The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-07-20
be buried there. He has just died, an
his wish has been complied with.
THE SIOUX.
Outlines of Their History.


hardly 100 miles into the interior, the
French who settled on the St. Lawrence,
in Canada, had pushed their explorations
to the western extremity of Lake Sure-
rior. Here they wintered among the
Sioux, who then inhabited the present
State of Minnesota and the present Ter
ritory of Dakota. at that time they
were said to number 10000, and were
the terror of the surrounding tribes.
Their system of morals was of the IRON
clad type, the amputation of the nose be-
ing the penalty for such offenses among
their women as our present state of CIV
iliZation sometimes forgives, and does
not punish with a more severe penalty
than social ostracism In persistent cases.
Such were the Sioux in the hey-day of
their glory-their virtues and their
ferocity cropping out in tangent eccen-
tricities crude and earnest. Father Mar
quette and others preached the gospel
to them at the Mission OF st. Esprit
(nesr the present site of La Pointe) as
early as 1865, and consoleo himself for
the slender product of his teachings that
he had instilled into their minds Sc q
little Christianity" Hennepin was
captive among them IN 1880, but when
Duluth visited them the next year he
was released, and both returned to Can
ada In a canoe which the Sioux presented
them. They never made war upon the
French, but received them with hCspi-
tality, and even with kindness, during
the 100 years intercourse with them
which terminated by the result of the
French and Indian War, when Canada
I. l. IL o1 To
the English in 1850. During these years
of French rule, the Iroquois, or Six
Nations, who inhabited the present State
of New York, firm in their friendship to
the English, and intense in their hostility
to the French, extended their conquesGs
over the Canadian tribes, and also over
those along the Ohio river and upper
lakes; all these being the allies of the
French. But when they struck the war
path of the Sioux, they recoiled under
the discontinue of defeat.
After the English had obtained formal
possession of the country, it was many
years before their settlements were suffi-
GENTLY extended to come in contact with
these lords of the interior. Lewis and
Clark went among them in 1906, and
found their lodges scattered along the
banks of the upper Mississippi, Mis-
souri,, st. Peter, and Cheyenne rivers.
English and American traders had al
ready visited them, and had ever been
treated with ciyility. In 1903 the Sioux
Nation granted to the United States
nine miles square at the mouth of the ST.
Croix river, and double the area at the
Falls of St. Anthony, with permission to
erect forts thereon, for which $4,000 was
paid them by Capt. Pike. This was
done to give the United States an assur-
ance of safety when they sent traders
among them for the laudable purpose OF
establishing commercial and friendly re-
lations with them.
Fort Smelling was erected just below
st. Anthony's Falls in 1920, which was
one of the strongest forts ever built IN
the Indian country. 1t was a secure re-
treat in case of an outbreak, and soon
became nucleus for the settlement OF
st. Paul and Minneapolis. During these
latter years the Sacs and Foxes, Illinois,
Chippewas, Iowas, and other tribes, had
often felt the weight of their vengeance
in times of wal and in times of peace
deputies from them had made frequent
visits to the various countries bordering
on the lakes for the purpose of trading.
In 1926, SO great had become their SUI
premacy among the nations adjacent to
them, that the United States deemed it
expedient to confer with them, in the
form of treaty, for the especial pur-
pose of establishing limits to their hunt
ing grounds, Lewis and Clark acting IN
behalf of the United States. The same
year a formal treaty of peace was made
with them at Council Bluffs, Ninian Ed
wards and others acting on the part OF
the United States.
Since this period their relations with
us have been close and constant. The
causes af aggression on both sides have
multiplied, and have been marked with
vengeance on their part. The name
Sioux has been suggestive OF the flash
of the scalping knife, and yet we have
held constant and intimate relations
with them by means of agents, traders,
and missionaries, with whom they have
generally been friendly. Agricultural
implements, seeds, cattle, and annuitles
have been dispensed to them, and vari-
GUS expedients tried to civilize chem
but the irresistible charm of savage life,
together with the vices of whisky traders, |
have counterbalanced these efforts. The
treaty by which they were removed to
their present abode was made soon after
their depredations at New Ulm, Mimi,
in 1867. It is dated Feb. "a, 1869, and,
after defining the limits of the territory,
provides that no person except those au-
thorized by stipulations in said treaty
shall ever be allowed to enter their res
ervations.
K;Irod NV SohfnSum