The New York herald., 1877-10-05
THE CHIPPEWA TROUBLES.
Dangerous Condition of Affairs at
White Earth Agency. -.Aa..
ELIMINATION OF A RELIGIOUS QUARREL
A Catholic Priest Expelled by
Military Force.
PETTY CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS INTRIGUES


ST.. PAUL, hinn, Oct. l. 1871
Tho White Eanth disturbances are a subject OF
serious concern TO the people OF Minnesota, who
member that the terrible Sioux outbreak OF 1862 had
its origin in troubAs less exciting to the Indian
mind But the Chiplcwas Of Minnesota, though de-
ycended from tha. O3ibway advance which was stead
lily crowdng the Sioux tribes westward and souhward
when this region first became known 10 the whites,
are em,nenty peaceful people, Few months ago
would have said of those on the White Earth re-
serve that they could be driven into war with the
whites. but now believe them to be SO desperate
that only their knowledge OF their weakness restraints
them, and that not even thaa Will restrain them u
once an overt act is committed. The danger IS that
some reckless young brave without consultation with
his leaders may take his head to revenge the
wrongs OF his chiefs or his friendsand at Tue same
timc the right to wear eagles feathers py Kill
ing some one. Once blood is shed the majority
of tho tribe would easily come Underline control OF
tho war party. For there is war party among these
hitherto peaceable Indians, composed mostly OF
young men who have a dislike Of the methodicai
WAYS and regular labor which civilization would i'm
pose upon them and who, besides ther natural fond
ness for rowing, hunting and lighting, have an idea
that the warike Sioux and other tribes who have made
trouble for the whites more respected by thcm
and treated more loeraiy than are the Chppewsas
SKETCH SITUATION.
To make the present situation at White Eartn sun.
derstood requires only explanation oil It's origin
but some description Of the chet actors. These are
as foliows:-The Rev. Ignatius Tomazin, Catholics
priest is an Austrian by birth He was formerly con
with church in this city. and is remembered
among the people Of his church here as liberal, self
sacrificing man and most Jealous priest and church
man. He has been missionary among tho indians for
several years and speaks their language Lewis stowe
has been farmer and milior and was for one term
representative IN the Minnesota Legislature. have
heard that he converted to Episcopaiiansm from
soms othe- orthodox denomination He Is very
strong churchman, and freely acknowledges that he
sacrifices personal and family interests in remaining
nj White Earth solely account OF his devotion to
the interests OF Bishop Whipple's mission. He was
selected for agent by the Bishop TO whom, under the
''peacc plan; this agency was allotted q h. Beau
Lieu Sr, is a Chippewa mixed blood, related to some
of the old families OF, ST. Paul. was schoolmate
OF Senator Ferry and is quite well known to many
prominent gentlemen OF the West and East HIS
father was a Canadian Frenchman, WHO had trading
post among the Indians Of Lake Superior seventy
years ago. He has lived all his life with the Indians
and has grea, influence over them. He is Catholic
In faith, but not much OF churchman, having
until recently been warmly devoted to Bishop Whippe
on account of the atters friendship for his people,
He has been thorn in the side to several agents on
account of his jealous watch Of their management OF
AFFAIRS and his Criticisms OF their disbursements OF
Indian funds. The fourth and remaining one Of the
principals in the present troubles u Rev. j. e. Gil
Allan young Episcopal priest, who Is hting tour or
nve young Chippewas for the ministry, and is tho
almousr Of Bishop whppies collections Tor the benefit
Of the Chippewas He Is painslaking, hardworking
man, who mastered the Ojiowsy language and is
earnestly devoted TO the work OF bis Church among
ths Indians He Is q1ick tempered and pugnacious.
Among tho minor actors is GonzAgue, Franciscan
lay brother; Way-baun-a-quod an Episcopal nrst
chief of the Mississippi bands; Pay -gina au-wosh,
Catholic, second chief; Rev. john johnson tEn.me-
ga-bowl rector OF the Episcopal Churcn AZ White
Earth, and full blood Chippewa; Or. Bode, the re.
.servaiion physician, and sunary regular and occa-
sonal employ es Of the agency.
