New-York tribune., 1875-02-16


Chiefs modes Of punishment &c. After the appropra-
ton had been made, the question very generally
raised whether any such nation as the Teton SIOUX
existed ALL and evidence printed In THE TRIBUNE
and other journals tending to show that no such
nation could be found anywhere IN the region
indicated. These statements were 30 positively
repeated that the Interior Department was unable TO
ignore them, and a special commission. composed OF
Assistant Secretary Of the Interior CeweD, N j. Turt
ney Of Ohio, j. H. Wham, an exIndlan Agent and j. D.
Deano OF the Secretary was appointed to vsit the
Teton Sioux and report upon their numbers condition.
and needs The reportof this Commission was written
by Mr.. Cowen, ana begins with an explanation OF the
name Teton Sioux He says the Indians in question
comprise disconteHted members Of various tribes
which had made treaties with the United States These
unwilling to Hive under those treaties, or 10
live at peace with the white people on any terms The
titles Sautee Sioux and Teton Sioux" he says,
wero formerly applied 10 two great divisions OF the
Sioux natoD the former referring to those living north
Of the Missouri River and the latter to those south OF
that river, but the names no longer nsed'
and the Indians themselves know OF no such name
as "TetOn Sioux" as applied to them. This report
proved therefore, that such nation as tho Teton
Sioux" existed.
As to the existence OF any Indians Of any name ent
tied to the half million dollars appropriated. the best
in the possession of the Government Is con-
taned this report OF Assistant Secretary Cowen
He says that the Commission had great dlineuity ID
communicating with the Indians, and that they saw
very few at Fort Peck the OF them being at that
time hunt in the north. As to their numbers. no
says that various estimates from 1880 lodges up
ward but that 75o lodges is nearer the true number,
even If 1T is not really excess, and that even this
estimate nay or may not include a largo number or
Sioux from the Red Cloud and Spotted Tall Agencies
who for In other appropriations But the
Commission did not see even this number or even one
half of them. On the 18th Of August 1872, after great
Efforts ass lodges Of Indians were collected at Fort
Peck and two days later the number of persons
there was 2SS3. This was the greatest NUMBER
Of Teton Sioux" collected lime of which there IS
any record and there doubt that many OF these
from other agencies where theJ were already pro-
yded for Bat even II OF these indians were 9TH
erwise provided for their number was not suhsent 10
warrant any such appropriation as was made. the
Commissioners held council with the few indians
whom they able TO find on the 2lst of August S72
but very little was accomplished beyond ascertaining
that the Indians willing to receive anything winch
the United States had 10 give them but were not Wiling
to mako any promises. The Commission returned ana
report and at the next session OF Congress
the Secretary OF tho Interior asked for $oOO more for
the TIE TONS which was granted Since that time nothing
has been Of Teton Sioux in the reports of the
Indian Bureau or In the appropriation bills What has
become OF tbeDt
DlsAPPEARANcE OF TIE TRIBE
The attempt TO learn anything about these mythical
"Teton Sioux" from the regular Indian reports Is re-
warded by satisfactory results. In 1879 Gen.
Alfred Suly Superintendent OF the Indians OF
Montana and he made mention OF any Tetons Ia any
OF his reports The next year the regular report from
the MIX River Agency contained no mention OF them
That report did enumerae $500 Santees and 1900 Yank
TONS Yanktonais Cutheads &c After this report was
made Agent Simmons pretended to discover the 12Oo
Teteus and the year. l82 they appear IN the SUI
perfntendents regular report as follows: santee and
Yanktonais Sioux 2625; Teton Sioux 6OOo OF course
TO omitted the Tetons from the reports when haH
n million dollars had been appropriated for them would
have been absurd The next year. lsI9 no report was
received FROM the Indian superintendent but the STATE
ment Of the number of Indians fed at the MIX River
Agency given by the I0dian Office was as follows:
santee and YankteDas Sioux, 2G23; Teton Sioux and
roaming bands 5000 In 1874 nothing found Ia any OF
the reports about the Tetons and they have been
lost tribe ever sRce.
There is q general suspicion that this whole Teton
Sioux proceeding was a gigantic swindle. s1peflhteh
dent Vian and Agent Simmons were not men IN whom
those familiar with Indian affairs ever had any conf
dencc and report of Special Commission was not
OF such character to remove the impression that
the entire Teton nation is and was myth But II there
was any lingering doubt this subject the behavior OF
the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs when asked for in
formation the present number condition. and loca-
ton of these Teton Sioux removes all such doubt In
stead OF giving the Information asked for Commissioners
Smith became somewhat excited and absolutely re-
fused to cay anything the subject There could GER
tDy be no for cOnceang the facts IN regard to
these TeoRs unless there has been something wrong In
the matter.
Now that the Tetons have from the Indian
reports and the appropriation bills, another new
division OF nation OF Sioux has been discovered, ana
Congress is now asked to appropriate SlGSo to feed
Northern Sioux who may be induced to come IN 10
agencies In Dakota, &c. 1t is generally believed by
those most familiar with the subject that at the MIX
River and Dakota Agencies the numbers OF Indians
are knowingly overesmated and that all estimates Tor
rowing Indians" are frauds. 1t is always impossible
10 identify "rovlng Indians" personally OF to know
that they do not belong to some rbe or nation winch
fed and clothed at regular agency as the Special Com
mission of 1872 unable to tell whether the feors
they saw at Fort Peck belonged TO the Red Cloud and
spotted Tail Agencies not. The whole number OF
Sioux OF every Is not believed to be greater than
10000 Commissioner Smith, in his report OF 1873,
estimated them at 4o In mis- last report be dropped
out 5000 Teons who formed part OF these +oO VI the
year before, and then had left $1,000
RIGHTS OF INMATES OF INSANE ASYLUMS
A PETITION TO CONGRESS THAT POsT-OFFIcE BOXES
REPLACED IN EVERY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF SANE PERSONS MAIIGOUsLY IMPRISONED TO
APPEAL To. FRIENDS FOR AID.
IyRox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuSE'J
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-The postal rights OF
inmates Of insane asylums subject which long since
received the careful attention of European govern
ments and which they have established In the most
appropriate and adequate manner. This example has
heep followed to extent in this country In the
states Of Iowa Maine Massachusetts, Connecticut and
New II Happshire Postal communications between the
inmates Of asylums and an outside independent
board we're IN Iowa in April 1872 and In the
other States mentioned at later date. The need OF
legislation this direction cannot be denied in view OF
the fact TOO frequently demonstrated that these numan
tartan institutions are sometimes perverted from their
iIInaa Inudn lnrIlh