Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-07-16
NV AGENTS GROW RICH.
RED CLOUD WANTS TO co WEST.
SPOTTED TAIL SIDES WITH RED
CLOUD.
A DESPATCH FROM MCDOWELL.

the lower Brule, have been consp irators some time
together.
New YORK, July Is. Overhauling of affairs at
the Dakota Indian agencies last week was very
thorough 1t is reported that the employees are al /
extremely ignorant, and great difficulty was eN-
perienCed in obtaining testimony.
One Hooker testified that tie never received
81 100 for hauling logs, and he never knew of any
voucher being drawn for that sum in his favor
Atterwal DIS for some cause, he became lhten ned
went into the loft of building and shot himself
through the heart. Hooker had never hauled any
logs. Ills signature had been fauialenty OBJ
tanned to the voucher referred to.
Joseph McDonald, never had a contract but
his name appears to a voucher for ) 900. Every
body who ever did anything about the agency
seemed to have signed great many papers which
afterwards turned up as vouchers.
Livingston began life as theolog zeal student.
He gave fonts and stained glass windows to
chu ches during the time he was agent He is
now very wealthy. owning large landed estates,
iowa lots and interests ia three Nevada mines.
In IaDkton he is interested In almost every in
dustry, and stands high.
Hammonds life is threatened by anonymous
letters, and II Is freely asserted that if the ring
cannot eak him down by SANDER and force q
compromise it will be taken.
Mr.. Hoyt, the commissioner of Indian affairs,
he al tily approved all that had been done by the
inspectors and acting agents in seizng goods, etc.
He thinks the chain of evidence complete.
The robberies of Indians traced back to
1870. They built hotel at government expense,
and supplied it Win beef, potatoes, milk, gram,
and hay from government aIehouses.
Hammond discovered that the agency's black
smith shop was the source Of private income, that
the trader, c ERIK, head farmer and families OF
employees were furnished with government pro-
visions, and that trader Hudson had warehouses
stocked with government stores that Living
was a partrer with Hudson; that their stock was
fed on government forage and the hogs on corn
hon fha Indians wa LIVING IN I'm
coffee made out Of wild cherry bark; that the
agent sold all sorts of Indian supplies, including
mules, cattle, hogs, moving machines and wagons
and pOcketed the proceeds; that Livingstone or
his clerk violated the mail; that two steamboat
loads of Indian goods, consigned to the Lower
Brule Indian Agency, were unloaded at Crow
Creek agency and contiscated; that everybody's
house and outbudngs were filed with cloth,
muslin, tobacco and hardware, sent out for the
Indians; that two cattle ranches belonging to
bingham of Cheyenne agency and Livingstone.
were stocked with stolen cattle, and supplied reg
ulsily with agency stores.
The agents last property returns average cost
of running the agency for seven yeas at over
$24, 900 yealy or $4,000. The agent drew a
sum from government for work and other things
paid for 10 stolen Indian goods. Much of it was
for fictitious purposes, and extravagant bills For
instance, Iankton firm got S62 a ton for Boss
buik coal. Livingstone drew rations and annui-
ties for three hundred more Indians than he had
on ttetINhtiou luItc ycdis.
lie issued very scsnt iaiions and made a margin
in that way, anu extra annuites were approp
ed.
Since the agency was seized search for stolen
property not removed from the place, reveals i'm
mense quantities, covering 800 classes.
The agent reported IN his return to the depot,
large lot of planters hoes, but none were found
on hand. Six hundred files were reported, but
none were found; 1900 pounds OF tobacco report
ed, bni 1000 were found 10 lott OF the carpenter
shop; 60 axes were reported and 315 were found
no Il sd lines were reported and 6O0 were found
And SO on through the whole list
General Hammond has superseded the agents
at Crow Creek, Brule and Cheyenne by army OF
fcers.
Commissioner IIoyt held council with Red
Cloud, IT ursday last. Red Cloud said that he
and the other Indians wanted to 20 10 White Clay
creek, two humid ed miles from the Missouri river
and he wa, going. lie wanted i've hundred cows
oxen, wagons, farm houses and school houses
This is not In accordance with the designs of the
government, but Red Clouds demands were en-
dor d by comm issoner lIsw orth aud agent Irwin.
Spotted rail sides with Red Cloud, and says that
he will burn the agency buildings II his removal
from the Missouri Is hindered.
Commissioner Hoyt is disappointed with tins re-
suit, and goes east shortly.
General sherman has received the follow ing
dated San Francisco, july IA:
had a visit yesterday from Nateby and other
chief Piutes. They assure me that with the ex-
ceptIon of Ais and Eagans bands their people
a re not with the hostile Indians. They claim that
Eagan is with them, dlsmounted and under duress
and that Acbeky, who lett the vicinity of Camp
Bdwe il, has not joined the hostile Indians but
WAS merely placed by his people out of the way of
harm from either party. The five companies
which left here the 9th instant, will arrive al Van
couvsr to-day, and be taken by special boat to
Umatilla. The latter movement is by Towards
order. have ordered up five more compan les of
the eighth infantry fiom Arizona.
Mcdowell, Major General.
A special from Grow Creek agency, Dakotah,
says an emisssry of Sitting Bull has been there,
and has gone to other encies on secret mis-
sion.
A letter signed by Red Cloud and fourteen 9th
eli chiefs, was recently received by the Crow In
dams, in which they are reminded they Sioux,
and must aid their own people. 1t was received
with enthusiasm and u feast.
SAN FRANCISCO, July Is. A Walla Walla des-
patch gives the following accouut of the fight on
Umstilla reservation:
News reached Miles, who was at Pendeton,
that the hosties were at the reservation. He at
once started for the scene with three hundred reg
uars After march of about six miles and with
in short distance of Csyus station, he encouut-
cred between four hundred and five hundred war
rioIs, about eight O'Clock In the morning.
Getting his men into position, Miles opened fire
on the hostes who returned it, but without effect
neither side sustaining injury. This continued
until twelve o'clock, When the Indians attempted
10 charge Miles lines. but were driven OFT, the red
skins being unable to stand the fire from howlt-
Ger in the charge.
The Indians sustained considerable loss those
present estimating the dead at fifteen. NJ les
ualties consists OF two men wounded.
AT one O'Clock the Indians fell back towards the
mountains. This is the first time during the cam-
pagn that the bosties have attempted charge,
and shows that thew were driven to desperation.
During the whole fight they shot wild.