The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-05
Abbot Martins Visit to
Sitting Bull.
WELCOMING oVATIoNs.
Sojourning for Eight Days in the
Indian Village.
THE CUSTER MASSACRE.
Iron Ii. s. Loui. cloo.-Democrs.l

Sounsy Ind has been sojourning In 81 Ions Tor the
hn few days and 10 reporter OF The Globs.Dsm0erdt
sho met him, gave an interesting account ~ot bis
recent travels through tho wllds OF the Northwest
The Abbot may DO stated is one OF the most distin.
ru,shed men OF his order in the United States, and
The eoycrnor Of twenty-five priests, who mako their
nome NJ tho Indiana monastery when not away en-
gagged In Catholic missions under his directions
Though su comparatively young man, being under
orty-two he is noted tor his great learning and for
tho enterprise with which he has, in tho lace OF imm'-
aent DANGER penetrated The unbrokcn wilderness IN his
work oil spreading the gospel among untutored savages
His experience has been mainly with The Sioux and
ether Wild tribes that nhabt tho Northwest, and hc
speaks tho Sioux language with considerable Auency.
when the Custer massacre occurred he at stand
ing Rock Agency. Speaking OF this tragic event
Abbot Martin said its history had never been truth
fully written. He had himself been in Sitting BULBS
camp eight days and heard from his own lips and
those OF many other warriors the horrible story Of
that human slaughter In July he lett Standing Rock
ana travelled in tho direction OF Fort Peck, with
view Of 6pding Siltng Bun and psrsuading him to
surrender AT that time Il had not been suggested
that the hostile Sioux would cross over 10 BRUSH SOIL
bat when Abbot Martin arrived At Fort Peck tho In
formation was received that Sitting Bull was already
on The other SIDE Of the border.
ARRIVAL AT CAMP.
Tho Abbot resolved TO pursue his nilsson spite Of
his iacs. and obtaining government permit allowing
lin 10 undertake the journey he set out with eight
houx braves escort, together with white guide
sh6 had been scout Tor General Miles, Tho trip was
made N safety and without sventlul Incidents When
ai,hin sixiy or seventy miles OF sitting Balps camp
immense droves oil bunuo were reached, and Tor Ave
lays the party travelled through country that
literally covered with immense herds Of these animals.
Arriving within = low miles OF the camp an Indian
ais approach. Sitting Bull himself at the head
Or 100 mounted warriors, came out TO meet him.
singing songs OF eadness and welcome. He WAS
sscorted to tho camp and assigned 10 u comfort
able tent all tue men and women coming iortu 10
ave INN welcome. Tho IndiaLs had no food but
buffalo meat This they broiled ON tue Goals or
ste wen IN pots eating without suit, and IN optic Of
sLc TACT that there was neither bread nor vegetables
In the camp the ncalln OF the band was remarkably
rood Tue Abbot states that though OF the Sioux
are believers the Cnrstian Religion, they never aii
70 protect the Catholic priest MS long sar6 OF black
uapccs Though they are not Christians they do not
sbec Christian scrvic"s, and shortly alter his mr..
rival the Abbot desire to celebrate but
Is no table could be procured and timber
thar could DO constructed and ~ mass could not
bs given without an altar the idea was abandoned.
SITTING BULL's WELCOME
SITTING Bull said do him you from America,
no man, ana wo will give HIM food and protection
ana listen his Words When AbDot Martin set out
find Sitting Bu his object was TO persuade HIM 10
return 10 American soil and occupy reservation,
where he would nave abundance Of food and cloth
Ing aud the facilities OF being Chrisan,zed and cdu.
