The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-08-24
SITTING BULLS EARLY LIFE.
How He Learned Freneh-His
DreamOf Empire.

st. Paul Pioneer Prees.
An old and well-known resident OF
the province of Manitoba Whose name
is omitted for sufficient reasons) was In
the city on Sunday, and furnishes some
interesting statements iii regard to the
shipment OF arms to the Sioux, and other
events in the northern country. He
confirms the statements of arms being
furnished BY the Northern or Dawson
route, but claims that they were ostepsie
ly designed for the benefit Of the Cana.
dian mounted police. Large quantities
of ammunition have also been forwarded
BY the same route, and the extent OF the
traffic fully sustsins the presumption
that the mounted police are not the only
receivers of these arms and ammunition.
The gentleman further states that num-
Der OF Sioux's are now csmped with the
Chlppewas at Vermilion lake about
seventy miles distant from Duluth. The
object of the visit can only be surmised
but many of the whites are confident that
it means treaty Of alliance, with view
of offensive operations against the I nited
States during next summer The gen.
tleman states that Sitting Bull, the for
midable Indian warrior. whom he
described IS D. Sac or Fox
Indian and not Sioux, attended school
at Fort Garry when quite n young man,
having moved north from the vicinity
of.Frarie-du CHEN. Sitting Bull, accord
ing TO his statements, Is quite well
educated Indian, speaking the French
Ian uage with considerable tiuency. and
at the time of his residence at Fort Garry
was considered one OF the best marksmen
in that section-being good for the buifs
eve in every instance at distance OF one
hundred yards. :, ,,
He was known as Sitting Bull while at
Fort Garry, and our informant is fully
convinced that he is the present King OF
the Big Horn country, whose name has
become household word all over the
United States. He says that he IS not
much over forty years of'age, and he was
in the habit Of meeting him frequently
several years ago, but has not heard
much from him of late. While in Man
itoba his great object in life seemed to be
the establishment OF great Indian com
monwealth, governed exclusively oy
aborigines or half-breeds. In the sum-
mer of 1869 he made proposition TO
LOUIS Refill looking &c the establishment
OF an independent province, either on
British or Canadian soil, stating ut the
same time thst he'could obtain money
from London and through the Hucsoi
Bav company, in support Of such gov.
ernmental enterprise. Hetold Refill thst
he would stand ut his back with 6ooo
Sioux warriors, if he would only enter
into An agreement providing that none
Indians aud half.breed officers should be
chosen to govern his proposed indePend..
province. This proposition was declined
BY Refill on the ground that the church
authorities at Manitoba would refuse any
sanction to the programme, being op
posed TO an independent Princ'palitv In
Northern America. Fort Garry Sitting
Bull claims TO have been born at'old Fort
Wslls Walla. Whether the above ac-
count refers 70 the veritable Bull, or Is a
clear case of s'cock-snd-bull," 1t is proper
to state that the gentleman contributing
the information is regarded as eminenly
veracious and responsible, having for
year. held positions Of important trust,
and is we'll known and highly esteemed
at the settlements extending from Fort
Garryto Thunder Bay, Lake Superior.