Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-10
WHITE EARTH.
STOVES SUCCESSOR :APPo1NrLD.

STOVES SUCCESSOR .appor&rrn
Anterrae'c scitA agent C. 4. Ru1fee las,
EceninO--Ho.r he Proposes to .1ro;,, H..
Rock on ,csiczs his Predecessor. Stranded.-
Endorsed by White Cloud and .Mex.,,
Sibley and Riee--His long Experience
,rith the Imdian's, &c.
Yesterday forenoon the rumor was pretty
freely circulated around town that C. A. Ruffee
fsq., had been nominated by the President, on
tne 1th, for the position of Indian Agent at the
WHITE Earth Reservation aice Stowe removed.
Inc OASIS OF the report, it was ascertained, was
| q telegram to the Western Associated Press,
Puohsned IN the Chicago Times of
| rfiuay, but as the dispatch was not
smlttcd here as it should have been,
sonie were disposed to question its accuracy
lhls' however, being subsequently verified.
uLoBE reporter last evening, called at the Mer-
chants Hotel for the purpose of subiectine the
aforesaid gentleman to the horrors of !. 70
portorlal seance. Vending his way to room 81
IN the new addition, the door opened to 2 sligbt
/ he
elegantly furnished apartment to find tho
newly appointed agent gracefully re-
/ clining in luxurious rocker while
before him sat two OF his soon-to-be
charges, Way-baun-a~quod, or White CIoud the
/ principal chief at the reservation, and Me-sha-
ke-se-shig. Still another gentleman was pres
ent, MIR. B. n. Beaulieu of Green Bay, Wis.
who has just returned from visit to his cous-
ms at White Earth, and who was acting inter-
pretor between the two chiefs and Mr.. Ruffee.
After cordial greeting and an introduction
to the chiefs and the Interpreter, the inouisitor
drew his pencil and proceeded to business.
kep.-Mhen did you settle in Minnesota, Mr..
Ruttee? believe, YOU are an old settler:
/ MIR. Rutfee-1es sir. came here in 1857 and
went to Otter Tail lake.
/ hep.-1ou are pretty well acquainted with
the Indians then The Chippewas particularly !:
MIR. Ruffee-Yes sir, on going there first be-
came acquainted with them that year. and
have known and seen more or less of them ever
since.
Rep.-You have enjoyed good opportunities
then for learning something of the Indian
character-his habits mode Of life. and eener-
orally how to deal with him?
Mr., Rutfee-Yes, | think SO. There is scarce
/ " an Indian OF prominence upon Leech Lake
White Earth or Red Lake reservations that
am not personally acquainted with and have
been Tor years. AS to my opport unities for
observing Indian character, and STUDYING his
habits, &c, | can mention the fact that in
/ 1901 went across the plains TO Helena and
freely visited the Indian camps along the
route. had mail contract at the time. and
made arrangements with the hostiles.
I the Sioux, Blackfeet and Others
though Generals Sibley and Sully
had been fighting there but a
short time before. l visited their camps made
amor ,fc T
was never moested interfered with in the
slightest degree. In fact, have always been
on the very best terms with the Indians and
more particularly have held very pleasant re-
lations with the Chippewas of Minnesota ever
s}nce first met them. All this Will l think.
greatly aid me in the discharge of the duties of
agent of White Earth.
hep.-You think then you will know how to
deal with 1.-THE elephat'' up there?
hir. Ruffee-From my experience with them,
think may be pardoned for saying that be-
ieve | ought to be able to 90 up there and
handle the Indians there SUCCESSFULLY
Rep.-You know the rock on which Stowe
was stranded-the religiou controversy? How
do you feel on that subject?
Mr.. Ruffee-As between the religious sects
Struggling Tor supremacy there, have no bias
whatever, and it is this ground l think, |
am indebted to the secretary of the interior
for my appointment.
Rep.-Have you seen Father Tomazn to-day
the Catholic missionary, who is now in the
city?
Mr.. Ruffee-Yes; 1 met him to-day He ex-
pressed himself as very well satisfied with nv
appointment agent
Rep.-Will Father TomaEin still proceed to
Washington, as he intended?
Mr.. Ruttee-l cannot say positively what his
Intentions are.
Rep.-When will you enter upon the duties
of your office?
MIR. Ruffee-That cannot say positively |
received a telegram to-day stating that nv
name had gone to the Senate and was before
the committee, where it will take the usual
course. II confirmed l shall probable 90 to
White Earth in a couple Of weeks
Rep.-Well, Charley, hope you will be able
to settle the matters there tremendously as |
have no doubt you will.
Mr.. Ruffee-Of course in entering upon the
duties of the position, 1 do SO with feelings of
embarrassment, but from the fact that
I have known the indians $50 So
long | feel confident Of being able to give
satisfaction to all parties. At least mean to
do what Is right, and to endeavor to give no
reasonable ground for complaint. 1 am further
strengthened in this connection by the fact
that my appointment is very satisfactory to
such we'll known friends of the Indians as Cen ~
eral Sibley and Hon. II. M. Rice both OF whom
have expressed themselves as much pleased at
my selection.
Rep.-Of course it is premature to inquire
about the policy you will pursue when you
take charge?
Mr.. Ruffee.-Yes; l cannot now speak posi-
lively as to that. That remains for the future
to determine.
At this point, the reporter, addressing Mr..
Beaulleu, and pointing to White Cloud, said:
Ask that chief if he intended to go on to
Washington"
Mr., Beaulieu, after speaking with the two
chiefs, turned to the reporter and said: Both
of them say that in two days they intend re-
turning to White Earth and wait for Mr..
Ruffee to come.
Rep.-Ask them how they like Mr.. Ruffee for
their agent.
Mr., Beaulieu, after talking with them-Thev
say they are very well satisfied: that they both
Ike HIM and believe he viii do what is right.
Rep.-Ask them if they know of any other
man whose appointment they would like bet
ter.
Mr. Beaulien-They say they do not; that MIR.
Ruffee is their friend and will treat them right,
Mr.. Beaulien further stated that Man-i-do-
wah, another chief who is now in the citv will
likely return with Red Cloud to the reservation
and that the others will proceed with Father
Tomazin to Washington. He also stated the
Indians on the reservation, nearly 5000 in
number, are in a starving condition, and were
compelled to go hunting for subsistence. a dis
lance Of thirty or forty miles.
The two chiefs who were present. the re-
porter learned, were both friends of Bishop
Mhlpple, but opposed to agent Stowe. White