The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-05-26
The sioux Indians.

The Sioux Indions now in the
city called at the White House to-
dav TO have an interview with Pres
ident Grant, styled by them their
Great Father" The President re-
ceived them at h~alf-past u O'Clock.
They were accompanied by Assistant
Secretary of the Interior Cowen, and
Mr.. Smith, Commissioner of Indian
Affairs As they filed into the Pres
ident's private Office, he received
each chief with q cordial shake Of the
hand. They were dressed after the
manner described in yesterdays Star,
the costumes being mainly red paint,
red leggings ornamented with beads,
and blankets. Many eff them added
to this q profusion of feathers. Four
or five Of them arranged these feath-
ers so that they reached almost from
head to heel, and the accumulation
at the back of their craniums made it
look like a scoop-net.
\ THIRD TERM INDIAN.
The coach which drew the braves
was from the fremont House. The
only ornsmentation of the vehicle,
other than its ~variegated contents,
was a ~profusion of flags, miniature
ones at that, stuck here and there
along the sides of the top. 1t may
be added that these flags each had,
in bold black letters, the names of
Grant and Wilson" There is moth
ing remarkable in this'fact, other than
that these flags afforded the founda-
ton for the following incident; When
the Medicine Man piled out of the
omnibus be was impressed with the
flags, and wanted one. He was first
given one quite plain and without the
lettering. Ae wouldn't have it. He
indicated by signs and grunts just
which u be wanted, and the one be
wanted was a Grant and Wilson flag.
1t was given to him, and, with the
pride Of an American citizen either
for the flag or for "G. and W." he
placed it at the opening apex of his
Furnished tomahawk, and carrying
the emblem, both of nationality and
the recent Presidential race, marched
into the presence of his Great Father.
The Great Father laughingly gave
him q hearty shake"
THE PRESIDENTS TALK.
After the Indians had got into
position in the Presidents room,
President Grant said to them, through
an interpreter, that he was glad that
they had arrived safely in Washing
ton, but that be could not talk to
them to-day on the object of their
visit; that he desired them to talk
freely with the Secretary of the Inte-
rior and the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs, and that if any disagree
ments arose be would endeavOr to
right them. lie desired them to ac-
cept the statements of these officers
regardless of any statements made to
them by others.
This hit was evidently intended
for an individual who was quite Off
cious during the interview. Up
stepped Lone Horn, as straight as
an arrow and bold as a mother-in-
law, to deliver his little speec b.
While he spoke be g~esticulated with
his long bony forefnger. He said as
interpreted; II am glad to see the
Great Father; these people (indica-
ting bis red c~olleagues) are my peo-
pie and relatives; this is a great coun-
try; it is not mine to-day, but it once
was" He then went on to say that
he did own same of this great coun-
try, but white people wanted to take
it away from him. My great grand
father, my father and myself, were
chiefs. | am a chief. l never claim
ed | owned all the country before to-
day, but now / claim it. l own it
alone. These men are soldiers and
will fight.
At this juncture the President in
t%errupted the chief by stating that be
did not wish to have discussed the
object of the visit to-day, ~whereupon
be fell back, evidently miffed.
Next came Spotted Tail, a gay
looking Indian. He too had forcible
gestures, which have startled a ner-
vous man, but the President never
blinked. Spotted Tail was glad to
see the Great Father, and wanted to
hav &c a great talk with him soon. He
then grunted and fell back, when Red
Cloud, a wiry Indian with any but a
lovers eye, came up. About all he
said was that if the President did not
appoint q day to see himself and
the other chiefs, be would be very
sorry.
After this they marched out, got
into their coach and drove of.