Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-01-29
A PIUTE PRINCESS.
What an Indian Woman of Quality
Says About the White Man.


Canon Letter to the Virginia City (Nev.)
Chronicle.
| was standing in front of the 0rmsby
House last night conversing with some
of the intelligent members of the llegis-
lature ON the shame which had come up
on the State of Nevada, through the cleo
ton of Mr.. Sharon, when my attention
was called to lady-like parsonage who
passed at the moment. "That woman"
said one of the party, is the Princess of
the Piutes, the famous Sarah Winnie
mucca.' She was dressedin a drab suit,
with striped shawl and black velvet hat,
and walked rapidly away. My interest
was aroused, and it was not long before
| was ushered into her parlor at the St.
Charles Hotel and formerly introduced.
/ had heard that she had special griev-
ance, and wanted to be heard through
the medium of the press.
She is probably a woman Of twenty
two or twenty-three years Of age, and
was educated with her sister, who is now
in Walla-W Walla; at a school in San Jose.
Her general cast of features are unmis-
takably Piute, and she talks in a rapid
and eager manner. Years ago she was
married to lieutenant in the army, who
squandered her money-for she had a
goodly fortune-and then deserted her
in Salt Lake. 1t will be seen that she
has known mans per6dy to its full ex-
tent, anu is in consequence fully capa-
BILE of travelling about as she does, a
lone, lorn woman, on her own RESPONSE
bility. Her hands and feet are well
formed, though it is evident that she has
not journeyed through life without hay
ing had to put out her hands at times to
push aside the thorns.
81 have been told, said |, that you
have statement TO make in reference
to affairs connected with your tribe is
it so?"
81 have indeed" she replied; "and
will tell you as briefly as / can.
She leaned forward in her chair, and
fixed her eyes full upon my face. "You
know that few weeks ago my brother
Natchez was in San Francisco. Hehad
gone there to take a member of the
tribe for treatment for hir eyes, and
during his stay he met General Scho6eld.
The General told him that he intended
to move my fathers people from near
Camp McDermit to Carlin, and he
wished to have talk with him on the
subject. Natchez Immediately sent
word to my father to tell him what was
proposed. He said that General Scho-
field wanted to have talk with him, and
would send him pass to come to see
him. My father is very old man, and
has not been in the white settlements for
fifteen years. He got the news while he
was near stream. Mountain, Oregon, and
at once sent word for me- told him to
come to see me, and he did so. He said
that the. big chief of the soldiers had
talked with him across the big chain,
chats the way my father talks, you
know and wanted him to come TO see
him. Well, | accompanied him to San
Franciso, and we were introduced to
Scho6eld. | do not know why it was,
but SchoGeld received us very coldly.
He wished to know what we wanted, and
my father said that he had come to see
what he (Schofeld) wanted. He then
told my father he was going to move
Camp McDermit, and he wanted his
people to move down to Carlin. Ny
father said he would not 60,
"Why does your father object to this
movement" | asked, not so much for an
answer as to give the speaker time to
take breath.
We'll, I'll tell you why. You know,
and he knows too, that the farther away
from the whites our people keep them
selves, the better it is for them. We
have youngwomen growing up; we have
young men White men care no more
for our women than the dust under their
feet. They insult they abuse them, and
ruin them, and if we are Indians, we
cant stand all this. Our young men
have hearts, and they can love as we'll
as you.
This was said in way which sent
.pang to the conscience.stricken report
er.
'They debauch and make drunkards
Of our young men. Can you wonder
that my father wants to keep them sepa-
rate and apart2 Well, my father said
he would not go, and Schofeld then
asked him if there was anything he
wanted My father said Yes. The
Government had promised his people
blankets and bread They got neither.
A clerk went into another room aud re.
turned with a book, which he showed to
General Schofeld. i see here that the
Government allows your people 81 500
per annum (the amount actually stated
by her. Why that is nearly one dollar
each.
NO" said l, "it is not a dollar nor a
cent apiece, for small as it is we get
none Of it. Why, when ] 60 to the Pyra.
mid Lake Reservation in charge of
Bateman, and stop at the agents there,
he charges me Fifty cents for every meal.
That man keeps restaurant.
what is it, inquired, that YOU
wish; is it that your people may be al
lowed to remain where they are2"
ut is. want to have memorial
presented to Congress by the present
Nevada Legislature protesting against
this threatened movement and it is for
this reason Chat ! an here"