The New York herald., 1878-10-27
GOOD CAUSES FOR DISCONTENT.
Interior Life at an Indian Agency
Described.
SUCCESSFUL SUBTLETY OF THE REDSKINS.
The Flight, the Pursuit and What
Came of Them.
FoRr RENO, l. T., Oct IT, 1878.

the late Indian outbreak and gather sucn
nectsd therewth might be OF interest to the pub
lie, arrived here lew days since and hasten TO fur
nish the facts as they really exist and the causes
which led the Indians to go upon the warpath Fort
Reno, which is not located on the maps, is a new
post paratvely, having been completed within the
last year. II is situated where the ninetyeighth
degree limo OF longitude the north fork OF
the Canadian River and about mile south OF that
stream. The situation is slightly elevated and COM
mands view OF the surrounding country in all d.
rsctions. Tho buildings OF WOOD, constructed in
The ordinary manner and are arranged on the four
sldss OF . square about TWO hundred yards across.
Like most from tier posts, II Is tort only In name
having NO detences Of any kind but consists merely
sf the quarters Tor officers and mon, stables, store
vooms, &c, grouped on the open prairie.
STRENGTH GARRISON.
The garrison consists of two companies OF the
Bixteenth infantry numbering per haps seventy mon,
Ind companies OF the Fourth cavalry, OF about
Iixty-n men each, making total OF 200 men. From
This number must be deducted the eick, attendants
hospital, the cookk, extra and caly DUTY men, and
such are required for tho various duties under
about military garrison, reducing the effective
strength at all timos below IT'S men, At present the
cavalry Is absent in pursuit OF the hostile Indians,
ana garrison, during the absence OF these com
panes, Is temporarily strengthened BY about forty
from another company Of the same regiment,
brass pieces and two Gatling guns, the and
service sf which the infantry Is instructed. am
thus particular In describing the post and means
OF offence and defence that the military respond-
biiity, II any, for the late outbreak may be under
stood.
THE INDIANS AND THE AGENCY.
About two miles from the post and the north
bank river situated the agency buildings Of
what known the Cheyenne and Arrapanoe
Agency These except the mission schoohouse,
which Is quite q commodious building. are small cot
sages Tor and his employees necessary store
rooms for Indian supplies and the Indian traders
store. The Indians beiong gng TO this agency number
little than five thousand, Of which about $50
are Arrapanoes, and the remainder CheYenncs They
are located under their chiefs or head men,
u various points up and down the river, some OF
them being nearly fifty miles away, though most
In the vicinity OF the agency. They live, without
ception, In canvas lodges or tepses, and being
eleanIy in their habits, they are often removed from
place 10 another. Their only wealth consists in
their ponies OF which they large and constantly
increasing herds. Some OF the Indians under
pressure from the Interior Department, have
attempted during the past summer 10 raise corn,
melons, &c, but their attempts wsrc il-dirccted,
and what eaten up green and trodden down
by the ponies was burned up by the drought which
this year unususliy severe and long continued.
The buffalo being quite extinct in this part OF the
country the Indians depend Tor their subsistence
almost entirely upon the supplies issued by tho govern
menI These furnished pursuant to the treaties
sgrseements by commissioners with the Indians
and ss condton OF their relinquIshng their rights
to lands claimed by tnsm but required for settlement
SUCH the Back Hills country. As an additional In
duccmsnt tor settling upon reservations here the
indians were in most cases. promised assistance
instruction in opening up farms, liberal supply Of
farming mpements harness. wagons, stock, &c. They
we're also promised houses Tor their principal men,
ana assistance building Tor the others They have
now (exceptng about hundred OF the Cheyenn.s)
scen Tor Tney have lew wagons some
harness, a dozen or two poughs, whicn they DO not
know use, and 10 u lew Instances small pieces
oil tue prarie nave been been broken up by contract.
