The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-29
THE INDIANS.
Interview with James Lawrence, Late Agent
with the Spotted Tails and Poncas.

with the Spotted Tails and Poncas.
James Lawrence, in an interview
with a newspaper reporter makes the
following statement relative to his ex-
perience among the Indians:
Reporter-"I learn, Mr.. Lawrence,
that you have been connected promi-
nently with the Indian Bureau?"
Lawnnce-"Yes, sir, 1 have been
for several years in a subordinate posi-
ton at the Cheyenne River Agency,
and latterly have acted as agent for the
Ponca Indians and Spotted Tail In
dams"
R.-"were your tribes large?
1.-THE Poncas tribe numbered
about seven hundred, while the Spot
ted Tail tribe would exceed seven thoa-
sand. The former | stayed with until
their removal to the Indian Territory,
to which place | conducted them and
placed them on the reservation selected
for them by the government. 1 was
a forwards appointed agent for the
Spotted Tails, one of the most warlike
tribes on the frontier.
R.-"Were the Poncas satisfied with
tn ell removalP"
mo, sir. On the contrary they
decidedly objected to the removal and
are now in an unsettled condition.
R.-"Regarding the Spotted Tails,
wLat 10 their cnnditinn9D
L.-"Well, sir, they are the most
unmanageable of any of our Western
tribes, frequently leaving the agency
for the war-path in bands of hundreds.
The young bucks have an uncontrolla-
Bile longing for fame, and don the war
paint"
R.-"What were your facilities for
civilizing the Spotted Tails, and what
means were employed for that pur-
posep"
I've had a force of about ten
mechanics, consisting of engineers, fire.
men, blacksmiths, carpenters, etc,
| whose duties consisted in furnishing
the people with lumber from the mill
for habitations, the construction of
Z farming and household implements,
/ and everything pertaining to the ne.
( cessities of u farming community.
Schools for the instruction of the young
, were provided and were taken advan.
, tage of by the children with commend.
, able zeal"
. R.-"Were You always n when
your warriors were preparing to take
the val patll?"
L.-"No, not often. The Indian is
veiy close mouthed, and is better able
to keep a secret than a white man, and
it would frequently occur that several
hundred braves would escape from the
7 agency and be gone some time before
i their absence would be noted, and the
Il first that would be heard of them would
= be the massacre of some emigrants oil
ranchmen."
= R.-"Were the Indians of your tribe
interested in the massacre of Custer!
: commando"
e L.-"They were to u large extent
Sitting Bull belongs to our tribe, and
have often heard Indians, after theil
z return to the agency, narrate the event
of that unfortunate battle, which lost
t to us one of the bravest, manifest and
most intrepid of leaders, together witt
q his entire command, every man O.
which was animated by the same spirit
of invincible bravery which controlled
5 the leader, and which was crushed on
n only by the a%nnihilation of the BRAY,
band. One Indian related that Custe
~ shot two Indians after he was down
" The whole fight did not last over thirt
p minutes according to their story, an
=, the victory was due to the o~verwheln
:, ing numbers"
=, R.-"Do you think the transfer {
~ the Indians to the control of the Wa
Department will be attended with goo
:, resultsP"
., LIT has its advantages MS well &
disadvantages. l think if the otic,
who has charge of each agency is cap;
!" BILE and conscientious much good wi
y result. The civil agents were, as
u rule, earnest in their endeavors for til
accomplishment of a higher civilizatio
III for the red men, but their efforts wei
% not always successful owing to an il
D suiliciency of force. The army officer
us a rule, were earnest in their coop,
ration with the agents, and advance
he their endeavors to no inconsiderable e,
" tent. 1t remains to lie seen whetht
W the other officers will accomplish muc
better results than have been accon
ut plished.
IL The Baker Trial.