The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-10-01
The Indians.
The Grand COuncil-A Big Talk
Preposterous Demands of the
ChiefS-Treachery Feared.


RED CLOUD AGENCY. September q,
via FT. LARAMIE, September 2S--The
Threatened outbreak of last Friday on
the part of the Indians passed over
without anybody being hurt. Every
thing is now quiet. The cavalry guard
is stationed inside the stockade. At a
meeting yesterday, in the Commissioners
room, the Indians agreed to subInit
proposition to-day. At the usual hour
to day the Commissioners were on the
eouncil-ground. Videttes and skirm-
ishing line of cavalry, ON foot and
horseback, extended two hundred yards
on either side and in the rear of the
Commissioners tents. The Indians
kept outside these limits. Other pre-
cautionary measures were takenfo pro-
tect the Commissioner from attack or
surprise. At O'Clock three hundred
and twenty head chiefs and soldiers
formed half circle in front and one
hundred feet from the Commissioners.
Before the speaking commenced Red
Cloud, Spotted Tail, Red Dog and
thirty other head chiefs sat down in a
circle midway between the Commission
ers and the circle of chiefs. After
lapse of fifteen minutes Red Cloud and
Red Dog approached the Commission
ers.
The former said he had selected Red
Dog to speak for him and his people.
The latter said the Great Father had
picked out your wise men to make
treaty with the Indians. Yon come
here with troops several days, and this
troubles our people; he said all the
young men, head chiefs, reached the
conclusion that great difficulty was be-
ing experienced in getting proper inter
probation.
Red Cloud said he wanted one of his
own people to write down all that was
said, and thereupon grasped half breed
boy from the crowd of spectators and
seated him at the table.
Red Dog said six generations of In
dians had been fed by the Government:
His people now want guarantees of food
and cloching for seven generations more.
He said the Indians were ready to make
a treaty. He wanted pay for gold al
ready taken out of the Black Hills, and
wanted to sell only such portion of the
Black Hills as gold was discovered in,
and for relinquishing the right therein
wanted light wagon, span of horses,
six work-cattle, a gun and ammunition
for each head of Indian family; also in
sisted that in future the southern bound
ary of the Indian reservation be chang
ed to the middle of the North Platte
River, and that mounds be put up along
the middle of the river; also wanted
back pay for what had been taken out OF
the Black Hills. He again repeated
they would only dispose Of the portion
Of the Black Hills where gold was found;
ne meant they would not dispose of the
Big Horn and Powder River country, as
suggested by the Commissioners; said
he did not want any other road through
the reservation to the Black Hills except
the one the thieves travelled by; he
meant General Clusters trail from Bis.
marck; don't want roads running
through the Black Hills or through the
reservation; said he would speak about
the rights of the half-breeds and sqnaw-
men at another time.
Little Bear, Chief of the Cheyenne
! Agency, made long speech, in which
he said the President had got safe full
of money; the President protects it; SO
they have mountains of gold, and they
protect it to get rich ont OF it; said when
the white men had good thing they
got rich on it; his people wanted to get
rich out Of the Black Hills, and back
pay for money taken out of them by the
whites. The President sent YOU oui
here for what We have; want you to re
port to the President as long as an Indi
an lives we want guarantees to be fed,
clothed, and annuities distributed right
The President does very little for us
now we want to be helped and taken
care of forever; wanted their agent and
interpreter changed and privilege o.
selecting new ones themselves; wanted
Catholic priests as teachers, as they had
all they wanted of other denominations
also insisted that when annuity good
came he wanted to be furnished dupli
cate bill of them, so some of their owl
people could examine. it. When al
these things are done, we will think o
! what you have to say to us.
He then retired Spotted Tail camt
forward and said: yesterday when W,
called on you Commissioners, you wer'
J all drunk, and you tried to throw ;
blanket over my head. To-day ! breathe
the free air Of heaven amongst my OWL
people, and can now talk to you what
did not wish to say yesterday If yol
want our land, we want the boundary
line of Nebraska changed, the reserva
ton enlarged, and we want to know wha
) you say.
Commissioner Allison said on tha
subject he would have to consult th'
President.
t Spotted Tail resumed. He said he
wanted to retain the present agency herr
+ and ON the Missouri River as long al
our race exists. If the people move
again we want to get enough money st
they can live on the interest. He furth
er said they wanted good white mel
with them, wanted Catholic priests t
teach them what white men say reading
plowing, cultivating the soil, and rails
ing stock; opposed the Government pre-
venting white men and half-breeis who
married Indian women from living ir
the country. lie wanted the troops re-
moved from the agencies and put them
! watching the Black Hills.
) He was followed by Spotted Bear, o
Cheyenne Agency, who said it looket
: bad to see troops around their Council
camp while making treaty; said hi