Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-27
GEN. CROOK.
Omaha Herald. lime
lngrnen.

CTooh at the neauquarter5 OF the department
Of the Platte yesterday:
Reporter What Indians are engaged
in the late uprising?
Gen. Crook-The Bannocks, Piutes, and
some Of the Shoshone..
R.-What has caused it.
Gen. Cit is general complaint of a
want of supplies.
R.-Why have not the supplies been fur
nished?
Gen. C.-I don't know. The agents say
the appropriations have been exhausted.
RI eaw it stated that some of the sup
plies have been lying at some points out
there all winter, and had not been distribu.
ted. Is that a fact?
Gen. C.-I saw the same statement, and
it is doubtless true, although do not know.
R.-Those Indians have hitherto been
friendly, have they not?
Gen. C.-Yes, believe SO.
R.-It is rather hard that men and officers
should be sent out there to be killed by the
Indians, when all the trouble has been
brought about by thieving agents.
Gen: C..That is not the hardest thing.
A harder thing is TO be forced to kill the
Indians when they are clearly in the light.
R.-The bill to turn the Indians over 10
SIlc Wdt ucpdIIIuVIll Ud6 UG6u klllcU,
Gen. C.-Yes believe so.
RI understand that the armv officers
were not in favor of it. Wha. was the
reason of that?
Gen. Cit would entail great deal of
work and vast deal Of responsibility for
which they would get no pay, and there
are very few people who like TO work for
nothing, out of pure patriotism.
R.-There is much serious apprehension
in regard to trouble with Indians.
Gen. C.-There are good grounds for it..
as long as the muzzle-loading arms were in
use We had the advantage of them, and
twenty mtn could whip hundred; but since
the hreech-loaders came into use it is entire.
ly different; these they can load on horseback,
and now they are match for any man. In
regard to the Bannocks, was up there last
spring and found them in desperate condi-
ton. l telegraphed, and the agent tele-
graphed for supplies, but the word came that
no appropriation had been made They
have never been half supplied. The agent
has sent them off for half year, to enable
them to pick up something to live on, but
there is nothing for them in that country
The buffalo is all gone, and an Indian can't
catch enough jack-rabbits to subsist himself
and family, and then there is1.'t enough jack
rabbits to catch. What are they to do?
Starvation is staring them in the face, and il
they wait much longer they will not be able
to fight. They understand the situation, and
fully appreciate what is before them.
RI was told the other day the en-.
croachments on the Camas prairies was the
cause Of the trouble.
Gen. Csc it is. These prairies are
their last source ef subsistence. They are
ed with water from April to June OF
July. and there is sort of root which grows
in them under the water which is very much
like sweet potato. A squaw can gathc,
several bushels in day of them. Then
they dig hole and build fire in it. Ate,
it is thoroughly heated the roots are put ii,
and baked and when they are taken out they
are very sweet and nice. This root is theil
main source Of food supply.
RI don't see what the whites want with
such swamp as that?
Ger. C.-I suppose 1t would be aaplendid
place to fatten hogs. l Go not wonder, anc
you will not either, that when these Indian.
see their wives ard children starving, anc
their last source Of supplies cut off tha
they 20 to war. And then we are sent ou
there to kill them. 1t is an outrage.
R.-Would it not be good thing to adop
some means to bring these facts before til,
American people?
Gen. Glow can it be done? You an,
know these facts, but If We tell it TO tn
people back east, then these men on III
frontier who have an interest in things re
naming as they are, come and tell i, differ
emily. and they have an insinuating wa
about them.
R.-It seems 10 me it would be cheaper I
treat the Indians justly.
Gen. Cor course it would be cheaper
All the tribes tell the same story. The
are surrounded on all sides, the game is dc
s,royed or driven away, they are left to starv
and there remains but one thing for them I
do; Eight while they can.