ORIGIN TROUBLES.
The troubles in which these men are involved and
which are now at their Crisis, three years
ago Stowe had bean Just appointed agent and Father
Tomazn was permanently stationed as missionary.
The Catholics claimed that, IN the distribution OF
agencies, their Church had been dciraudcd Father
Tomazin thought he might make showing OF Catho-
lie converts among the mixed Doods and the Outer
TAIL Plliagers ana Pembina bands which then
about to be brought on 10 the White Earth reserva
uon which would entite his church to that agency
While he was irquirlng and talking among the people
about this project he heard many complaints about
the management OF reservation AFFAIRS, and in-
cautiously adopting the errors Of his indian
informants, he puociy accused the agent and Bishop
Wnippie oil cheating the Indians. The agent Tor his
part pronounced lomaLins petitions Tor transfer Of
the agency TO be fraudulent. Both sides AT various
times appealed 10 inc pubic through the newspapers
About tins Gonzague was travelling The country
with Indians soliciting contributions Tor
the support oil the White Earth Catnoc mission and
nifty to denouncc the management OF Chippewa affairs.
In 1873 religious oil the reservation was taken
by the agents employees and they reported the Epls-
copals IN large maJorty- a specIai asen. VI VIC
Indian Bureau also sent to the reserve 10 interview
thc leading men and learn what they thousht about
transferring the agency to the Catholics. They were
generally opposed 10 IT, Among the rest Mr. Beauleu
was interviewed and his opinion was that II any
change was made IL should be by The appointment Of
an agent WHO would be neutral as between the two
missions.
Upon this Father Tomazin appears 10 have aban
doned hope OF obtaining the agency Tor his church.
but he had another project on hana which aiso
aroused the opposition OF the agent The Otter Tai
Pagers had selected the southeast part oi the rescr-
vauon Tor their location Agen, stowe objected 10
their going there Tor the reason that the location was
not his opinion good ior the Indians, and be-
cause II was lar away from the aroncy. Tomazln,
who had communication with the agent and at hrst
may hot have known OF the agents opposition, en-
couraged the Otter Tas IN their choice aud sought TO
induce the Mile Laco bands 10 move into Tue reserva
tion ana settle the same locality. he had promised
TO provide a church and school for nucleus OF the
proposed settlement and quite likely entertained tho
project OF forming a model Catholic community, where
it would be Tree from the interference Of the Episcopal
missionaries. But the refusal OF agent to
any Indians locate there defeated romazn's second
plan. 1t also kept many Indians away from the
EFFORTS or rnx ErIscorALIANs
Agent Sowc and Rev. Mr.. Gllaian however, appto-
Gated northwest part Of the reservation, twenty
four miles away from tue reservation, and Gilhllan
but au Epscopal church there locating II on a iory
acre Of land which the agent Tor that purpose
took away from mixed blood settler 10 whom he had
formerly verbally allotted u, with an adjoining forty
acres. upon which tue man had begun MS Improve
menls The Episcopal settlement, however, has not
been q success, most of the Pemblnas having gone
away after the SIS, 600 appropriated or locating them
on the reserve had been expended
This attempt 10 build an Episcopal settlement
brought Beaucu in TO tho Held. He complained oil the
road building ana OF waste OF money in erecting an
expensive sawmil SO lar away from the agency aud
the principal population OF tho reserve. lie pointed
10 The small number Of Pcmbina families and
the small number OF otter Tall families VINO had
been provided with cabins, poughed land aud cattle
MS ridcuously disproportlonat to the 900
pended tor the PemDnas and otter Tails (Sl5 900 Tor
eachl special agent was sent from Washington TO
investigate and ne found the $50 900 all regularly
counted lor made nying visit TO the Episcopal Settle
ment OF which he saw nJtning but the church build
ing and the mill site, and reported. u IS 10 De pre-
sumed, fayoraby TO tue agent. But Beauien Kept up
his criticism OF the expenditures and tho other par
lies kept up their quarrel
Last spring Gonzague and Father Tomszn had a
falling out the former having made peace with the
agent and, besides, proceeded without the priests
rnnaanL or knowledge 10 make and cOntracts