The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-10-07
there we're close councils Of the young men IS well as Of
PEARS on rHE COMMISSIONERS.


the old
YEARS or rHE COMMISSIONERS.
The commission Tuesday morning started at
seasonabe hour with the escort Of 100 cavalrymen for
the council tree Every soldier carried his carbine
loaded There undoubted apprehension in an minds
OF uncertain danger. Its Importance exact phase
unknown The council ground reached long
before there any Indians there except the soldiers
Of Sitting Bu-hfty in number-who we're on guard to
the chairs benches and tables left in the tepee
The blazed hoty and there was breeze to cool
the air Indians grouped the knobs and single
horsemen were observed at a distance galloping
through hoows, appearing and disappearing Patience
is virtue with which the commission have shown an
intimate acquaintance, much to their credit as the
savages superlatve in vexatious delays They sat
under the canopy and talked and finally ate lunch in
the tent before single Indian came to shake hands
with them. The ground covered by a fine dust
which the slightest movement caused TO rise in pene-
trating clouds The question discussed was the ADAM
donment Of the negotiation unless the indians came
forward gave them decisive response to their
late proposition Much Encouragement was expressed
by certain Commissioners
At noon No Flesh and few Brules arrived, and soon
after Spotted Tail with all his subchefs and war
riors They dismounted from their horses at little
distance and sat down to smoke and converse From
the eastern horizon OF them in close rank Amer
the Brul6s the Yancktonais and Uncapapas appeared
Most OF them were unarmed They dismounted
near the bank OF the river, where they
secured their ponies and then advanced toward the
canopy led by their prophecies and real chieainess,
Mrs Galpin a civilized and educated Indian lady, cele-
braed along Missouri River as the widow Of Gapn,
formerly a trader Standing Rock and companion OF
Father de smet in his dangerous visit to the camps OF
the wild and cruel tribes then living in the north The
Flat Heads were the principal OF these and at length be-
came tractabe Christians and good Roman Catholics
INDIANS cHIEFrASEss.
Mrs Galpin few years ago possessed wonderful
influence over all the Dakotas the Missouri, and
they evidently guided by her at present She is Of
matronly appearance and modest and timid in manner
Her features are OF the Roman type and very refined
and benevolent in expression Her complexion is of q
rich olive tint her eyes darkly brown and her long and
luxurant black hair is slightly tinged with gray She
present mourning attire and there is nothing
in her dress countenance indicating the Indian She
commands the utmost respect among both whites and
Indians and her example and benevolent efforts IN the
cause Of the advancement Of her of great and
undoubted public service
When these Indians drawn up on the east side
OF the council ground, Mrs. Gapn standing at their
front carrying sunshade over her bare head Spotted
came forward toward the Commissioners, who were
grouped the canopy. His tread was stately and
his mien noble. He stood before them fine type Of
BARBARIAN MANHOOD.
They had never seen him before in his costume Of
state which he now wore. 1t consisted of leggngs,
striped with red and gold and jacket richly embro-
dered with beads, in which yellow, green and white
were tremendously blended; and over all was a finely
blanket, particolorcd in red green and white.
In his hair which dressed in true Indian STYLE he
brilliantly tinted eagle feathers 1t could be
seen that whe the heart OF the great chief firm
n rock and untouched by fear, he felt grave
seriousness of the issue Of that days gather
ing There was pacness and set expression In his
face he approached; but it Immediately vanished
when he gaspcd the hands ohe white chiefs greeted
them with and brave smile. Spotted Tail knew
that moment that he might be standing in the midst Of
life that soon would be transformed into death; that
the menace Of Little Big Man not made idly. BY
the time that Spotted Tail bad exchanged greetings
with the whites present the Indians from the Stand
ing Rock Agency had moved up closer to the Commls
sioncrs and motonless on their horses with guns
supported with the right thigh and hand
COLUMN
Looking across the plain to the west long ranks OF
Indians seen, just crossing the verge OF the
horizon and riding down the long slope toward the
council II seemed there would be cessation
Of the successive emerging OF line after line of armed
warriors to view So well did they preserve the order
which they have learned to initiate from the white
soldery that 1t looked If brigade or cavalry APP
preaching The air was filed with their choruses
Their gutteral voices, richly blending sounded very
melodously As these dense ranks advanced it was
seen that each man bore a rife, polished
TO shining cleanliness, and attred so
loosely that all Of his clothing could be cast
OF in They rode their ponies with nothing
their backs but blankets Each soldier band formed
separate line Of battle, and thus they closed into the
circle the west and SOUTH Young Man Afraid His
Horses the head Of the ogalaas and the Cheyennes
under Little WOLF massng in their to the number
of2O0
THREATENED ATTACK.
The armed array OF nearly all the Indians made
unpleasant impression on the Commissioners Tho
chiefs and braves from the Standing Rock Agency,
known TO be very friendly disposition and
pletey under control were asked why they remained
mounted in council. Their reply was:-,
''We afraid there will be trouble in this council,
and II there want to have our horses near US.
We would like TO remain mounted"
The Commissioners after moments consultation,
sent reply by interpreter that II they desired IT,
they could stay on their horses Many OF the Uncapa-
pas Yancktonais, BruGs and 0gaalas dismounted and
the earth the inner side Of the circla Young
Nan Afraid His Horses thus among his warriors,
his father being on his right hand.
silence reigned and the immense assemblage
seemed almost nanmae Directly in front OF the Com
ssioners outside the circle Little Big Man. in perfect
nudity and painted appropriately, sat upon a splendid
gray charger, probably once taken from awhile man,
with his scalp Around him were few OF his young
men, in scanty attire.
LITTLE MAN
Is o. small stature but finely formed the well rounded
muscles bulgng from his limbs and indicating great
strength In his dark skin he looked like a bronze
statue 81 some ancient gladiator. His hair s long and
sable his head small and round and hs features very
regular for those Of an Indian. HIS eyes CLEAN very
wickcdly below low brow, and az times to have
look u madness and demoniac cruelty on tho left
two other savsgcs we're observed 70 b. naked one OF