The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-22
be norn extena . one Yenowstone along tns Bag

kEPORTEK-Wnat Is The distance rom where tine
river ewes tnes BIZ Horn Mountains on the
nor 10 tue Yellowstone?
Genetal CUSTER Less tnan 1850 miles. But In
gong 10 the Back hlhs 10 the iell0ws one we
would not necessarily follow down the 81! Horn,
out would probably cross y anu strike the Yellow
stone ABOVE It's mouth.
THE HAD LANDS.
RkFoRTER-ManY Eastern people are ignorant OF
what IS neent by he term "Bad Lands"
General CEsTER-llis rather difficult TO give
description u them so that q stranger would nave
cused from the use OF little borrowed profanity
would repeat the words said 10 be uttered o.
General Suy when he first saw them, "IneS
look like the bottom OF he'll with the fires
oat.n Tney are destitute OF vegetation,
coors. Sometimes it Is almost wnite, 50
that the hlls LOOK Ike chalk buns. others are
the clay Is so red that tneY use n IN making the
red paint which plays SUCH an important part IN
their personal decorations.
REPoRrEh-rae reason asked about these Bad
Lands Is because have heard II said mat they are
Ike tne moor OF orlcKyard-vast heids OF Gay,
without vegetation oil any KIND, and tnat IT, Is
here wnere tae college boys go with their profess
e sors 10 search tor the bones or animals.
General CUSTER me impression Il entirely
wrong. rae Baa Lands are the most "tumoied
d the country u be found IN the West
Mt 9' maP On bass As GSor eoVere
you nave an laea Q. the Bad Lands they
Of All Glnds anu colors showing that they were
subjected 70 an intense heat IN the remote ages of
the world. Specimens OF lava are frequently iound
Ia the clay. II Is in these butes knobs that
tine scientists search or fossils.
REPURfER--dOw do the Sad Lands appear from
General CUsrER-?ney cannot be seen from
distance. Uue rdes along the level paIu. There
y q peTceptl0le ascent, out 10 IS so gentle as to
nardl5 De noticed. suddenly The horse rears back
from the edge OF elm. ana tile traveller Is look
ing down nundreds - Icet on barren plain, COW
cred Win these strange ana Unnatural formations.
Toe highest pOlnG, % many OF THESE Dutes 70
nave been once on leve. wlth the sur
roundnS country e ont owing 70 MAJ,
tue grand spectacle ~ revealed under his very
ieet. Generally thsy are 81 Il couIcal shape and
connected WIN elcn other az TIER base. making
i ulticult 70 nnu passageTay oeGween them.
Nery laN persons nave vslled TINS part Of tie
country VINO care 70 give the pubc the oenenE Of
their observations.
RFPoRrER-Mueh mas oeen saia about the
lndiaGs-thelr number aud tner pecu iarlues.
be aole - give some Interesting facts as to the
number 81 tribes ana their rength.
General CUsrER-Ihe Indians IN the region
where a occupied cneny belong 70 the sioux
tripe winch Is the most powerful. IL Is divided
into great many bands, bearing different names.
They are the most numerous aud the most lormid-
able ana narlke. some are located al tho a2en-
RE gp4 aTe on Or s heaI t@e
1000 miles along that river. portion o. the tribe
has never consented 70 nve under the reservation
system. aud they are SHOWN as tue hostles
Iner numher varies according TO the season. In
the summer tney ATE joined by some OF the young.
active Graves known a. the Agency indians, who
remain on the reservitlOns ouring the winter.
while tney lea ana clothed By the government.
IL y nara - give the exact numo r OF indians,
because they u.s. eVerS ptecautlon 10 keep 4 from
Of tns Mlsso ~ RIVER saoulG "a, that tAere are
between 10000 and 75,001 they occupy the terri
tory between the east bank 81 the ellowstone
and the Mlssourl RIVER. Inc number IN the uulted
states Is 100000 Those In tue Northwest are prin-
REpoRTER-Il there Is 4 general war with them.
a. colonel Grant Tanks there viii be II me miners
continue TO crowd INTO the BLACK Hills, how many
war Tors coud take the ned
General LcsTEK-We calculate three lighting
men ID every Indians, which woad make
ABOUT 5000 warriors. WOULD rather t6ht vet
eran Indian inan BOYS or fourteen years because
the latter fearless and without tue caution OF
the Oh braves consequently tney are dangerous
REPORTER rlere are two classes Of people IN
the west Nv Wno sly Tue lndlans are swiL-
VINO assert tnat tney are ieasted Dy the govern.
