The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-09

my VslI tne distinguished cnieI maIe PRIV
found sautation. II should be said that he has
been faithful In his friendship for the whites, and
be has saved many lives ana his much influence
in controlling his warriors. He is a large, be-
nevoent looking man, well advanced in years;
but still q powerful and active chief He ire
quently rides down 50 the agency, with some OF
his family, in spring wagon. he Is the good
patriarch Of his troa. and ne mas kind word ior
all his friends With gentle admonition to boy
WHO was noisy he passed the pipe and spoke as
follows:-
Two BEARS STATEMENT.
Since we have had fathers TO provide for US
twenty years have passed away. nave known
the fathers from the beginning. During the nrst
| ten years we had enough. Since then we have not
| lived well. Tue Great Spirit created Us and
placed on this ground ana 1t Is ours. am walt
ms to hear good words from the Great Father in
Washington. | am medItatlng IN which way my
children can grow up and become good men.
Alas for the bad deeds done in my country. am
not responsible for them. have been near the
whites for a long time and have tried 10 do as
they SAID. There are foolish Indians about me
and they create disturbances sometimes. have
been mere two years and have been treated badly
by the white laces. We nad father (agent last
winter. out he did nothing tor u.s. We nave
listened and ceased our rovlngs. We still ltnger
and do nothing but wait for the white man to keep
said we should eat Tor seven days. 1t satisfied our
hunger only Tor two and for ave days we starved
l have twenty-three children ana four wives to
feed We suffered last winter and have not re-
covered YET We ate our ponies and dogs-l57
ponies and nearly 1000 dogs. we Killed what
antelope and prairie chickens We could, but
had little ammunition; otherwise we could have
Killed more
When went to the Peace Council at Fort Lin
la / w
were stil hungry. The agents always leave US
with plenty OF money. They cheated us aud
their interpreter works With them. Last winter
we got three tin cups (pnt cups) OF sugar two
little pans OF -four, two pounus OF pork and only
enough coaee for three boilings. but plenty OF
tobacco. or soda We only had half enough.
Tney gave US plenty OF soap and quart OF beans.
The rations were issued once week. There was
no pork for forty-1ve days and no beef Tor two
months. We had great patience and strength
when we were so hungry, or we could not nave
borne 1t. The general leeilng was that we would
have TO ny from the agency or die. told my
people to walt. "Our Great Father is alive" l
said, sand he Will hear US and send some one
who viii treat us justly" They answered well
ana wailed. Once, when food came on the boat
at sundown, and the agent would not serve US
until the next day. we elt like wild beasts ana
1t Is beyond our knowledge how we restrained
ourselves from taxing the provisions by force
The lather who left US agent Paimsr) was
a bad man. His soul was bent to drink
Ing whiskey and making trouble. lie
paid no heed to our sufrerngs ana, In reply to our
prayers he said he would use his own judgment
In handling US.
When asked the chief If he knew for certain that
one OF the agents stole their goods a SIN lie OF
casm Kindled on his face, and he 81 cannot
write with my fingers and speak no English, but
have eyes aud brains, and know that he kept back
what was ours. am sure that he worked with
the traders They walked together ana thought
| together. The traders take dollars worth OF
our skins and give half dollars worth Of
goods which cost them only half OF what they sell
to us Tor. We gave them beef hide and they gave
US hanas breadth oil scarlet cloth (felt nanneD.
We take our buffalo rooas to the store and get
goods which 81 or So will buy For an elk skin
taeygave US 81 SO or 81 worth OF goods. Deerskins
brought fifty cents and 81 in goods For beaver
they paid US 81 and for otter So In goods They
tried to stop Mrs. Gapin from selling to u.s.
but we would not stand that John Dillon
former trader, and Captain Harmon treated us
well, but the government sent them away. 1t is
hard TO choose between the agent last winter and
the one here now. The old one tried TO starve US
and the came with fair promises, but mis-
deeds do not prove them. lie (Coonel Bury
never visited us in our lodges, and he knows
nothing about US, nor how we suffer. The former
agent came and counted US, but ne did little TO
help us.
Invent to see the Great Father with thirteen
chiefs, and In all OF the long journey one IN
suited US nor scoffed at us. We were treated well
everywhere. But here the white men are not the
| same.
ranch was started across the river last win
ter and whiskey sold TO the Indians. The traders
here don't sell IT, but they drink 1t. They abuse
| uan nd ra1k IN WAR
something was stolen at the store by white man
ana 1t was laid TO our people. Then the traders
raised their prices and gave us less Tor furs. They
said they would do this until they had made up
the loss. Long Soldier once went into the white
mems end OF the store herc the distinguished chief
ordered his children to make less nose) where the
Indians had frequently gone before, but he was
ordered out. He fa,d nothing and obeyed. Then
he entered the Indians side OF the room aud told
tie trader that when he came with iurs he was
glad to see him In any part OF the building The
trader replied that all Indians were liars, and that
he did not care whether they Drought any furs or
not Long Soldier has always been good friend
to the whites and he has often done them service.
| try to do as the Great Father wishes. Ny SOL
ders and the men under me listen TO my voice
when speak. The people oil the white nation
| send ne good words, and VIII give them 10 my
people. But we don't get the money and food that
| is sent u.s. pray to my friends among the whites
that they will take pity on US aud fOrbear, and re-
member that cold and long winter VIII come
soon. We have little food and few blankets. We
hope the Great Father VIII let US buy powder 80
that we can Kill game If the agent will not provide
for u.s. Ho should at least sell TO the friendly In
dams who starve.
These soldier chiefs (the military are speaking
good words for Ia, and we hope That they will see
that we have powder or justice. We are not here
to quarrel with our nelghpors, but we must peak
OF the wrongs which have been done us. We
speak only for ourselves, AMI are not responsible
| Tor the hostile Indians.
In answer to how he would like TO be fed by the
military he SAID, can't speak for all, but IT would
please me to have the soldiers provide Tor US, and
have no doubt my people would Ike iE. have