South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1875-05-07

INSTRUMENTATION Of Indian Az
Jairs-An Astonishing Exposure.
wAsHrSeroS. May s.-Fhe following
report wasreceived at. the War Depart
ment to-day:
Headquarters, Fort Sill. I. z, April
10. 1875.-Assistant Adjutant General.
headquarters department Of the Nilsson
ri: Sir: Frequent complaints having
been made by Indians csmpca near this
post, that they are suffering from hun.
ger, have made an Investigation, and
find the complaints we'll founded. The
following is the ration allowed by the
Indian department: Beef, three pounds.
(gross on the hoon one day in fifteen.
three.fourths Of n pound OF bacon ia is-
sued in lieu Of beef; -four or bread, one
half pound to the hundred rations. four
lbs. coffee, 8 lbs. sugar, Id. salt, h.
soap, 10. tobacco.
This ration was established when the
Indian could partly support himself by
hunting. With no other help it is bare
ly enough to prevent hunger. 1t Is not,
however, all issued. There is at the a.
gency no -four. and not even one-third
the authorized amount has been issued
during the present fiscal year. There is
no sugar. and not even two-thirds the
regular issue has been made during the
same time. The beef lately issued has
been shamefully bad. 1t is so poor that
the gross is altogether out Of proportion
TO the net weight. One of my officers
reports the following as coming directly
under his notice within the past few
days: A beef just issued broke down in
being driven less than two miles from
the agency to the Indian village, and the
chief was forced to send some men to
kill it and bring the beef into camp.
The Indian agent. Mr.. Haworth, has
been absent several weeks The acting
agent, Mr.. Howard, acknowledges that
the beef lately issued was unfit for food
but states it was all he had for ISSUE
Under these circumstances [ have di.
rected to A. 5. &. of the post to issue
full ratiops Of -four or bread and sugar
to those prisoners Of war who have been
until now fe1 by the Indian department.
that department. asserting that after this
time they will be able to furnish beef OF
n better quality. 1t is not reasonable TO
suppose that the Indians would remain
here to starve when long days ride
would take them to the buffalo country
and were they once out OF hostilities
would soon be renewed
Including the issues made the militia
~ authorities under the above order We
will be feeding less than one-third of the
Kiowas and Comanches, who are here
restrained from hunting. This new is
sue will. however, be great reliefto all,
as when the provisions are ont in one
lodge the occupants go to another where,
If there is food, it is never refused. The
number 70 whom we were before issu-
ing is two hundred and eighty. in ad-
diton TO this issues are made 10 four
teen prisoners, who are confined in the
guard-house and attached to companies
for rations. Before closing / would
state that the condition Of affairs at the
achita agency ia worse than here
There has been no flour there for q long
time. The agent is absent and the In
dians are killing and eating their horses.
am, sir. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN Il. HATcH,
1t, Col. Fourth u. S. Cavalry, Comd'g p.
Major Gen, Pope indorses the report,
and says that under the circumstances
the military authorities cannot and will