Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-14
HUNGRY kEo MEN
Gov. NswssA Receives . call Frsn : Dep.
,eAAal6a 81 Yaakesn Indians Whs
III LAY Their Case Before

mah's country for the paet three or four
weeks. During this time they have been in
destitute circumstances-actually growing
thin in aesh, and sick at heart from want Of
food-and have begged from house to
house for food. They have traversed the
country from Yankton agency to Winnie
bago agency and ~ far back as this city,
where they have been tarrying several days
fol. their sto,mach's sake. Being tolerably
Will filled, they now pprpose making al
move for home. N,bas been aquery what
brought these Indians from home at this in
season, and why they were so short
ofthe necessarics of life. Under the reformed
administration it was supposed, that all H.
dams would Be filled 10 ~,ovetaowing with
Uncle Sans rations and would a fat and
settle down to a luxurious existence. But
they haven't, it appears. Two chieftains Of
this Yankton band, Medicine Cow and
Walking Hills, were before Governor
Howard today as representatives Of the
entire squad. and to him they detailed the
story Of their trials and troubles. An audi.
cnce was 1a.iranted in the governors office.
aud through George Cragcr, as Interpreter.
The two Indians INDUCED in sotne plain talk.
Medicine Cow said: We have had three
agents before this one. Dr.. Burleigh was
one aud be was good. Maj. Gasmann was
one and he was good. Anotherwas a little
yellow haired soldier, who was y good man.
l am d chief Of the 'Yankton Sioux. My
name is Medicine Cow Some Of my me
are good men. l have long wanted to talk
with you. We are entitled to some
rations. When we work we are entitled to
pay. We get but little of the pay due us. l
have louged to see the great ts.her and talk
with him on this subject. Weraise crops
and work hard. The great father don't
know how hard we work and that i. Why l
want to speak with him. Tn: great haher
thinks most Indians are bad. he has no
idea Of our great country. i don't Zee why
the great father sends us sobad . maa as we
nov haves All the Sioux's hearts are now
bad, but if we had a good man their hearts
would all be good. What our aeentsays We
do not hear. Whist he bids our eyes lookup
on We do not see. The great father
sends US anuuities in money aud we don't
get it., The agent should take that money
and send a few Of us to Washington TO have
a council with the great father and q talk
with him. ! am a ~psaceable man and~a
friend of the great father and my bestwifh
is to see him. l would like to have the
governor write that TO the great father. We
have had nothing to cat from the agen,
since We left the agency. We came down
here to get something, because our rationf
were 90 smalLwes could not live on them
The agent gave US a letter permitting
us to leave the agency. About seventy
of US came down twenty-three
days ago, and have lived by begging around
here. Our agent gives US something to eat,
bat it is very little.a We are allowed money
for what work we do, but that money is very
little. / do not believe the great father
knows about it. Rations are issued seven
Etines = month, by five men, and the food is
90 little that it takes only a little time to eat
it. Our Indians are very thin from want of
food. We do not like to beg of the people
about here, because they have been so good
toAus. Our missionaries, teachers and
preachers 80 in and pick out the
best of our r~ations-.hty take lots of
everything. all but Mr.. Williamson,
who is the good man. Our agent treats Us
kindly sometimes and sometimes he will
have nothing to do with us, but tells US to
go Out. A while ago We had all we wanted
and now We have nothing. IS
Walking Hill next addressed the govern.
u. He said: I agree with Medicine Cow
all he has said. Our agent is a very bad
nan. l know We get snnuities and r%a.ions,
'u, we do not GET THAT co mes for US. When
70 work on-the farm or in the shop We get
'nly Is cents a day. Our men do teaming
nd heavy work for $50 a mouth and cut of
hat have to live: We get pay in orders on
store, where We have to give $3.50, a
ard for cloth. We sell our hay for $3.50
er load and take our pay, out Of the, store.
have . squaw and three children. Every
days We get ~rations and eat them in q
~ and a half. For my family OF five /
raw every six days eight quarts o ( -four, I
small piece Of fresh meat and sugar enough I
. lastene day. Of coffee there is very lit.
, Oh the scoop when it comes up, but they
e not particular. Of bacon we receive . 9
ece about as big as my hand. !
This was about all, the Indians had to say e
d Gov. Howard directed the interpreter 6
say to them that since the white peopla u
ID became so popnlous here the great IA o
er had taken from the governor all powe, =
oct for the Indians and had given d
40 AGENTS 10 case for ahem. He assutedIs
e red delegates. however that he would b
the great father what they had said, but e.
could do nothing himself. The govern IL
lhen asked if the agent had sent them o
and Medicine Cow replied that he b