY
THE SCHOOL TURNED INTO A BAGNIo.
Is there to be no end to Indian troubles I?
IL would seem that there is not by the re-
ports received from the reservation Here
is the latest development from the Winnie
bagos, as 1t appears in Sioux City special
TO the Chicago Times: The troubles of tt
Winnebsgo Indian agency, alluded to in a
dispatch to the Times of the 18th inst, are
assuming rather serious phase as learned
from the agent of the reservation, TAYLOR
Bradley, who was In the city last night, and
gave your reporter a statement of the situa-
ton. Under instructions from Superinten.
dent Barclay White. of Omaha, who has
general supervision of the seven agencies
controlled by the Society of Friends, a re-
iormstory school was established at the
Winnebago agency in October last. The
aim has been to gather into the school the
young OF both sexes, ranging in age from 10
TO Is years, and by isolating them from the
| heatbenlsh homes OF the parents, make an
earnest effort to civilize them by not only
giving them the rudiments of an education,
but as well by instructing the girls in house.
keeping, sewing, cooking, ETC., and the boys
In agriculture and general knowledge of
business. In making up the school great
care was taken in selecting the better class of
children, and here the difficulty, not before
realized TO its full extent, confronted the
agent. Upon inquiring into the record of
the girls, 1t was ascertained that there was
hardly one of Ia years OF age and over but
that
WAS 4 COMMON PROSTITUTE,
and that too with the knowledge and an
proval of the parents. Making the best Sc
lections possible twenty-six boys and
twenty-five girls were gathered into the
school, and every endeavor was made to hu-
mamie their degraded natures. Coming
there dirty, ragged, lousy, and diseased.
they were cleaned, clothed, and carefully
cared for, and the treatment they received
was such that, hardly, without exception,
they profess desire 10 remain ONLY one
difficulty stared the managers of the school
In the face, and that was laxity of morals
on the part of the older girls. The sexes
we're carefully isolated and all commupica-
ton between their respective apartments
barred In manner which seemed to defy &C
cess from one apartment to the other on the
part of pupils. But all the
cunning of their race YVES
brought TO bear to crcumvent the
teachers; locks were picked lattices broken
down, and nearly every night there would
be miDgliDg of the sexes in the sleeping
rooms, which was in the highest degree re-
pulsIve to decency. The teachers could not
help knowing what was going on. and
though they made every effort to check the
evil, they were thwarted on every hand
Finally, one night, when matters were
beiDg carried on with high hand, and after
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 person of
the girls- As has been before charged, this
action is not approved by Mr.. Bradley, who
knew nothing of it until the next day. He
does not btlieve that Mr.. Clark was ac-
tuated by any improper motives in doing
what he did, but that his
HAsTY AND ILL-ADvIsED ACTION
was the work OF a moment when he was la
boring under strong excitement, induced by
the seandalous situation which confronted
him. Mr.. Clark is a man of middle age.
married, and is brother-in-law of Mr..
Bradley, and has always enjoyed a reputs-
ton above reproach. While his course in
this particular instance can not be approved
of in the least, still there is a reason to be-
neve that he meant no harm. Mr.. Bradley
says that the degradation which exists
among the Winnebagos is notwithstanding,
and that female virtue is something almost
OF the girls By Mr.. Clark is simply made
pretext of by disaftected Indians to
cause trouble, as they have no such
ideas of decency as would lead them to nat
urally revolt at the examination they were
objected to. One cause of trouble ct the
agency Is the enforcement of a recent order
which cuts of the annuity of such Indians
as will not work, and this class, indignant
at being deprived Of their accustomed gratu-
tiles, is full of wrath, and ready to SEIZE the
hrst opportunity TO create a 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 are in the school, until proper
authorities decide what action shall be taken
In the premises. In the meantime the In-
diaus have been working themselves into a
state of excitement, and named yesterday
as the day when they would make an at
tack upon the school and take the girls out by
'orce, II they should not be peaceably given
up. Mr. Bradley's visit to the city, Sunday
night, was for the purpose of telegrsphing
for
SMALL FORCE OF MILITARY
to be sent to the agent to preserve order.
He returned home early this morning with
the understanding that portion of the
cavalry company now in camp at Yankton
would be sent to his assistance. The whites
at the agency are few in number, and In
this crisis the agent deems it important that
his authority be maintained at all hazards,
tor should the reds get advantage now,
there is no telling what the result might be.
Lieut.. Gibson, with 16 men OF company II.
8th cavalry, in response to orders from st. |
Paul, came down by the Dakota Southern |
road this afternoon and started at once for |
the agency, miles distant.
THE CpEAHEpcIrrp