but Ueore stated, their Efforts at farming far
COMPLAINTS OF THE INDIANS
The Indians complain mucn ci tneir treatment In
these respects justly enargc the government with
treating mem unfairly. But ther great com plant Is
regarding the rations iurnisned them IL Is quite the
custom 10 charge the sursriugs aud discomfort of
the Indians to Inc dishonesty OF their agents, and
wniIs this may be true IN some instances II Is most
smpnatIcaIy NOT true here. Mr. Jonn d. Miles, the
ageui, has gwen me free access TO his papars ana
rscords exhibited each staiI OF his business and
been wiling all times TO iurnIsh with any in
formation assistance required. have no hesiia-
tlon IN pronouncing him boln honest and able
man, WOO discharges the duties OF his position with
great zeAL he Is dong the best that can be dons
sith the scant supplies furnished him, which, per-
bapa are great inc Commissioner can allot with
the Appropriation given hm The agents requsition
for supplies OF iood Tor the indians unaer ms cnarge
during me current Dscal year amounts s24s 444 IL
based uron the promises made 10 tnese Indians. aud
necessary Tor their proper saes,s,enos ns, dur.
Congress the Fort Sill, Wichita aud
Cheeenne agencies ts atoee ther but xz40 600 being
proportiunatey ior tnis agency out about nfty-two
per OF the amount required by the agent. by
suing heretofore consideraoe less than the amounts
treaty sIpuatioDs II has been possible to
make the supplies furnished last tnrougn eight or
each year, and IL - expccsed To bridae
over tue remaining time by buffalo huntipg, during
which time no ratons were issued. TINS is NO LONGER
possible tho lew remaining buaiocs nave lett ihis
mir AMI lu1e M
way In which these animals nave been hunted ior
their skins during tue past ten years Is fast exterm
we're sent out winters hunt, and, nnding no
game, suffered great hardship fhey were nnay
some having been litIle else than dogs. wolves
ana horsenesn. Tins means OF subssting the indians
can therefore. be no longer counted on In addition
TO he foregoing iscts the money appropriate cd by Con-
gress often voted so late tnai the supplies required
cannot be purchased anu transported mere W the
oil the fiscal year The distance TO the
nearest railroad poiDt-Wicnita. Ksp-is l65 miles,
ana that over prairie country crossed by numerous
rivers and large streams wbcn must ali be ivrded,
makins transportation botn expensive and uncei-
tain. IL is ~onder tnat with ali these drawbscks,
any degree Of conten anu good behavior csn bs main
tained.
Another source OF discontent among the Indians is
The climate ana the great amount Of sickness among
Them. hey came here IRON the Dortb, whore they
we're acc mated aud healthy, to a reston Injected
with malaria, from winch they suffer greatly Among
236 msn oi what are known Northern Cneyennes
VINO arrived here In August oil last year twenty
have snce died, while tne mortaity among chiiufen
has been even Rrealer lhesc northern Cneyennes,
who REGARDED as tne most w1rlike OF all the In.
disns, ara portion OF the tribe who renamed unli
lately IN the north, associated with tho Sioux,
and under sitting Bull in the Custer
DghL Beng finally subdued they gave reluctant con
eent TO being removed the Iudan Territory on the
reservation occupied by the OF their tribe. TINS
agreement maue with Them az Red Cloud AgoBUy
Ia september, 1876, and the removal made IN the
summer OF last year. before saleL None Of these
Indians have been CVntcBted here, and they ciain,
with good reason, have been treated 10 bad aith by
the government. ms, Win tue provale ugoase
among them, wss the cause wntcn led 70 the recent
outbreak.
ESCAPE or cHEYKSSKs.
Having thus generally stated the facts which exist
here, | come 10 escape OF tue party whicn leit
on Tue nights oi september ana 10, anu whcu
consisted OF som ethiDg near three hundred men,
women and children. Ine exact number is not yet
known. Dut ny those pest informed Is believed 10
have been nincty.seven men, counting perhaps Ten