Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-01-26
SISSETON AGENCY.
GABRIEL RENr11LE,s COMPLAINTS.

GABRIEL RENTILLE,S COMPL4INTS.
What Manner of Man Agent Hooper is--
Utterly Unfit for the Position--Rsnville q |
Friend of the Whites in Perilous Times,
uow Asks the People. to aid him to get
another Agent,
The GLOBE of yesterday morning chron-
icled the arrival in this city of Gabriel Rem
vile, the Chief of the Sisseton and Wahpe-
ton tribes of Indians at the Agency above
named. Yesterday G1oBE representative
sought him out at his hotel, and with the aid
of the gentlemanly and obliging interpreter
accompanying him, Mr.. S. J. Brown, held a
protracted interview, the substance of which
will be found below.
Gabriel is full-blooded Indian six feet
high, and splendid specimen of physical
development. He is in his 55th year, and
has long been recognized chief and leader
among his people. He has been sincere
and devoted friend of the whites ever since
the outbreak, and was at the time superin
tendent of the frontier scout force which
for three years. Then, and ever since, he
has labored zealously and efficiently to pro-
mote the ends of the government, and lead
his tribes into the path of civilization. The
records at Washington will attest his zeal
and friendship for the whites. At the Sioux
outbreak, in 1862, he, without delay, rendered
his services to the government as scout and
served in that capacity till the close of 1866.
Gabriel 1T will be remembered by those familiar
with the scenes of those days, was chiefly
instrumental in rescuing and delivering over
to General Sibley at Camp Release in the
fall of '62 the 297 white captives- consisting
with single exception of women and
children.
TROUBLE WITH AGENT HOOPER.
Gabriel comes down in behalf of his peo-
pie, who are greatly dissatisfied and incens-
ed with Agent Hooper, to consult with Gen.
Sibley and other friends here, as to the best
means to be adopted to secure his removal
from the Agency. Three distinct grand
councils of the tribes have been
held, at which the unanimous
conclusion was reached that the only way to
restore confidence and good will was the re-
moval of Hooper, and Mr.. Renville was ac-
cordingly delegated to come to st. Paul and
consult as to the best means to be adopted
to secure that end.
Agent Hooper is an Eastern man, having
been appointed from Maine last August. He,
however, did not take formal possession of
the agency until late in November, since
which time great dissatisfaction has existed.
Gabriel says he knows nothing of Indian
character, and is "as untitled to be Indian
Agent as am to be Mayor of st. Paul" He
had never seen an Indian till he went to
Sisseton, and in Gabriel's graphic language
s'could hardly tell an Indian from buffalo
cow"
The people are very much incensed against
him on account of his conduct in issuing
beef to them, one instance of which is given
as follows: He agent Hooper, some time
ago, exchanged good steers for old, crippled
and diseased cattle, and had the latter butch.
cred and served out to the tribe for beef
Some of it carried with it stencil SO great
that "dog that was starving to death might
possibly eat it, but dog in ordinary condi-
ton wouldn't touch it, When Gabriel
called his attention to the beef and asked
him if he would eat it, his only reply was
that he was no judge of beef.
I APPEAL TO THE WHITES.
l Mr.. Renville, in view of his services to the
whites of this State, looks upon them as his
particular friends, and in his present
troubles appeals to them for assistance ir
getting rid of an obnoxious agent. Three
grand councils were held-two in December
and the third on New Years day-at which
MIR. Renville was instructed to come dQwr
and see their friends and get up a petition
to Congress and also to the Minnesota
Legislature to the end that the necessary in
flnence might be brought to bear upon the
department. to secure the appointment of
man who knew something of the mdia1
character, and was at least possessed of ordi
nary practical business ability. Hooper il
an old man, in his dotage, and utterly un
fitted for the position he holds, as shown by
his making promises to the Indians ane
never keeping them.
Gabriel's main reliance is Gen. Sibley ane
Bishop Whipple-more particularly the for
mer, whom he has known for 40 years. h.
will also solicit Gov. Pillsbury's aid and vii
have an interview with him to-day.
He claims that to his efforts and friend
ship for the whites, is mainly due the settle
ment of that section of the State, and b,
) asks that the people of Minnesota recognize
his services now. Starvation is staring TIL,
Indians in the face, and they are killing of
the stock which was given them for farming
and other purposes. Under the Administration
!, of Agent Hooper this state of affairs is grow
3 ing worse every day, whereas if the -provis
ions of the treaty of 1867 were strictly ad
hered to, the tribes would be self-sustainin4
in few years.
Since Mr.. Renville became chief of hi
people, he has worked hard, and devoted hi
9 whole time and energy to bring his peopl
: out of barbarism into civilization. They ar
3 now, for the most part, an intelligent class
and have good FARMS
Other charooo ORC ,,,oc7o o~,o:.,aI H.
such as using agency teams paid for out o
t money belonging to the Indians, for haulin,
goods for the trader, friend of Hooper's
which want of space forbids detailing here
Mr.. Renville is an intelligent, practical man
: and whether his complaints are well founde,
or not is evidently in earnest and sincere il
. making them. He claims that some western
f man who has some comprehension of In
dian character should be appointed agent
and that if this were done all would o.
: we'll. :
q Eng1isl. Grai,, Markets.
L1vERPooL, Jan. pa leading grain ci,
) cular says during the first four days of til
{ week the markets were very flat, with tend
ency in the prices to decline. To-day, i
consequence of the ministerial proposal yes
terday in parliament, the market opene
with an active inquiry for wheat and maize
holders asking advanced prices and som
= business was done in both before the MAJ
/ ket hours. At this market to-day there wa
extensive business in wheat, white and rec
advancing full one penny per GENITAL O
!. Tuesday prices, with trade buoyant. Flou
is in good demand at full prices. A fai
amount of corn was taken and rather NOR
{ paid for dry new mixed; old was unaltered.