ment al winter aud enabled 60 n1nt all sum
mer. On the 0tief maud, Pro essor Marsh
brought back specimens OF the worth
oy the gents, and Geusral HaIcn said the other
Gay IN ms otnctal report concerning the condition
q me Indians 70 ta e SoGiawest tnst they had
reservations IA the spring. General Pope also
! lndorsed tnls statement IN strong terms. What
Is your view Oi tine matter, General
HOW rHE INDIANS ARE STARVED.
General CUSTER nave every confidence ia the
Statements 81 General Hatc1 ana General POPE
tnouln nave 10 ersonal mo Wedge ~ the state
Of aua,rs ~ That depar ment Professor Marsh il
disinterested witness aud Que weight should
he Attached 10 what ne says lie complained 10
the President Of the treatment OF the lndlans at
the REQ cloud Agency ny personal Knowiedge
concerns the agencies lurtnef norm. have an
oficer al tue stony Rock Agency who reports
the condition 81 aualFs. for the last two
months the ludlans there have been reduced
- absolute want ana suffering. Ny attention
was called to LOIS Officially. and ~ investigation
fouDd tnag. a,tuou-h DOuntIlui provision nad 0een
made Dr I've government, tue pJlies were
ABOUT exhausted. IL VAS winter. anu the agency
n 100 miles from tue Depot OF supplies with no
means % transportation until the opening Of
spuug navigation. telegt aphed 10 Gent raj
Terry describing the sunerags ana the inability
o. the lalan Department 10 take care o. them;
tnat haa 4 surplus Of provisions, aad recon.
mcnd-d tnat De authorized u turn over enough
keep trem ifom starving unt the Indian
Department coua get supplies. General Terry Up.
proved, the prop0sit MAS transmitted infou.h
the War Department 70 tue secretary OF Lae In
teflOr, and thence 10 the Commissioner or Iudian
Auars; but the provisions were decliued. with tie
Information tnat me department would get them
tnrOugn is own agents. After THIS learned that
the indians we're Aying upon their pom es, and IL
i on ecOrl that some have actually utad OF star
+ yafiUn Imagined taat our pr.visions were re-
fused because the indian Depari ment reared that
theif acceptance would be use az evidence OF It's
iuenicleucy ana a. an a. gument In favor OF trans.
ma tue maHagem NJ Of lac indians to the
War Department where, IN my opinion, Il prop.
RErohTGe-Do you think the indian Department
General cusrsR-l would not ike 10 say SO Of
the Whole department. X Is not lair 10 Judge II
RsPoETER-a hai i the general character Of the
4 LITTLE STORY.
General CUsTER-l can PROBABLY answer best
~ Qu ting inalan culer He asked me 10 see
HI Great Iatner and make statement or inelr
wrongs. said would a. al IA Ms favor pos
sibe. and peTaaps the government would SEND
new agent. NO. said the Cnlei, I'VE don't want
new agent. A4ents come here toor and get
ricn IN leW years. TINS man mas every thing he
wants. II new one comes se viii have TO make
am rlcn also explained, saying that ne Great
Father tried 20 select good men. He rephed
warmly, "lheY may Oe good when they leave
Washing on, out wnen tney get mere they are all
aamA rascals." ! 90 not believe that the indian
derives anything IKE the iul oenent o. the sup
vlles sent Olt w tue government
REPORrEK--N hat u tue outlook lOr tue summer
Genera CUsTER-Any tong uut favorable, Dis.
satisfaction exists at the AGENCIES N consequence
ol the starving system which mas been In force
duriug toe last tWO months The Indians declare
tuaL tney viii nave their reservations, and only
tue most careful mdnag ement Will prevent war on
the frontier. Inc success OF the reservation sys-
TEN depends on the government Keeping lis
promises
kgPORrER-How il il that the British govern
ment aud the Morm0ns have 50 little trouble with
the savagesY
General CUsTER-0ne reason ~ that they DO not
encrOacu on tner territories a. rapidly as We DO.
Iney do not require them 70 be eOnstantly NOV.
~ III