Gated INTO civilized ways. He had au idea thai the
Sioux had fed TO u cold, barren, inhosptabie
region, whero inclcment weather and want OF
food would soon decimatc them TO fearful
extent, e mot exicrm,nase Thorn. /. was
W ainIy for this reason that no was induced
20 search for snsm ~ ne wilderness, and Induce
selves TO The Americsn government But when he
tho magnificent country along The border, waving
with rich grass, which the buffalo roaled undis-
,urbed und countless numbers, he almost concluded
that Siiting Hull mad acted wisely, and u would DO
hitter ms arrival he had conference with Sitting
bull, which occasion he explained 10 him the OBJ
Icct OF his mission but having seen tho country be
had almost changed his mind about the propriety OF
aaviBiDg him to return
HATRED OF AMERICANA
Sitting Bull smiled replied that The country was
not only better, but tbe people and the government
better He hKco The Ensirsn tecause ,hsy nsd NOT
had never allowed him or his people
have peace. Il hate the Americans" SAID
he ..because they persscutc us Tnoy drive us
from our Lands and give them 10 white settlers; they
snoot squaws; because wc fight 10 defend them
they send soldiers 10 XIII US or make us prisoners and
put US GU reservations. Then they refuse 10 gve us
ammunition and take our guns Indians nave hunted
MI their lives, anu they do not want to avo up the
chase. They i've upon game. but they cannot get
game II you take their guns away. We bongnt our
guns, aud we bought powder and shot We gavo robos
and skins elks Tor these things and they belong
70 us as much those OF the wines belong 10 them.
Tho English will iet us keep our guls ana ammuni-
non, aud We can i've tn peace here live 60 back We
will be driven like dogs, The young men VIII be Killed
and The Ola men aud squaws starved 10 death"
Al another conference Sitting Bull sent request to
Fort Walsh Tor some Of the British officers TO come
over talk to him. Two oiccrs came, and SITTING
Bull, pointing 10 ABBOT Martin but addressing the
onicer, said:-"This Is our Trend, good and
priest, who has como Tar 10 tell us what TO do. We
want you 10 tell him II the Epglisn are willing Tor US
TO stay tneir soiL"
Tho British officers replied that tho English govern
nent would be peascd II sitting Bull would return TO
tho country, but II he desired TO remain
0ulec would be made long as he was peaceful
anu obeyed the laws.
stting Bun responded that rhoy had thcre for
wanted was 10 Dunr buffalo aud not be r,bbed Of
what they obtained IN tho chase or be driven from
their vnirge.
THE CUSTER MASSACRE
Tho Abbot remaincIi village eight day bis 6nal
v,os 10 tho SIOUX Dous 10 remain wasrc they were
He thinks nere = couatfy ID the word That pos
many natural advantages Tor The savage IN.
haDi.snt While in the Sioux camp he bad sew
erai talks Win SUING bun asa Other warriors about
the events the dssier ssnvssp. OF tho massacre
The Indians spoke freely, MOS u boNsiov way. bus
Their tnoory WIS tuat the white men coming 10
Kill them add their squsws, but that the
Great spirit put u in their way 10 completely
pverpower the whites ana Kill them. Sitting Bull
aSd mis- warriors said there had been such hight
had been described IN the American papers The SOL
dIers wero TOO tired 10 light Their horses were
broken down by bard travel and no food, aud they
had been SO long In the saddle mat they were over.
como by sleep Tho sioux Tell upon them III 10 one
The soldiers wore completely surprised, surrounded,
terrorstrcken. Their anninilution was the work OF
only aisw minutes; yu. lew shots we're nred 'our
tue soldiers wish cluDs We did Tins 10 save
ammunition. The soldiers could NOT night; they wcre
too tired; tboy were killed quick they did not hayo
time'to hght u.s."
the DEATH crsrEK's orficgas.
CONCERNING General Custer Suing Bull said none
the Sioux knew him or recognized him IN the light.
He was kihed like tho rcst, and neither he nor any
Of has officers had time 10 make resistance the
Of the SIOUX WAS trIninE, the soldiers nrug only
lew shots He nor mono OF tho warriors Knew Custer
personally, nor did thcy recognize any person
leader The .solaicrA they did not know Custer a.
.i.ong Hair.u Member he nor any other soldier had
time 10 XIII tho sioux warriors sitting Bull and
other braves ablo TO describe some
oil the bodies where the pecularites
were marked. ABBOT Martin talked TO the young
warrior who killed Lieutenant StuTgis. The idenuty
Of Sturgs was established because NO was the only
uniformed officer who. had no Dcard-that was 50
young that mis- beard had not yet mad time 10 develop
having certain peculiar marks his lace and head,
and articles JeweIry taken from his cothng which
lett NO DOUBT OF his Identity. Other officers
titled alter death by similar circumstances but the
ignt was 30 quick ana decisive that thoro iimo
10 distinguish the officers from the Sitting bull
said that haa eleven days warning oil the approach
of the sold ers aud that he fully prepared " ami
hiate them
SITTING BULL iyDIAs TO BACKBONE.